Free One More Night by Mysty McPartland Page A

him, with great reluctance he turned his attention to her. He mumbled the right responses and tried to keep his focus on her, but throughout the whole disastrous evening it always shifted back to Cooper.
    He nearly lost all sense when he had to watch her dancing in another man's arms, and when Melisa said she was going to powder her nose, he wasn't about to lose this opportunity. He rose to his feet, helped her out of the chair, and before she even left the restaurant, he was heading for the dance floor. “Mind if I cut in.”
    Her head jerked up when she heard the all too familiar voice, Cooper wanted to scream in anger when her date didn't object.
    Nate thought the other man a damn fool when he just gave a nod and walked away, but he didn't waste time considering it. He swept his arm around Cooper's waist and caught hold of her hand and grinned down at her. “Well this is a pleasant surprise.”
    Pleasant, not likely . More like torture Cooper admitted but only to herself.
    “By the way you're dressed tonight I'd say you've got yourself a hot date. Pity the fool gave you up so easily.” Nate whipped the words out unable to help himself. Jealousy was twisting the knife in his gut.
    Cooper eyes widened in surprise at the anger in his voice, she turned away from his heated gaze, and tried not to squirm as heat pooled between her thighs. Darn it, why does this man do this to me? She'd been having a perfectly good time until he interfered, in fact she hadn't even noticed he was here. Her mouth tightening she swept her gaze back to his. “For a start McGregor there is nothing wrong with what I am wearing. Secondly, if I have a hot date as you put it, it’ none of your business.”
    “Ha, if you hadn't noticed yet, every damn man in the place is imaging himself taking that damn dress off you with his teeth.” He hissed out at her and watched a blush sweep over her face. He cursed his run away mouth and drew her closer. “Where are you staying?” He whispered against her hair as his arousal grew and throbbed.
    Unable to stop herself, Cooper pressed more firmly against him and moaned when she felt the length of his hard rigid arousal pressing against her. She wanted to refuse to answer him, but the words came tumbling out. “The Hermitage.”
    “Number.”
    Oh, hell. “705.”
    “I'll be there in an hour, and darling, leave that dress on.” He just finished speaking when the music stopped, and he shifted her out of his arms and his gaze slipped over her in appreciation, when he finished he winked at her. “And those sexy shoes.”
    Before she could form a reply the skunk walked away, damn rat, she mumbled and headed back to her table. Hopefully, she could make her excuses and leave. She didn't think she would be able to string a coherent sentence together without sounding like an idiot.
    Before he even reached his table, Nate could see the anger shining in Melisa's eyes, and let out a sigh of annoyance. It was his own damn fault, but hell he never expected the little pocket Venus to turn up here of all places. “Sorry about that. Are you ready to go?” While she gathered her things, he waved for the check, fished in his suit pocket for his credit card and handed to the waiter. Shortly the man was back and with Melisa at his side, moved through the room. When he reached Cooper's table his gaze met hers and what he saw glittering in her gray eyes, knew without doubt that she would be waiting for him.
    He gave a curt nod, and walked past. Now all he had to do was rid himself of Melisa, and hoped she wouldn't be too upset when she realized he had no intentions of ending the evening in her bed. There was only one bed he wanted to be in , and that was Cooper's and he was going to stay there until this damn infliction that had hold of him disappeared, and his life would be back to normal.
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    THIRTEEN
    When he tried the handle the door was unlocked, Nate opened it, stepped inside, closed the