“I can say something to him if you want me to.”
Charlee smiled, trying to hide the excitement his offer made her. “I think you already made a statement back there. I doubt he’ll even be there when I get back.”
His rigid stare softened a bit, and he smiled playfully. “Did you want him to be?”
Fighting the urge to run her finger over the scar on his brow, the only imperfection she’d noticed the first time she’d been close enough to see it on his otherwise flawless face, she shook her head.
The playful smile vanished, and he was suddenly serious again. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes as blue as yours. They’re . . .” He looked so deeply into her eyes she had to remind herself to breathe. “They’re beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she heard herself say but really had no idea how she managed.
It wasn’t what he said but how he said it that made Charlee nearly quiver. Again it was something she couldn’t begin to explain. What she was seeing in his eyes was the very thing she was feeling. Impossible.
Neither of them noticed the song had ended until the D.J. started talking about giving away prizes: 5th Street t-shirts, tickets to upcoming bouts, and more. Hector cleared his throat, and to Charlee’s relief, he seemed as embarrassed as she felt about not having noticed they were the only two still dancing even after the music had stopped.
He stepped away from her, leaving her body yearning to be pressed against his again. He even dropped her hand, which he’d held from the moment he took it in his and led her onto the dance floor.
Everyone’s attention was suddenly averted to the entryway of the banquet room. A group of people were arriving, and the D.J. announced that Felix Sanchez had entered the building. The people around them began talking and whispering all at once.
“You wanna meet him?” Hector asked. “I know Walter does.”
Drew was suddenly at her side, smiling. Charlee didn’t even get a chance to answer Hector’s question. He informed her and Drew that he would bring Felix over to introduce him to them and the rest of the people from the chess club.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Drew began the inquisition. “What was that all about?”
Since Charlee didn’t know what to make of it either and the pulse in her ears was still humming too loudly to try to make sense of it yet, she shrugged as they made their way back toward Walter and the rest of their group. “I’m not sure. He just said I looked uncomfortable with Roger and he didn’t like it.”
“Really?” Drew smiled. “Roger was kind of pissed.”
“Was he?”
“Yeah,” Drew nodded then laughed. “He said someone should’ve told him you were Hector’s property.” She rolled her eyes. “I told the idiot you were no one’s property. Although it was kind of hard to say it with a whole lot of conviction, considering the way Hector held you on the dance floor,” she lifted an eyebrow with a smirk, “even after the music was over. What else did he say to you?”
Charlee felt her face flush, lowering her voice as they reached Walter and the others, almost afraid to say it out loud. “He said I have beautiful eyes.”
Seeing the instant excitement in Drew’s face was enough. Charlee wouldn’t even attempt to explain what that moment felt like.
“I knew I’d prove my point tonight. There’s no denying he’s feeling something for you. And by the way,” Drew reached over and squeezed Charlee’s arm softly, “I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but you did really well when you were talking to him earlier. I know you were nervous about facing him so soon after yesterday, and when he brought that up, I thought for sure you were going to choke, but you handled it beautifully.”
Charlee couldn’t help rolling her eyes now. “That was the wine, I’m sure. I choked when we were dancing. I could barely breathe straight, let alone talk.”
Drew waved her hand at Charlee. “I wouldn’t worry about it. He seemed so lost in your little dance I’m sure he didn’t even notice.” She smiled wickedly. “I mean, geez, neither of you noticed the music had stopped.” Drew laughed again. “That’s when Roger said he was out of here.”
“What about Maurice?” Charlee asked, still feeling a little warm in the face that Drew wasn’t the only one who noticed the room and everyone in it had disappeared for Charlee when she’d been in Hector’s arms. And unbelievably her heart had sped up even more ever since hearing Drew say there was no denying Hector was feeling something for her.
“Oh, he’ll be back. He had to go help the D.J. out with the giveaways.” Drew smiled sheepishly. “I told him we’d be leaving early, and he said he wanted to walk me out to my car. I think he wants to kiss me goodnight. He almost did on the dance floor.”
Charlee smiled now too. “Are you gonna let him?”
Drew lifted and dropped her shoulders quickly. “I might. He is kind of cute. And I heard Roger and saw the way he kept getting so close to your face. No wonder Hector came to your rescue. Maurice isn’t nearly as pushy.” Something caught Drew’s attention. “Oh, wow, here comes the megastar in the flesh.”
Charlee turned to see Hector and Felix walking toward them. The crowd literally spread for them as they walked through it. There were a lot more people there now than there were earlier, and they all stared at both Felix and Hector as they walked by them.