Rent-A-Stud (6 page)

“I’m only being friendly, Doug.”

“You’re being nosy, as usual.”

Marianne huffed and picked up her glass of water. Zach exchanged a look with Jade. She managed to keep a straight face, but he could see the humor in her eyes.

He also saw her eyes cross when he slid his thumb up to her ear and caressed the lobe.

Other couples began to filter to their table, as did the waiters. Zach gave Jade’s nape a gentle squeeze before he released it.
Later
, he mouthed.

He saw her throat work as she swallowed.

Chapter Six

Jade clapped when Dr. Jennings, the hospital’s administrator, finished his speech, even though it had to be the most boring speech she’d ever heard. The man ran the hospital beautifully, but he had zero personality.

“A bit of a dud, huh?” Zach whispered in her ear.

His warm breath sent a shiver racing down her spine. Shivers had been racing up and down her spine all evening. A simple look from Zach’s incredible blue eyes made her stomach quiver and her nipples bead.

She didn’t want to want him.

Jade could fight her own body’s desires and she would. Having sex with Zach would probably feel good. Even mechanical sex would feel good after two years of celibacy.

Somehow, she knew nothing about sex with Zach would be the least bit mechanical.

Even though her body wanted to, it would be incredibly stupid. There could be no future for them. If she had sex with him, it would be nothing more than a one-night stand.

So what’s wrong with that?

That little voice in her head sounded suspiciously like Breanna.

“Now that I’ve completely bored all of you,” the administrator said, grinning when he received several chuckles and light applause, “it’s time for some fun. Dancing in the next room.”

“Ah, finally,” Zach said. “Ready to step on my foot?”

“You’re a glutton for punishment, aren’t you?”

Jade allowed Zach to take her hand and help her from her chair. He didn’t release her hand once they stood, but held it all the way to the dance floor. His palm felt warm and slightly rough against hers. She assumed the roughness came from calluses since he worked in construction.

A five-piece band played “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”. Zach drew her into his arms. Jade laid her left hand on his shoulder, her fingers inches from his hair. He tugged her a bit closer to him, until her breasts brushed his chest. It felt so good in his arms, so right, as if they’d danced together before tonight.

Zach smiled at her. “So far, so good. My feet are unbruised.”

“It’s only our first dance.”

“I like to live dangerously.”

He did a fast spin and dipped her. Jade laughed at his silliness. Feeling a bit lightheaded after he raised her upright again, she clutched his shoulder tighter. “Making me dizzy isn’t a good idea. Your feet will suffer.”

“I think you’re teasing me about stepping on my feet. You’re very graceful.”

His gaze swept over her face, her hair. It dipped briefly to her cleavage, making her catch her breath. When he looked at her face again, she could clearly see the heat in his eyes.

Her heart fluttered in her chest.

He’d been with dozens of women, perhaps even scores. He knew all the moves, all the right things to say. She had trouble believing, even with all his experience, that he could fake desire.

“Are you having a good time?” he asked.

“Yes. You’re a wonderful dancer.”

“This is nothing. You should see my moves during a fast song.”

He bobbled his eyebrows and grinned devilishly. Jade laughed again. She could grow to like him a lot in a very short time.

Unable to resist the temptation, she moved her hand on his shoulder until she could touch his hair. It felt as soft as it looked. She curled her finger around a thick tendril.

His arm tightened around her waist. “Now you’re making
me
crazy, just like when you drank from my glass.”

Jade hoped the dim lighting would keep him from seeing her blush. “Your glass?”

“Don’t pull that innocent act on me. You knew exactly what you were doing when you drank from the same spot I did.”

She didn’t think he’d notice that. It had been daring on her part, something she wouldn’t normally do. But she’d wanted that intimacy, that moment of being one with him.

“I don’t come on to my dates, Jade, no matter what you might think. I’ve never pushed a woman for sex.”

“With your looks and charm, you wouldn’t
have
to push.”

“I appreciate the compliment, but I’m not looking for compliments. I’m being honest with you. I want very much to make love to you. But it has to be your decision. If you choose to say goodnight to me at your front door, I’ll accept that.”

The band flowed from the Bee Gees’ song into “Always”. Zach pulled her closer to him, so close she could feel how much he wanted her. Jade had to bite her lower lip to keep from moaning aloud. It’d been much too long since she’d had a man’s hard cock inside her…

He nuzzled her neck, her earlobe. “You smell incredible,” he rasped in her ear.

She’d turn into one big puddle of mush if he kept whispering to her. Jade tried to pull back, to put some distance between them. Zach didn’t budge.

“Let me hold you like this. No pressure, I promise. Just let me hold you while we dance.”

“May I cut in?”

Jade turned her head to see Doug Lassiter smiling at her. He wanted to dance with her? They’d been to many functions together, but he’d never asked her to dance. The man barely acknowledged her existence.

Zach released her and stepped back. He didn’t look happy to hand her over to another man. “Certainly. I’ll get us something to drink. Wine or tea, Jade?”

“Tea will be fine.”

