How to Resist Prince Charming by Linda Kage Read Free Book Online Page B

vanilla fragrance she’d worn to the Christmas party.
    “Hi,” she yelled back. “What’re you doing here?”
    Braxton rolled his eyes and pointed toward Erica as she flung her hands in the air while wiggling her booty. “Blind date.”
    Lenna winced when she heard his answer.
    She leaned closer and Braxton about drowned on his own drool. “Doesn’t look like you’re having such a great time.”
    He knew she’d only moved in so she wouldn’t have to talk so loud, but Braxton took advantage of her proximity, filling his nostrils with her scent. He inhaled as much as possible, as if he could save it somehow and take the extra stored aroma home with him.
    “I’ll pay you a hundred bucks to break me out of here,” he called into her ear.
    Lenna laughed that sweet laugh of hers. “Oh, no you don’t.” She patted his arm. “We all must make our sacrifices to the blind date god. I’m not getting you out of this one, bud.”
    The music changed to something soft and slow. Braxton could see his and Greg’s dates starting back toward their table. He groaned deep in his throat, knowing he should return to Hell. But just as Erica pulled out her chair to sit, some other guy approached, touching her elbow and causing her to turn back. She obviously—hopefully—knew him because she greeted him with an ear-to-ear smile and a full-body hug. Then she hooked her arm through his and dragged him onto the dance floor.
    Too relieved to think through his next action, Braxton whirled to Lenna. “So, save me for five minutes,” he urged. “Dance with me.”
    Lenna’s eyes widened. “I…I didn’t think you danced.” Nibbling on her bottom lip, she eyed the floor and then him. “You didn’t at the Christmas party.”
    So, she’d noticed that, had she?
    Braxton grinned. “That’s because I didn’t feel right about asking you then.”
    Appearing even more stunned by his confession, her eyes zipped to his. He held a hand out to her, silently encouraging her to take his fingers.
    Touching her might lead to a slow and painful death at her father’s hand, but Braxton decided right then and there, it would be worth it.
    Lenna looked as indecisive as she did tempted. Even as she warily eyed him, her hand slowly came out and took his.
    He gave her a warm smile and led her onto the floor. Holding her close, he stared down into her eyes as they swayed together in rhythm with one another. He wanted to tell her how good she looked, how glad he was to finally dance with her, how bad he wanted to get inside her. But he opted for light conversation.
    “Come here often?”
    She smiled. “My friends and I were in a dancing mood.”
    “Then I’m glad to oblige the mood for you,” he answered and twirled her.
    “Well, thank you, kind sir,” Lenna responded when she spun back against his chest, her eyes glittering with amusement. “I shall be forever grateful for your bold and courageous act.”
    She was only teasing. She lifted her chin and sent him a lofty mistress-of-the-manner look before she broke into a grin. But her words took on a whole new meaning.
    It had been a nervy move for him to ask her to dance. It was probably foolish too, tempting them both this way, giving each other a taste so they’d only crave more.
    Lenna seemed to understand the circumstances as clearly as he did. Her eyes lost their blissful gleam.
    Braxton tightened his grip as if he was desperately trying to latch onto the perfect moment they’d been having before it slipped away.
    “How was your holiday?” he asked, attempting to start fresh.
    A wave of déjà vu gripped him. Hadn’t they tried this before? He and Lenna would start talking. They’d gradually drift onto a personal topic, but as soon as they took a step over the line, they’d both back off until one of them started a new conversation with a new safe subject.
    They kept tiptoeing around this attraction, and it frustrated the hell out of him. But he couldn’t make himself pull away