Free Dancing Together by Wendi Zwaduk Page B

to fuck her. Tonight, he hoped she
went for the kill and dressed to impress—him.
    God, he was full of himself thinking she wanted to be with
him after he’d kept things so casual. Still, a man could dream and possibly
realize what he’d kind of always known. He liked her for more than a friend or
casual date. Before he could let her know, he had to find her.
    Please let her be in Vegas and looking for him, too.
    He rode to the top floor of the building. He wanted Allyson
to be in Vegas and at the party, but if she wasn’t, he’d make do. He’d find a
lover for the holiday. When the doors opened, he bit back a gasp. Holiday music
with a techno flair blasted around the expansive room, making the space seem to
bounce. A set of steps led down to the main dance floor. Strings of twinkle
lights in every color imaginable dangled from the ceiling and garland had been
draped around the tables and from sconces on the walls. The pungent scent of
cinnamon filled the air.
    Jordy wiped his hands on his pants legs and strode out of
the elevator. Seeing the explosion of red and green in the room, coupled with
the holiday scent and the flickering lights, kicked his holiday spirit up a
notch. He surveyed the bevy of women on the dance floor. He spotted someone who
reminded him of Allyson near the edge of the dance floor. Dressed in a bright
green dress, she ground her ass into a male dancer’s groin. Would Allyson be so
free? She wasn’t in Cleveland and didn’t have to worry about someone from the
school seeing her. A thought occurred to him. She’d once mentioned something
about having a boyfriend. Shit. Did she mean she wanted a longer relationship
with Chad? She could certainly do better than the jerk selling insurance. Or
was she talking about him?
    Possible. Now he wished he’d have listened a bit closer and
been less of a douche. Wasn’t Christmas the time to set differences aside and
to make amends? Or time to move on? He didn’t want anyone except her, but maybe
he’d find someone like Allyson there among the dancers. Maybe. If he got lucky,
she’d be there and alone. He wanted to swoop in and serve as her Santa. She
could be his naughty elf in desperate need of a spanking. Whatever happened, he
wanted to be with Allyson before Christmas day and to get lucky for the
holidays.

Chapter Two
     
    Allyson stood along the fringe of the dance floor, watching
the other attendees engaged in merriment. Part of her wanted to jump in the
middle and lose her cares. The rest of her—the responsible, buttoned-up part—was
scared. She’d never done anything like planning a Vegas vacation and never put
her heart so far out on her sleeve as she had with Jordy. She wanted him on her
terms, not his. Not meeting up at the school for long talks and even longer
kisses. No family running around and butting into their affairs. Not that she
and Jordy were in the midst of an affair. She wished they were. From the moment
she met Jordy, she wanted him. Who didn’t? The former baseball player had
become the stud of the elementary school staff. He walked down the halls with a
swagger and always looked so handsome in his requisite running shorts and
T-shirts as the elementary school physical education teacher.
    She folded her arms and sighed, then edged away from the
crowd. Telling Jordy to come to Vegas had been bold. Following along in the
hopes of catching up to him had been crazy. He was her Christmas wish. She
wanted Jordy Murphy gift-wrapped and under her tree…or rather she wanted him
there and using his special skills to wrap her up. Either way, she wanted him.
    She wobbled on her spindly high heels as she made her way
toward the massive Christmas tree. Towering two stories high, the tree easily
illuminated the room. She touched one of the iridescent ornaments and made a
silent wish for Jordy to arrive.
    She was pining for him and she knew it. Damn.
    Allyson turned back toward the main throng of dancers and
picked at the beading on her