Romancing the Fashionista by K. M. Jackson Page A

after it and gets what she wants. We’re both that way. Aggressive. In the bedroom and out.” He leaned in again. “And a woman like you seems to be the type who knows how to get what she wants too.”
    Mel really leaned back this time. What the hell is this fool saying to me? “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Oh I’m sure you do, honey,” Jim replied as he glanced at Nolan and Ramona who, at that point, were looking back their way. Suddenly, Mel felt a little ill. Not about the idea of a threesome, though they weren’t her thing, but the idea of being in any sort of sexual situation with Ramona fucking Spencer filled her with revulsion. But then Mr. Spencer slash Patterson continued. “Hopefully if Mr. All American plays ball, it will be a quad.”
    Mel almost choked. Check, please! She was more than ready to leave now. Mel was just about to tell Jim where to get off when he placed his hand at her neck in what could have been a sexy way if it wasn’t so tight and possessive. It was almost shocking in the way it stilled her. She was about to open her mouth to tell him off when a voice beat her to the punch.
    “If I were you, I’d move my dirty hands before they got broken and go collect my wife.”
    Instantly Jim lifted his hand. “Sorry, man. I was just making the lady an offer.”
    “Does she look like she wants what you’re offering?” Nolan’s voice was low, steady and just a little deadly.
    “Okay, I’m out.” Jim hopped up, took his drink, and scuttled to the other side of the room where Ramona looked more than a little put out. Nolan took the seat he vacated.
    “I’m really sorry. I should have been waiting for you at the door, or at least run over as soon as I saw that ass hitting on you.”
    Mel shook her head. “It’s not your fault, and you’re not my keeper. Besides, you had your hands full.”
    Nolan let out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, I did. I can’t believe I got pulled into a dance with her. You know how she is with announcements. I wish I had gone to your room and picked you and Lexi up. I would have had an out then.”
    Mel flashed him a heated look. “Is that what I am, an out?”
    He frowned. “Jeeze, of course not.” Nolan ran a hand over his head. “God, I’m really screwing up what is supposed to be a nice night. Can we please let this bad energy go and start again?” The way he looked at her so sweetly with so much hope in his eyes let Mel know he was sincere and wanted to start again.
    She smiled. “Sure, and hell, I’ve been propositioned by better and worse than the likes of him.”
    Nolan grimaced. “Worse? You really need to hang with a better class of people.”
    It was then that Lexi came over with their drinks and Ian in tow as the DJ announced a line dance. Mel looked at her friends. “Care to cut it up to some truly awful music?”
    Nolan took her hand as she took Lexi’s with her other. “Sure. Tonight we’ll be young again.”
    As they swayed together to the sounds of the old hit, Mel took a moment and focused in on being in Nolan’s arms, the feel of him as he smoothly and confidently led her around the dance floor. The delicious masculine smell of him, a combination of soap and fresh air, so unlike the men she was used to who somehow smelled like a mixture of spin class and Barney’s. The hardness of his chest didn’t feel in any way pumped up or trainer-induced as she leaned against him. She could feel his heartbeat slow and steady against her chest and wondered for a moment, before dismissing herself for being silly, if there could actually be something more.
    But it was foolish. This was just one weekend—an anomaly in a lifetime of working weekends. This was not her real life, so she’d better take the time and enjoy it for what it was.
    They laughed and danced with Ian and Lexi for the better part of the night in between the two of them bickering. When she and Nolan got up for another dance, they left Lexi and