She watched him wind his way through the crowd until Doug stepped in front of her, blocking her view. Summoning a smile, she stepped into his arms.

* * * * *

I’m gonna shove his nose up his ass if that bastard doesn’t get it out of Jade’s cleavage.

Zach silently fumed as he watched Doug Lassiter dance with Jade. Dance, hell. The man was trying to dry-fuck her right there on the dance floor. He admired the way Jade kept tugging away from him, despite Lassiter’s attempts to keep her close.

The same thing had happened the first time she’d danced with the head of surgery. Zach had taken Jade back in his arms, only to be interrupted again by Dr. Jennings. After that, it’d been a man Zach hadn’t met, followed by some guy who worked in the lab. Now Lassiter led Jade around the dance floor again, although it looked like he’d rather lead her to a bed.

Zach had only danced one song with Jade. That did
not
make him happy.

As soon as the song ended, she pulled completely away from the doctor. He saw Lassiter’s mouth move, then Jade shake her head firmly before turning away from him. Her mouth thinned and her eyes narrowed in anger. Her strides carried her quickly toward Zach.

He met her halfway. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I don’t… I can’t believe…” She huffed out a breath. “He’s
never
done anything like that to me! He’s the head of surgery and we’re in
public
!”

“He’s never come on to you?”

“No! Neither has anyone else at the hospital. What is
wrong
with the men tonight?”

Zach couldn’t help chuckling at her confusion. She honestly had no idea why the men were drooling at her feet. Or rather, at her cleavage. “Men have been staring at you all night, Jade.”

She blinked. “They have?”

“Look at yourself. You’re hot. You look like you were poured into that dress.”

Jade placed one hand over her breasts. “The dress is too much, isn’t it? I told Breanna I should’ve worn something else.”

“No, the dress isn’t too much. You look beautiful in it.”

Biting her lower lip, she rubbed her forehead. “I could get into such trouble. I
never
should’ve listened to my daughter.”

Zach frowned, not understanding why she was so upset. “Why would you get in trouble? You have an incredible body. There’s no crime in dressing to show it off.”

“Zach, you don’t understand. I represent the hospital. I have to be professional. Wearing a dress that shows so much of my breasts is
not
professional. The board could fire me over this.”

“Over a
dress
? That’s crazy.”

“You don’t understand how the board thinks. They expect their officers and representatives to be above reproach.”

“You’ve done nothing that should cause your board any embarrassment. If anyone should be reprimanded, it’s Doug Lassiter for humping you on the dance floor.”

She clasped her hand over her mouth, but not before Zach heard her snort of laughter. He grinned. “Want me to rough him up a bit?”

“I wouldn’t want you to hurt your hands.”

“He looks pretty soft. One punch would be enough.”

Jade laughed out loud. Zach pushed a curl behind her ear, then lightly caressed her jaw with his thumb. “Would you like to dance with me now?”

He saw a young man approaching them over Jade’s shoulder. Zach tensed. Damn it, Jade was
his
date. He’d barely had two minutes with her in his arms. He could’ve said no when all those men cut in, but courtesy wouldn’t let him. Besides, he didn’t want to be rude to Jade’s coworkers.

“I’d rather go home.”

Her comment stunned him. Surely their evening wouldn’t end yet. He wanted more time with her, more of a chance to get to know her better. “So soon?”

“Actually, it’s not that soon. It’s after eleven.”

“Hi, Jade,” the young man said once he’d reached them.

Jade turned and smiled. “Hi, Danny.”

The kid tugged at his collar. His gaze darted to Zach before he looked at Jade again. “Would-would you like to dance?” he asked in a nervous, high-pitched voice.

“I’d love to, but Zach and I are leaving. Another time?”

His face fell with disappointment. “Oh, sure. No problem. Another time.”

Jade touched his arm. “Thank you for asking, Danny.”

Danny looked at her hand on his arm. Zach could actually see the kid’s skinny chest puff out at that simple touch. He had to be eighteen, nineteen at the most, and obviously suffering from a huge crush on Jade.

Zach watched the kid shuffle away before he offered his arm to Jade. “Shall we go?”

Jade took his arm. “We shall.”

Zach led her toward the exit, stopping only long enough to gather up her purse and wrap. She remained silent on the walk to the garage, and after they’d slipped into the car. He glanced at her before backing out of the parking space. She sat still in her seat, looking out the passenger window.

Zach waited until he’d pulled out of the garage before speaking. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking.”

“About?”

She turned her head toward him. “About all those men who asked me to dance. I’ve never been the belle of the ball. Maybe I should wear low-cut gowns more often.”

He could hear the humor in her voice. Zach grinned. “Well, I’ll vote for that.”

“Breanna talked me into buying this dress. I usually wear gowns that are more…well, I call them sedate. Breanna calls them boring.”

“I think I like your daughter.”

“There aren’t many people who
don’t
like Breanna.”

“Like mother, like daughter. I’ll bet you were very popular in school.”

“I had a lot of friends.”

“And boyfriends?”

“A few. But I lost all interest in any other boys when I started dating Carl.”