It was definitely so.
The man Auggie had discreetly pointed out as her most recent beau was a decent looking chap, Josh supposed. Tall and well groomed in his mediocre suit, to Josh he seemed less than what a woman like Augusta deserved.
He was also very clearly suffering at the sight of Augusta in another man’s arms. The man’s gaze seemed to draw back time and again to where they stood. His reaction didn’t go unnoticed by his date, either. It earned him a solid swat from the redhead on his arm.
Of course, the man’s reaction had little to do with him, Josh mused, and everything to do with the way Augusta looked in the gold silk. The dress fit the woman like a glove and slid over her skin when she moved in a way that made a man’s brain turn to slush. He knew. It had happened to him when she first walked downstairs, heels clicking, looking like the kind of woman a man would sell the brewery for, the kind of woman you might lie down and simply die to be with.
He’d waited until they were together in the back seat of the taxi to give her the earrings he’d purchased. He’d been glad of it, too, since she’d looked at the amber like it might bite. Josh was fairly certain she’d only accepted because the cabbie was clearly spying in his mirror. It was satisfying, then, to note that she’d spent the rest of the cab ride fingering the baubles, her lips lifted in the tiniest of smiles.
Josh had expected to arrive at an office, found himself surprised when they pulled up outside a hotel. The place had a grand space with a bar and dining tables surrounded by fake trees, with a creek that was very real babbling its way through the room. He’d wanted to stop and look into the design of the architecture, but Auggie wove her way past the little gazebo with its fairy lights above and pot lights below and walked down a ramp towards a ballroom.
It was no real hardship leaving the creek behind to follow after the woman. She was, without a doubt, breathtaking. So, really, Josh could understand her former lover’s dilemma. Auggie rather blinded the room.
The redhead at the ex’s side had absolutely nothing on Auggie. The man with the crew cut was a right eejit. He was also staring over the ginger’s head at Augusta yet again.
“Right. Dance with me, fine thing,” Josh said, and held out his hand.
Auggie looked up at him and one of her eyebrows arched, but she accepted the hand he offered after only the tiniest hesitation.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” she said.
“There’s no ‘have to’ when it comes to dancing with a gorgeous woman,” Josh said, slipping his arm around her and snugging her into his body as the tempo of the music conveniently slowed. The silk was cool to the touch, but the heat her body was throwing off under it spread like the burn of good whiskey into his veins. “Besides, I find I rather like the idea of tormenting the eejit who broke yer heart.”
Auggie threw back her head and laughed loud enough that couples dancing near them turned to look.
“Breaking my heart might be overstating,” she said. In fact, the way Josh McLaughlin looked in a suit, it was hard to think about any other man in the room, hard to remember what she’d ever even seen in Nick Shaw. Not that she’d ever say as much to Josh. “You’re a fair dancer, aren’t you McLaughlin?”
“I’m Irish, lass. We’ve got the moves.”
Auggie let out a snort at that.
“That’s what they all say,” she informed him, then squeaked, when he responded to her challenge by dipping her backwards over his arm. When he pulled her back up, her chest collided with his, and his arm tightened, keeping her there. There was a challenge of his own in his eyes, and looking at him, Auggie realized, took the breath from her lungs. She looped her arms around his neck, let him lead her around the dance floor in a slow, swaying unit, and decided to simply enjoy the ride.
He felt it the moment she relaxed into him. Her arms were linked loosely around him, her body moved with supple grace in time to his own. Her eyes were luminous -- bewitching -- in the shadows of the dance floor. She smiled at him, those lovely pink lips of hers quirking up with complete ease.
And all along, he grew increasingly tense as the spell of her wove itself around him, made him wonder what that complete calm she now projected -- so languid and opposed to the hurricane of energy she generally spouted -- would taste like on his lips should he sample them right here and now.
“You’ve got some moves of your own, Miss Chamberlain,” he murmured. She seemed to like his comment, and when he twirled her out, pulled her back, the smile of pleasure on her face positively glowed. A man would do a hell of a lot to put that look onto his woman’s face.
“You’re killing me here, fine thing.”
She lost the tempo a moment as uncertainty swamped her at his words. Tripping up against his foot, she stumbled. Although he simply tightened his grip on her, righting her as if nothing had occurred, Auggie immediately coiled back into knots under her skin.
