Free Solving For Nic by Lexxi Callahan Page B

morning. Throwing her arms around Angie, she hugged the startled girl like a long lost best friend.
    “Angie!” She gushed and bounced on her tip toes. Screw Nic and the horse he rode in on. Now she was so over him. He was history. “Rogan, here she is. He’s been trying to find you all night.” She hugged Angie again and pretended she didn’t notice the other girl pulled away from her. Lizzie continued her chatter, anger pumping adrenalin through her veins. “This party is fabulous and the hotel is amazing. I adore midcentury modern and I swear Roger Sterling is going to walk in any minute. Not Don Draper because he’s an ass. Nic, ask me to dance, it’s been ages.”
    She purposely switched gears in mid-breath but she didn’t catch him off guard. His smile was slow and dead sexy as it spread across his gorgeous face.
    “Great idea.”
    Lizzie met his gaze head-on and set her party girl persona to stun. She held out her hand for him and went for it. She’d finally asked him to dance first. It would be the last time she indulged herself. She was not a damned blip on anyone’s radar, but after tonight, he would be one on hers.
    The second his fingers curled around hers, she wavered. Electric shock sizzled down her hand to her arm and right straight through her. Panic slicked along her nerve endings and she hoped her vacant smile was in place. She couldn’t feel her skin so she wasn’t sure.
    This might not have been the best idea.
    Warmth radiated off him. Her bones softened as she leaned into him, letting him control their movements. The rest of the dancers faded away. A familiar lethargy pulled her into a strange slow motion. He smelled so good. Felt so familiar. An ache started deep inside her.
    Definitely a mistake but how could anything that felt so wonderful be a mistake?
    The slow song ended and the band broke into a much faster more modern song. He didn’t release her. Relieved, she let go and lost herself in the music, the beat, and the proximity to him. Now, as Nic's fingers slid over her, scorching her through the dress and keeping her in a constant state of motion, Lizzie forgot she had a plan. Everything slid right out of her mind. He spread through her system like pure alcohol. He spun her around and pulled her back. His hands flattened against her stomach tightening her hips against his. Lizzie stretched and swayed to the music. When his mouth brushed against her shoulder, tasting her, she nearly went supernova right in the middle of the dance floor.
    They lasted two more songs before he clamped his hand around hers and walked her out of the crowd. He didn’t speak. Neither did she. There was nothing to say. He didn’t lead her to the open bar. Instead they walked straight out of the ballroom and down a few steps to a lounge where some grand opening guests had gathered for a more subdued atmosphere.
    The cooler air in the lounge helped clear her head but she was floating from dancing, the loud music and being so close to him. The contact between their hands kept the combustion going and Lizzie was pretty sure she would have followed him straight into a volcano just to cool off. He found an empty booth in the back, ordered a bottle of wine, then turned his full attention back to her.
    “What have you been up to lately?”
    He was too close to her in the booth, making it difficult to breathe. She managed not to jump out of her skin when his arm went around her, resting against the back of the booth, but she couldn't look at him, not unless she wanted to asphyxiate. She laughed to cover her breathlessness. “Really?”
    His eyebrows lifted. “You didn’t answer my question.”
    Did he ask a question? She blinked, the weight of her head becoming harder and harder to sustain. There was something she was supposed to be doing, but she couldn’t remember what it was. Kissing him, maybe? No. It sounded like a great idea but she was pretty sure that wasn't her plan. “This and that.”
    Nic had the