Just an fyi- today’s snippet is from INFLUENCE which is currently FREE on kindle until 12.19.2023. Have you read it yet? Now is the time to before the price goes up again on the 20th!
“Excuse me, Mr. Craymore,” I said. “I believe I’m next on your daughter’s next dance card.”
Sterling Craymore’s gaze raked me from head to feet, an assessing glare in his eyes and one, if I’m being truthful, meant to assure me he could cut me off at the knees if he wanted to. If I’m ever lucky enough to be a father I’m going to use that withering glare on all my daughter’s boyfriends.
“It’s okay, Daddy,” she said, removing her arm from the crook of his elbow crook and simultaneously planting a kiss on his cheek. She whispered something in his ear that had the suspicious look dissolving, to be replaced with one of pure paternal love.
I didn’t want to give her a moment to reconsider, so I stepped forward and extended my hand. “Shall we?”
Effortlessly she slid into my arms. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to simply enjoy the feel of her body close to mine. The song was a slow, jazzy ballad perfect for swaying to. Both of us, though, were too practiced as dancers to ever simply sway.
We were silent for a few moments as I glided her across the dance floor, each of us learning and concentrating on the movements of the other.
“You’ve done this before,” Mackenzie said, smiling, as I spun her to the right.
“Never underestimate the benefits of a good dance instructor.”
“Miss Davenport’s?” She asked, naming a school I knew catered to the wealthy.
“No. I took lessons in England as a boy, where I was born.”
“Why don’t you sound like your brother, then? His accent is charming.”
I lifted a brow as I stared down at her. “And mine isn’t?”
The tips of her ears went pink. “I meant,” she said, “When Charlie opens his mouth you know he’s English-born. I don’t hear a hint of anything in your voice.”
“It’s because I grew up in the States. When my parents divorced, my father wanted to come back here after being away from the country for almost a decade. He’d been running his business from England, but with the split, decided to return. Charlie got mom and I got dad in the divorce settlement.”
“That’s sad. But you two kept in touch, right?”
“Of course. He’s family. My older brother.” I grinned down at her. “Of course, he does like to laud the older part over me.” I glided her to the left. “We saw one another on most of my school holidays. The bond between us is strong.”
Her sigh drifted over me, the sound like the high register keys on a piano tinkling.
“It must be nice to have a sibling. I always wanted one, but.” She delicately lifted a shoulder.
“A blessing and a curse is what I tell people having a big brother is like.”
Her smile was like a thunderbolt and knocked me back as if I’d been struck by its force.
“So,” she asked, “how do you know Gideon?”
“I don’t. Not personally. I know of him through Nell. He’s friends with her new stepfather.”
“William McNab.”
“Yeah. When Charlie mentioned they were attending this shindig tonight, I wormed an invite.”
“Why?”
To meet you would have been an answer I’d need to explain, so I told her instead, “The cause is a worthy one and my mother raised us to support worthy causes.”
She nodded. “His clinic is wonderful. He takes in anyone, whether they can afford to pay for the top-notch care they receive, or not. One hundred percent of tonight’s proceeds from the silent auction are earmarked to continue that service.”
“Worthy and noble,” I said.
I glided her around a couple who’d stopped to speak to another pair of dancers.
“So, is this how you spend your free time, Mackenzie Craymore? Attend charity auctions? Hobnob with society movers and shakers? Have lunch with friends?”
“Dance with strange men?” she said back, making me laugh.
“Touche. I didn’t mean to sound snarky. I’d just like to get to know you better.”
That must have touched a cord. Her expression blanked a bit. “I keep busy,” she responded, noncommittally.
“Which tells me absolutely nothing.” I smiled when I said it.
“A woman likes to be a little mysterious,” she said, her lips twitching. “How about you? What do you do all day when you’re not attending charity fundraisers garbed in a five thousand dollar tuxedo?”
My brows shot up.
“I know the brand.” Her cheeks pinked a bit. Of course she did. As a professional social media influence, she must. But she didn’t tell me how she knew it.
Interesting. Her new career wasn’t a secret, not to people who knew who she was, anyway. Why hide it from me?
Since I hadn’t answered her question yet, I decided to go with my version of the truth. “I spend my days attempting to write the great American novel.”
“How’s that going?”
“Not well, lately. But it looks as if things are starting to look up. Right at this minute they are, at least.”
The implication she was the reason wasn’t lost on her. A rosy flush started at the tips of her ears and drifted down to her cheeks and jawline.
The music pulled to a stop. We didn’t. With the silent band surrounding us, we continued to move as if lazy music pushed us on. If anyone thought it odd, I didn’t care.
“How do you feel about lunch?” I asked.
She blinked a few times. “I eat it two, maybe three times a week.”
Again, I couldn’t help but smile at her dry humor. Was there anything more alluring than a beautiful, sexy woman who could make you laugh?
“Care to make one of those two or three times with me?”
Peggy Jaeger, Author 