Annabelle waved a hand. “Oh, you know, noisy.”
God, her sister. “Tell them Auntie Hadley says hi. I’ll stop by to visit when I can.”
“Mummy and Daddy want you to come over for dinner one night.”
Hadley groaned, and Annabelle grinned.
That meant a stuffy dinner at their parents’ home, along with whatever stuffy single man they tried to foist off on her.
“I’m not sure I’ll have the time.”
Annabelle snorted. “You know that won’t stop them. Bring someone. Maybe your hot boss.”
“No. I’m not subjecting Killian to that.”
“Someone else, then.”
“No.” A tingle started at the back of her neck.
It got stronger. She idly hoped it was wrong, for once, but it was never wrong. Trouble was close.
Suddenly, a strong, muscular arm wrapped around her waist in an exceptionally possessive way.
She looked up and her body went stiff. She looked into extraordinary hazel eyes, filled with gold flecks. Eyes she’d never, ever admit that she sometimes dreamed about.
“I’m sorry,” the newcomer drawled. “Can I steal her away?”
Annabelle blinked, then grinned. “Sure. Go ahead.”
Then, British billionaire Bennett Knightley, whisked Hadley away and onto the dance floor, and she found herself pressed up against a hard, suit-clad body.
* * *
There wasnothing quite as attractive as a beautiful woman shooting you an annoyed glare.
Bennett Knightley slid an arm around Hadley’s waist. “Ms. Lockwood.”
“Mr. Knightley,” she clipped.
Oh, there was something else as attractive as the glare—it was the cool, sharp tone as she said his name. She had the rare ability to be polite and tell him he was a dickhead at the same time.
His cock tightened.
Down, boy, or she’ll cut you off.
They moved across the dance floor, and of course, she danced as easily as she breathed. He could only dance because his mum had forced all her kids into lessons. Bennett and his two brothers had suffered through theirs, while their sister had laughed at them gleefully.
But he wasn’t surprised that Hadley “Striker” Lockwood danced well. As far as he could tell, she did everything well. Hadley was frighteningly competent at everything.
He pulled her closer to avoid bumping into the tipsy, millionaire owner of a high-end department store, and an equally tipsy blonde who looked vaguely familiar. Bennett thought she might host a television morning show.
But as he got more of a feel of Hadley, his thoughts scattered. She was built for temptation. Tall, with curves in all the right places. But as a former special forces soldier, he wasn’t fooled. Despite the creamy hint of breasts her dress displayed, and the thick, light-brown hair that was captured in a sleek, elegant style, her body toned. Hadley could use everything at her disposal as a weapon, if required.
It was what had made her a very good MI6 agent.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I was invited. Unfortunately, I get lots of invites to parties like these.” Most of which were tedious, filled with people who were mostly interested in talking about themselves.