The Fairest of Them All. Leanne Banks

she found a white sandal with a real heel, but she couldn’t find its mate.

      The doorbell rang, and she cursed. “Just a minute,” she called. What was wrong with her? This was just Russ, for Pete’s sake. She took a deep breath and stood. Smoothing the little black knit dress over her hips, she attempted to regain her composure.

      She glanced into the mirror and approved the contrast between her freshwater-pearl choker and the black jewel neckline. After ruffling her hair and applying red lipstick, Carly scooted into the black patent flats and went to open the door.

      Russ stood there, bigger than she remembered, rendering her temporarily shy. He wore a brown nubby silk sport coat that accented his broad shoulders. His dark red hair was brushed back, but part of it fell attractively over his forehead. Sexy, she thought. Then she clamped her teeth into her lip before it could quiver.

      As the silence continued, a grin played around the edges of his brown eyes, but not his mouth. Carly felt like a gawky adolescent again, and she didn’t like it one bit.

      Russ gave her just enough time to become uneasy, then said, “You look good.” He touched one of her dangling earrings. “Pretty. Are you ready?”

      Carly breathed carefully. “Yeah.” Then she laughed at herself and closed the door behind her. “I never asked you who’s sponsoring this banquet.”

      “The chamber of commerce. You might be able to drum up some business while we’re there.” He glanced pointedly at her feet. “No heels?”

      “High heels hurt my feet. You’re such a practical man I’m surprised you like them.”

      He looked her over once again. “Every man has his weaknesses. Why don’t we skip the banquet and go back inside? I’ll tell you all about mine.”

      An instant surge of heat sped through her veins. He wasn’t serious, she reminded herself. But the image of Russ, naked and aroused, giving and demanding, robbed her of speech. She cleared her throat. “You need to present an award,” she reminded him, walking toward his car. “And I’m hungry—”

      “So am I,” Russ said in a sexy growl behind her.

      Carly spent the short drive telling herself not to wonder what kind of hunger Russ was talking about and exactly what breathtaking methods he would use to appease that hunger. By the time they arrived, she was gritting her teeth with the effort.

      She and Russ entered the hotel banquet room where rows of tables dressed in white tablecloths and candlelight created an elegant mood. They were seated across from Natalie Conner and her date, Bob Miller, the new electronics company representative.

      A voluptuous blonde with sexy, reproachful brown eyes, Natalie had been the darling of Beulah County High School when Carly had been an awkward nobody. Natalie was the kind of woman who somehow always seemed to make Carly feel less confident. It wasn’t just Natalie’s appearance. It was her manner. Even now, Carly had to resist the feelings of inadequacy the other woman’s presence generated.

      “Russ, honey, when will you be taking your catfish to the processor again?” Natalie asked with an adoring smile.

      “In another two months,” Russ answered simply.

      Carly took another sip of her wine, swirled it around in her mouth and wondered if it would taste better as the evening wore on.

      Russ went to the podium to present the award for best new business contribution to the community, and Natalie finally acknowledged Carly. “That’s a cute little dress you have on, Carly. I wouldn’t have thought someone with your height could wear that style.”

      While Carly tried to decide if that was a compliment or not, Russ returned to the table. Dancing began, and Natalie immediately pulled him onto the floor.

      A furrow of irritation crossed Russ’s face, and Carly felt unexplainably consoled. She noticed his warm gaze returning to her throughout the dance. It made her feel attractive, desirable… Carly rolled her eyes. What she really felt was crazy.

      “Would you like to dance?” Bob asked.

      “Why not?” Carly said with forced enthusiasm.

      They shuffled along to the lovelorn song the band played. “She’s kind of overwhelming, isn’t she?” Bob asked.

      “Natalie?”

      “Yeah. She works for my boss. I didn’t understand why she gave me the big rush about coming to this banquet at first. Now I do.” Bob pushed his tortoiseshell glasses up on his thin nose.

      Carly attempted to think of something kind to say about Natalie Conner. Glancing over at Natalie and Russ, she saw the woman press her well-endowed body into him and run her red fingernails through his hair. Carly gave up on saying something nice and switched the subject. “Have you been with National Electronics long?”

      “Several years.”

      She’d just suggested National Electronics hold their next company social on Matilda’s Dream when Russ cut in.

      “You’re not holding up your end of the bargain,” Russ said in a no-nonsense voice as he took her into his arms.

      Carly blinked. “What are you talking about?”

      “You’re supposed to act like you’re happy to be with me instead of hustling Natalie’s date.”

      “Well, Bob’s been a little more accessible. The way Natalie plastered herself against you, I’d have needed dynamite to blow you two apart.”

      Carly felt his shoulder muscles tense beneath her hand, but she continued anyway. “Besides, you didn’t say anything about me fawning over you when I agreed to come to this banquet.”

      Russ’s voice became very quiet. “If I wanted fawning, I could have Natalie.” His arms tightened, drawing her even closer. “I know it’ll be tough, but for the next few minutes, pretend you find me attractive.”

      Her breath hitched in her throat. She wouldn’t have to pretend, she realized. Intellectually, she’d always known that Russ’s body was hard and firmly muscled, but she’d never noticed it as a woman would. In her present position, with her breasts heavy against his chest, her stomach fluttering against his abdomen, and his powerful thighs twined with hers, she was fully, femininely aware of him.

      “Attractive,” she repeated in an unsteady voice.

      Russ raised her hand to his cheek and nuzzled it. “Pretend you feel possessive about me.” When he lowered his mouth to the vulnerable skin just below her ear and made that same nuzzling motion, her heart jumped into her throat.

      “Pretend we’re lovers,” he whispered into her ear.

      His words hit her with such force, she would swear both the walls and the floor of the banquet room rocked and trembled. Her knees felt like Jell-O, and her head was cloudier than the sky during an electric storm.

      For one brief moment, Carly stared into Russ’s eyes and saw the eyes of a hunter, hungry and predatory. She looked at his mouth and felt an achy emptiness inside her.

      Then someone jostled her, and she came to her senses. Heat scored her cheeks. This was Russ.

      “Have you lost your mind?” she asked breathlessly. “If you wanted Natalie to back off, you should have picked someone more believable. She’s never been threatened by me.”

      “She is now,” he said mildly.

      “Oh, yeah?” Carly couldn’t keep the disbelief from her voice. “Why?”

      “You’ve got me.”

      Carly opened her mouth to retort, but to her consternation, no clever words came to mind. She frowned.

      The music stopped, and Russ caught her off guard, bringing her hand to his warm mouth. He kissed her bandaged finger. “What’d you do this time?”

      A quiver danced through