“Sorry,” she said, unsure, exactly, what she was apologizing for, but either way, she’d amused him, that much was clear from his grin.
“So, Canadian,” he said, his smile only widening when she stiffened. “Well, Auggie, I’m Irish. I could use a few scoops.”
“A what?”
“A scoop. A drink, you know?” He smiled at her confusion and placed his hand at the small of her back as he led her off the dance floor and aimed for the bar in the corner of the room.
Auggie let him lead her to the bar, then lifted the glass he handed her and clinked it with his.
“Cheers, then, fine thing.”
She watched in amusement as he saluted her with his beer glass, then lifted it to his lips and let it slide down his throat in one long continuous swallow until the glass was empty.
“You’re not truly going to let a man drink alone, are you, lass?”
Eyes lofty, Auggie lifted her glass to her own lips. As if she’d back down from a challenge like that. Holding his gaze, she followed his lead, and downed her drink, swallowing sip after sip until her eyes watered and her glass drained. When she slapped her empty glass on the counter beside his, Josh grabbed his heart and staggered sideways theatrically.
It made Auggie toss her head back and laugh out loud for a second time that evening.
“I can match you drink for drink, Irish.”
“Oh, I very much doubt that,” Josh said, his eyes dancing, “But you’re more than welcome to give it a try, luv. I promise to get you home and tuck you in safe and sound.”
She snorted, then smacked at his arm lightly. For that moment, she decided to forget that he was a potential client -- one the magazine very much needed -- and not a real date. Mellie had gotten her into this situation, after all, and since she was here, she would enjoy.
Turning back to the bartender, she raised two fingers, then nudged one of the newly poured beers in Josh’s direction. She waited until he lifted his glass, then raised hers to her lips. With her eyes locked on his, she downed the second glass gulp by gulp, felt the heat as it burned the path down to her belly, felt the tiniest fuzz begin behind her eyes. She was gasping for breath by the time she’d swallowed the last drop, and when Josh reached over and dabbed a drop of beer from the side of her mouth with his thumb, she was trembling.
“Enough?”
She nodded mutely and reached for his hand. “I need to dance it off.”
Josh inclined his head slightly. “After you.”
In response, she smiled, and her fingers curled around his. This time, with the music thumping, and Auggie’s head swirling every so slightly, the vibe between them was different. She felt playful and light. This night – which she’d been dreading – had become a party.
Josh was not only good looking, he was amazingly quick on his feet, and he spun her around the dance floor like a seasoned pro. He made her laugh, made her feel like she was the only woman in the room who mattered, made her forget why she hadn’t wanted to come to this party. She was… stimulated, Auggie decided. In ways she’d never been with Nick.
Perhaps it was a problem. Her goals with Josh McLaughlin were professional rather than personal. She did need to remember that. It was okay to enjoy the evening, to have some fun. It would not do to have too much fun. Which was a pity, because if Josh had moves like this on the dance floor, she could imagine he would show a woman a good time indeed in the bedroom.
When the music stopped, Auggie excused herself to the ladies room. She hoped Josh didn’t realize that doing so was an excuse to get a little space, to gather herself slightly. It took her a moment, and when she returned to Josh’s side, she was unamused to find him standing, a plate of hors d’oeuvres in hand, flanked by Nick and Gillian.
His face had a closed look that Auggie had never seen before. There was no doubt in her mind that she was looking at Josh the businessman now, and this Josh, Auggie could see from clear across the room, could be ruthless. There was equally little doubt that Nick had orchestrated the exchange between them. That was a development she hadn’t anticipated. It seemed dancing with Josh had indeed made her ex feel the pang of jealousy.
For her part, Gillian looked like she’d willingly scratch Auggie’s eyes out. Maybe with the tiny shrimp fork she held. It would be easy enough to put Nick’s date at ease, of course.
“Darling,” Auggie said, walking up to Josh, “I see you’ve met Nick and Gillian.” She slid her arm around Josh’s waist with an unwarranted familiarity. He, apparently, did not object. Neither did he miss a beat when she leaned in and brushed his lips with a kiss, as if even moments in the powder room felt too long for them to be separated.
Josh didn’t miss a beat. Offering Auggie the plate he held, he reached down and entwined their fingers.
