I frowned. “You’re saying that like I’m not supposed to be here or something.”
“Because something tells me you’re not. Or, at least, that this isn’t quite your crowd.”
He was good. Noah was such a keep-things-close-to-the-chest kind of guy that it was easy to forget that he was also one of those types who saw everything.
“What, you think I snuck in here or something?” I couldn’t help but smirk a bit as I spoke.
“You see that security out front? Not a chance anyone’s sneaking in here. All the same, I’m getting the impression that you’re not exactly on the guest list.”
Noah was right, but there wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to tell him the way I’d gotten in – by using his daughter’s invitation that she’d gotten through her job at the DA’s office.
Cammy knew I was here, of course, but how on earth would I be able to tell Noah that, as far as security was concerned, I was his daughter?
“Can you keep a secret?” I asked.
“Of course. I’d love to be a part of your little intrigue.”
The song changed, the medium-paced waltz turning to a much slower-tempo song. Noah kept his arm wrapped around my waist holding me close. I stepped up on my tiptoes and whispered into his ear.
“I’m here on someone else’s invitation.”
It was damn hard to resist nibbling his ear, my mouth so close to him. I pulled back, observing him regarding me with an expression of mild surprise, one of his thick eyebrows arched above the top border of his mask.
“Now, that’s certainly a risky move. This isn’t just any party – this istheparty of the year. The mayor’s here, the DA, not to mention the head of Pitt Medical. You could get into some serious shite if you got ratted out.”
“But you’re not going to rat me out, are you?” I asked with a playful, challenging tone.
“Maybe I am. For all you know, I could be the head of security ready to throw you into the back of a paddy wagon.”
“A paddy wagon, huh? You know where that term comes from, Mr. Irish?”
He cocked his head to the side, putting it together and letting out a laugh once he’d figured it out.
“Alright, a cop car, as you yanks say. But you’re evading the question – I could be onto you.”
I tossed my hair back, thinking it over as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He responded by putting his hands on my hips.
I was so close to him, so turned on by his nearness, that it was a surprise I was able to get out a single word.
“You don’t seem like the security type. I mean, you’re tall and strong and capable of speaking in a way that sends pesky bad dates running for the hills. But you seem a little too…thoughtful for that.”
“Aye? And what kind of job do you imagine a thoughtful, tall man like me does?”
I had him at a disadvantage, but I was going to play along.
I placed my hands on his, bringing them off my hips and up to my face.
“You’ve got big hands,” I said. “They could possibly be put to good use choking the life out of some poor schlub. But these…they strike me more as healing hands. Doctor’s hands.”
“Very good guess. Or maybe not.”
“No?”
He shrugged, slipping his hands from mine, and returning them to my hips. This time, he gave my curves a squeeze that made my heart skip a beat and my panties soak.
“This is an event for Pitt Medical. You could throw a pebble into the attendees here and most likely hit a doctor in the head. And then you could throw another pebble and hit a doctor who could take care of the first guy that you hit.”
I laughed. “Alright, alright – good point.”