Free Driven to Date by Susan Hatler Page A

sure if that was a good thing or not, but Ginger’s face lit up and she zipped off toward the brown-haired hottie.
    Alone on the dance floor, I glanced around, and caught sight of Sarah waving me over. Our drinks were set on a round, chrome bar table. Fanning my hot cheeks with one hand, I lifted the Mojito with the other hand, and took a long, refreshing sip.
    “Looks like Ginger met someone.” Sarah tilted her head toward the dance floor where Ginger and her dance partner were getting down to the music. Sarah scrunched her nose. “Now we just need a dance partner for me.”
    I put my hand on my hip. “What do I look like? Soggy tofu?”
    A slow smile crept across her face as she glanced over my shoulder. “Your dance partner just arrived. And, oh my. . . Ryan looks even better out of the office, and that’s saying something. I see why you smooched him on the dance floor at that wedding.”
    Holding my drink, I turned around, and spotted Ryan coming toward me. Oh, wow . Sarah hadn’t been exaggerating. Colored lights flashed across his handsome face as he wove through the crowd, wearing a button-up shirt opened at the collar, and a knowing smirk that had me dying to find out what he was thinking.
    Ryan stopped in front of me, brushed his lips over my cheek, then whispered in my ear. “You look amazing.”
    A rush of jittery pleasure flowed through me, then my brows came together when I remembered he was just playing a part. “You can knock off the act. Madison’s not here yet.”
    His eyes narrowed in a sexy way, and he nodded at Sarah. “If this is how she responds to a compliment, imagine how she’d react if I upset her.”
    Sarah choked on her Mojito, laughing, then put on a serious expression. “Maybe she needs a dance to loosen her up.”
    “You’re absolutely right.” He slipped his hand into mine. “Let’s go, buttercup.”
    I wavered for a moment, then decided it would be beneficial for Madison to see us on the dance floor together. It would validate that I adhere to her theory of having a full personal life that releases my stress (yeah, right) so I can thrive better at the office. “Okay,” I agreed, shaking my head at the stunts I had to pull to advance in my career.
    The feel of Ryan’s warm and slightly rough hand made me sigh, as he led me toward the dance floor. Were they rough as a side effect from playing basketball? I found myself wanting to know everything about him—even down to the little things. Not good.
    Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll blasted out, enveloping me in that soothing beat, as my body started moving to the music. Watching Ryan, I wondered if things might’ve been different if we’d first met tonight at this club. He had fantastic rhythm as he swayed his hips, and his hazel eyes lit up as we exchanged a smile.
    Then I remembered his friend’s words at Kristen’s wedding. That Ryan had a short attention span when it came to women. When I’d called him on that, he hadn’t denied it either. No, it was better that we’d met the way we had. Otherwise, I might’ve fallen for those sexy hazel eyes that made my legs wobbly.
    He stepped closer. So close that I breathed in his cologne, which was an intoxicating spicy scent . And no, it wasn’t the few sips of Mojito affecting me. It was him . How he’d devoured me with his kiss at the wedding. His playful emails at the office. And how he’d noticed I’d been crying, and held me. I felt an invisible pull toward him, giving me the strong urge to nuzzle him. But, I resisted, knowing it would only lead to heartbreak.
    Wait, heartbreak? No, it wasn’t like I’d exposed my heart to this gorgeous playboy. No way. But I had to admit I’d been nudged toward him a little. I needed to reel my feelings back pronto.
    Rock Steady by Whispers came on, and we continued in our little spot on the dance floor together. Ryan’s neck was inches away and I inhaled deeply. The spicy scent pulled at me, making me want to close the