A Virgin To Redeem The Billionaire. Dani Collins

your call?” Kaine said, appearing at her side with ninja suddenness. “Darling,” he added, dry and late with the endearment, clearly using it to step on the other man’s advances.

      The other man melted away.

      Kaine lightly skimmed his hand to the small of her back, setting her senses alight, breaking her voice as she tried to answer his question.

      “Y-yes. My uncle will have Benny call you as soon as possible.”

      “Wonderful,” he said with open sarcasm. “Let’s dance, then.”

      She didn’t want to antagonize him further, but, “No one is dancing.”

      “Leaders lead. You strike me as one.”

      She snapped him a look, but that hadn’t sounded like more sarcasm. It seemed to be a sincere compliment. How would he know what she was like?

      “Why else would you be here representing your family?” he taunted lightly. “You’re not a sacrificial lamb, are you?”

      “No.” But she felt inordinately vulnerable. She had been thinking of him day and night, trying to hate him even as she had wished things had gone differently. Wished their kiss had been the beginning of something more.

      That longing was still lodged in her throat with a sob of disappointment. At least now she understood why he was treating her with such disparagement.

      This had to be a misunderstanding. Had to be.

      And she was an independent sort. One who struck out on her own to get things done. One who would happily play envoy for her family, even if she found it uncomfortable to face down so much suspicion.

      “Why don’t we take this discussion somewhere more private,” she suggested.

      His eyes became narrow slits with a gleam of enigmatic obsidian. His smile was empty of humor as he drew his lips back against his teeth.

      “That would be my pleasure.”