“We’ve just met,” he said, his eyes warm when he smiled at her. The look seemed so real, so authentic, that for a moment even Auggie believed they were an actual couple.
“You look… stunning,” Nick said, his voice deepening the way Auggie knew it did when he wanted to make an acquisition. When he started to move in as if he might kiss her cheek, Auggie turned into Josh slightly.
“Thank you, Nick. Darling,” she said with her eyes flashing to Josh’s face, “Did you know that NIck works for the largest law firm in town? He’s generally so overworked, I’m amazed he even made it to the party tonight.”
“He’s not too busy to take me to a Christmas party,” Gillian said. “He’s turned over a new leaf recently.”
“Is that so?” Auggie found herself fighting back a grin at the implied insult. She didn’t care in the least, she realized, that Nick had moved on. And wasn’t that a gift. “Well, then, we won’t get in your way and interrupt your evening. Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Absolutely. I was wanting a bit of a walk, anyway,” Josh said. He offered his most charming smile to Gillian and found it amusing when Auggie’s ex glared at him for his efforts. As if he’d be interested in stealing the man’s date. The most beautiful woman at this party was already attached firmly to his own arm. He turned to her, now. “Walk with me?”
“Of course,” Augusta said, smiling for Josh in a way that felt far too real to be an act for Nick and Gillian’s benefit. “Merry Christmas to you both.”
They left the ballroom with its live band, its decked-out Christmas tree and garlands full of sparkling lights, and they headed back to the main dining space and the creek Josh was so intrigued with. Here, the lights were dimmer, and after the noise of the party, the space was relatively quiet.
Josh didn’t release Auggie’s hand as they walked, and neither spoke. Instead, they prowled the place together in companionable silence. Josh could hear the splash of water and the piped-in sound of seasonal tunes. Occasionally, there was the shout of a child, or the laughter of a patron at the bar. Mostly, though, there was the quiet sense of being alone with Auggie, her fingers warm in his, her strides sure at his side.
“Remarkable,” he said, as he studied the masonry containing the creek. “What a brilliant idea.” Looking up from the creek, he found Auggie watching him in silent appreciation. She stood half in, half out of shadows, looking for the life of him like the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“You know, Augusta Chamberlain,” he said with voice pitched low, “You are a very intoxicating woman. If I didn’t live halfway around the world, I’d be tempted to make this a date for real, and not just be here crashing your party.”
Auggie smiled slightly, then lifted her hand to fix his tie. She straightened the knot, smoothed the silk against his chest, and for a single moment left her palm flat against his heart.
“You’re not completely horrid yourself,” she said finally. “And if Near and Far didn’t need your business -- making you a client -- I’d be tempted to let you. But, you do. And you are, so…”
He grinned at her. “Leave off about the magazine, Augusta. My business is yours. All that remains are details, and those can wait.”
Auggie blinked rapidly. She discovered she had no idea what to say. In fact, she was battling the urge to leap into his arms and show her appreciation in rather unprofessional ways. Instead, she thrust her hand his way, offering to shake on it. He took her hand, but the look in his eyes told her she wasn’t the only one thinking there were more interesting congratulatory options which could be happening between them.
“Do you want to go back in?”
Not in the least. This, here with him alone in the hotel courtyard, was better. Surprisingly intimate. Dangerously comfortable.
“No,” she shook her head, “I’ve had enough of the party. I’d rather call it a night. You?”
“I’m at your disposal, Augusta.”
He smiled gently as he said her name, and it was almost as if he was savouring the way it formed on his lips. Auggie found it hard to look away. He must be exhausted, battling jet lag, but you certainly couldn’t tell to look at him. One of his broad shoulders lifted in a shrug that moved the fine fabric of his suit. In response, her mouth went distinctly dry at how well he wore that suit.
“There are a few people I should wish Merry Christmas,” she said. She felt reluctant to return to the noisy ballroom for even the few moments that would take. Not when she was enjoying his complete attention so much. Still, she had responsibilities. They wouldn’t take her long. Shrugging, she smiled apologetically at him.
“Fair enough.” He read her mixed feelings easily enough, accepted the mood of the moment. “And then,” Josh said, making her laugh when he winked, “I’ll be the bloke as takes you home.”