Topaz watched him hurry away, her expression darkened by a frown. She felt a hand at her elbow and found Alex at her side.
“Are you all right?” he asked at once, his gorgeous eyes raking her body as though he expected to find her injured.
“I’m fine, but I apologize for getting nasty with your cousin.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “She had it comin’,” he decided as laughter crept into his voice. “She could barely talk to me and her friend—she was so embarrassed.”
Topaz found that she wasn’t gleeful over the news. “I still feel bad. I mean, this is her party—her house.”
Alex’s smile faded and was replaced by a stern look. “You’re somethin’ else. You know that, right? Here you are, feelin’ bad about hurting someone else’s feelings, when they don’t give a damn about yours.”
Topaz managed a weak smile. “You’d think I’d have more female friends in light of my sunny disposition.”
“Let’s check out this dance floor,” Alex suggested, hoping to coax her out of the somber mood.
They stepped onto the dance area just as the tempo of the music changed. A cool, seductive jam was drifting through the speakers. Alex brushed his lips across her forehead and temple while thoughts of their kisses filled his mind.
“So who was De’s friend?” Topaz asked when they had been dancing awhile.
“She’s with the City Council. We all had dinner a while back—about the entrepreneurs’ spotlight stories we’re about to start running.”
“Yeah, with everything going on, Casey and I have had to reschedule our interview about three times. He just reminded me that we need to get a firm date down to get it done.”
Alex was tapping his fingers against the small of Topaz’s back. “I hope that whole scene earlier didn’t make you feel too uncomfortable.”
“Why should it?” she innocently inquired, smoothing her palm across his chest before he could respond. “Plus, you’re gonna be put in the same position when we go to my aunt’s party this weekend.”
Alex smiled, acknowledging the fact. “I only hope I’ll be able to remain as dignified as you’ve been tonight,” he complimented in a tone of playful haughtiness.
Topaz waved her hand. “I’m sure you won’t have a problem.”
“You know, your aunt will probably tell your parents you brought a date to her party.”
Topaz’s gaze wavered as though the thought had just occurred to her. “I don’t know ... she’ll probably be too aggravated that she couldn’t push all her boring friends, more boring sons up in my face. I think we’ll be safe.”
“You think your parents would be pleased if they met me?” he asked, appearing uncharacteristically uncertain as he spoke.
She smiled. “I’m sure they’d be pleased. I know my mother would be.”
“Why?” he queried, fixing her with a knowing look.
“She has a weakness for handsome men.”
“Handsome? Is that what you see me as?”
“How could I not?” she challenged, her exquisite gaze trailing his face with unmasked appraisal.
Alex pulled her closer then, burying his face against the crook of her neck and inhaling the softness of her perfume. Topaz steeled herself against shivering in his arms.
“Get the hell off my back! I didn’t have to come here tonight, you know.”
“Save it, Simon! The moment I told you Topaz would be here you couldn’t wait to show up!” DeAndra hissed.
“I don’t have time for this mess.” Simon retorted, eager to end the heated conversation and return to the party.
DeAndra caught his denim shirtsleeve. “You were supposed to keep your ex away from my cousin!”
Simon stepped close, his index finger poised inches from her cheek. “Remember, De, if it weren’t for you buttin’ in, I’d be married to her by now.”
“I think it’s you who needs a memory check, Simon. Don’t even try to put all this on me,” DeAndra countered, her light eyes blazing with anger. “You had just as much to do with all that. You had plenty of problems with the way Topaz carries herself.”
“She carries herself like a lady,” Simon snapped.
“But she has an un-ladylike job and too many male ... acquaintances.”
“What you want from me, De?” Simon blurted, his voice growing hoarse from all the shouting he’d done in the deserted wing of the house.
DeAndra stepped so close to Simon, her nose was but a hairbreadth from his chin. “I want you to keep her away from Alex. Every man who meets her seems to fall in love, and I don’t want that bitch in my family.”
Simon slammed his fist against his palm, struggling to control his temper as DeAndra stormed off. I don’t need this, he told himself. Not now. He stomped all the way back to the party and found Topaz in the den. She was obviously involved in a conversation, but that didn’t faze him.
“We need to talk,” he told her, taking her by the arm and escorting her none too gently from the room.
Topaz glanced across her shoulder as she jogged to keep up with him. “What are you doing?” she whispered.
