Page 61 of Betting on the Bad Boy

An announcement was made that the band would set up and start playing soon. Still not feeling quite myself, I forced myself to stand up from the table and walk over to where a small group congregated around my mom and Clem. I sensed Carter follow me.

“Look at this,” my mother thrust the plaque into my hands.

“It’s nice, Mom. Clem must be so proud,” I said.

“Oh, he is.” She beamed with pride. “He’s been working so hard. It’s so nice for him to be recognized by his peers.”

I passed the plaque back to her as the band started to playWalking in a Winter Wonderland.

“Would you like to dance?” Carter asked.

Anything to get me away from my mother and Clem for a few minutes. “I’d love to.”

Carter put his arm around my waist and whisked me out onto the dance floor. I’d taken ballroom dancing in high school and really enjoyed it. As Carter led me around the dance floor, I could tell he must have had lessons at some point as well.

“You’re quite the dancer,” I said to his chest.

“I’ve been to my fair share of sorority balls.”

“Did you pledge at KU?”

“No,” he glanced down at me as he twirled me around under his arm. “I never had time for it. Other priorities. How about you?”

“Same here,” I said.

Despite the hiccup with the book cover, I was actually having a good time with Carter. In the past, when my mother tried to set me up with someone, it tanked early. So far, I’d managed to survive dinner and now dancing. It’s not like anything would come from it—an erotic romance author and a pastor probably wouldn’t make it long-term.

“What plans do you have while you’re home on break?” he asked.

“Not much. I’m only here for a week. I need to get back and get a head start on some work for next semester.”

“Your mother mentioned you take work too seriously and don’t have enough fun.” He twirled me around and caught me up by his side.

“She did?”

“Yes.”

I spun away and back again, pressing up against him and swaying in time to the music. “What else did she say about me?”

“Let’s see, that you don’t date and don’t cook. True?”

I smiled to myself. Mom definitely had me pegged. “True enough, I suppose.”

The song came to an end, and I let my hand drop from Carter’s grasp. The band launched into a slow song, and several couples moved onto the dance floor.

“Up for another dance?” Carter asked, opening his arms.

“Sure.” It was either dance with him or try talking the bartender out of a case of wine. I stepped into his embrace, and he wrapped one arm around me, settling one hand on the small of my back and catching my hand up with the other.

My mother was right about the no dating. But it wouldn’t kill me to enjoy his company for an evening. Besides, I’d be heading back to Indiana in less than a week. What harm was there in sharing a dance or two with a relative stranger?

As we moved to the beat of the song, Mom and Clem waltzed by. My mother winked and gave me an exaggerated smile, apparently pleased with her matchmaking skills. I sighed. I’d let her enjoy her mini success, at least for tonight.

CHAPTER 32

Dante

I almost didn’t hearDr. Cain come into the room. I’d been immersed in the damn book for so long my butt had fallen asleep. Thanks to the constant, explicit sex scenes, other parts of me had become fully aroused. As the doc’s rubber-soled shoes squeaked on the linoleum, I flipped the cover closed and tossed the book back in my bag.