Claire, Angela - Heart of Stone (Siren Publishing Classic) by Angela Claire

big lean body, so like Jake’s, was soothing, but not exciting like it was when Jake had held her this close. Jake, she thought miserably, who was sidling up to perfect Miss Regina right at this very moment.
    “You are, Melinda, a real natural, yes, ma’am. I bet I could teach you just about anything and you’d catch on real quick, wouldn’t you?”
    “You’re not teaching her anything, Whelan.” It was soft-spoken, but firm, and right at her elbow. Jake was there, pulling her away from Jesse before either of them had a chance to resist.
    Jesse laughed. “I thought you were busy with Regina .”
    “I don’t want to make a scene in here, Whelan, because it’s Melinda who’d suffer. But I expect you don’t care much about that, busy as you are trying to make Miss Winthrop jealous.”
    “Look, boss, if you want to dance with Melinda, just say so. Looked to me like it was Regina you wanted to get cozy with, but I expect that was just a ruse, huh?”
    Melinda wasn’t quite following this. They were speaking so low, almost as if they were having a regular conversation. She wandered back to the refreshment table and poured another glass of punch. She did manage to get it all down this time before someone took it out of her hand. This time it was Jake, Jesse nowhere to be seen.
    “Why don’t you come show me what a good dancer you are, Melinda? Or is it just Jesse you can find the rhythm with?”
    He pulled her out on the floor before she could respond, and the reward of being in his arms was enough to quiet whatever response she may have given. This was a slow dance, just perfect, and she pressed against him eagerly. It was a second before he put some space between them again, but he looked down at her intently for a minute before looking away, waving to a nearby dancing couple.
    After a turn or two around the floor, Jake asked, “How much punch did that bastard Whelan give you?”
    “He didn’t give me any, Jake. He kept taking it away from me, same as you. He did ask me if I was tired of being good, though.”
    “I just bet he did.”
    “I am, Jake. I’m so tired of being good.”
    “You are good, Melinda. You’re a good girl. The way you take care of Ginny. You’re a good person.”
    Somehow, this was not what she wanted to hear tonight. “What about me? Who’ll take care of me?”
    He froze in the dance steps for just a second, and then continued to lead her around the dance floor smoothly. “You’ll be with Ginny and me for as long as we can get you to stay, then I expect you’ll marry and have children of your own.”
    “No, I won’t. I can’t.”
    “You’ve had too much to drink, honey, is all. That’s the punch talking. Of course you’ll marry. As pretty as you are, any man would be happy to have you.”
    “But not you?” There, she’d said it. She wasn’t sorry, even though she knew she couldn’t ever marry this man anyway, not if he got down on his knees and proposed right now. No, she couldn’t ever risk it.
    “No, not me. I’ve told you that.”
    “Oh, of course. But you can marry somebody like Regina Winthrop.” She felt like she was going to cry, and for a second, he looked panicked. They stopped dancing.
    “We should leave,” he said.
    Just as well, considering the fool she’d just made of herself. Maybe what they said about the Irish and drinking was true after all. Great, just another curse hanging over her head.
    He was shepherding her towards the door, stopping only to say a few polite goodbyes, when Regina and her father stopped them.
    “Dance isn’t nearly over, Jake. Where you going?”
    Jake nodded to them.
    “We’ve got to head on back, pick up Ginny. Mr. Winthrop. Regina .”
    “Lou, please.”
    “Lou.”
    “And look here, Regina still wants one more dance. Go on, little girl, give it one more whirl with this big fella. I’ll wait with this missy. Go on.”
    Looking pained but resigned, Jake let himself be led out to the dance floor one last