Restoration by Kim Loraine

drink offer and headed for a seat as far from the speakers as possible. That was when he saw the familiar sway of Grace’s hips as she walked with Valerie to a table in the center of the room.
    His breath sped as he took in the tight jeans showcasing her gorgeous ass. Dark locks of hair spilled down her back enticingly, just begging to have his hands tangled in it. He smiled at the turn the evening had just taken and decided to take Mark up on that pint after all.
    His buddy followed his gaze as he brought their pints back from the bar. “Ah, I see what’s brought you around.” The grin on his face caused Drew’s ears to burn. “The sharks are circling, mate.”
    He’d already noticed the other men as they caught sight of Grace, her unassuming sexiness incredibly alluring. She, for her part, was oblivious to the world around her. She picked at her cuticles and looked generally uninterested in her surroundings. He had to beat down the surge of excitement at the thought of her lack of attention to any of the men in the room.
    “Go on, then. You said things were moving along with her. Go get her.” Mark nudged him forward.
    “Drew! Drew!” He heard her before she crashed into him, wrapping her little body around his in an unusual gesture of familiarity.
    “Val. Hello.” He laughed as she pulled herself upright and turned to the bar to collect two drinks.
    She smiled and swayed slightly on her heels. “Grace will be so happy to see you. She needs some hot man-cake action.”
    His eyebrows rose as he took in her words. Fighting a blush, he took a sip of his beer. “Man-cake, eh?”
    “Oh yeah, she needs it. It’s been a long time, and she gets so cranky.”
    Valerie was clearly drunk and apparently alcohol made her chatty. He grinned and took the drinks from her, setting his own on the bar.
    “Oh, no-no-no. You go over there,” she said, pointing in the direction of Grace’s table. “I’ve got meddling to do. I’ll be back with these in a few minutes. Keep her company.”
    He nodded, laughing at this little bit of a woman who somehow managed to steer everyone the way she wanted them to go.
    He picked up his beer and headed toward Grace.
    While she waited in the noisy bar, Grace turned her attention to the group of girls, obviously part of a bachelorette party, as they piled up on the stage. They launched into a Spice Girls song, which was barely discernible through all of their giggling.
    She wanted a drink, badly. Karaoke was a guilty pleasure for her, but she needed a little more liquid courage to actually get on stage.
    “Taking a break from the Tudor family, eh?”
    A soft, deep voice in her ear sent a shiver up her spine. The hair on the back of her neck stood when his breath tickled her skin and a flash of heat crept up her face. She smiled and turned to look into dark eyes, glittering with amusement.
    Drew took the seat next to hers and sat his beer down on the table.
    “Yes. I was feeling a bit murderous. Too much Henry, not enough Spice Girls.” She gestured toward the drunken women and their microphones.
    “I don’t know if this is going to help or hurt.” He looked with a grimace at the stage.
    “What are you doing here? Are you a closet karaoke champion?”
    He laughed and shook his head. “No way. One of my mates is getting married on Sunday. I’m here for his stag night. That’s his lovely bride up there now.”
    He winced as the bride toppled off the stage, her veil with glowing penises flying out behind her.
    “Nice.” She tried to suppress her laughter. “Well, don’t let me take you away from your fabulous evening.” She was offering him an out and trying to disguise the twinge of disappointment in her voice.
    Drew took a drink of his beer and smiled. “No way. You’re not getting away from me now. I’ve not gotten to see you nearly as much as I’d like to. They won’t miss me. I’m pretty sure these blokes are all so pissed they won’t be making it any farther than