The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers) Read Online Free PDF Page B

hasty retreat, he reached
out to take her hand, gently pulling her back.  “Please don’t rush off, my
lady.  I must admit to finding these affairs a bit tedious myself, especially
when I can’t find my companions so easily.
    “You seemed to know a few whom you were speaking
with earlier.”
    He warded this off with a hand wave.  “Merely an
appearance, my lady.  They’re total strangers.  And in truth, if not for your
timely intervention, their conversation was about to put to the test whether a
person can fall asleep while standing up.”
    “Really, sir, such subtlety !” she
said, with a smirk.  “Even though after seeing the stuffy, strait-laced
atmosphere here, I think I can heartily agree with you.”  They both laughed,
not totally oblivious to the added stares this earned from the onlookers.  “But
seriously, Mr. Westbrooke,” Julianna added, “if you ever have need of further
rescuing from such people, I’ll be happy to oblige you if I’m in the vicinity.”
    Dominick flashed her a warm smile, just before
leaning closer to whisper, “Don’t look now, my lady, but I do believe the
tongue-waggers are about to sharpen their knives on us.”
    Glancing around, Julianna could agree.  Several
of the well-dressed people were gossiping quietly while giving
less-than-discreet stares to the chatting pair.  While this might have once
made her uncomfortable, for some reason, right now she was simply amused.
    “They do look a bit like vultures ready to
pounce, don’t they?” she laughed.
    “Ready to destroy is more like
it,” he murmured through a grin, glancing up as the sound of lilting ballroom
music filled the air.  “However, if I may offer an easy solution and a means to
repay your kindness, would you care to dance?”
    “I’d love to, but I don’t know these dances.” 
Just walking in this attire alone was proving difficult.
    “Believe me, my lady, ‘twill be far more
embarrassing if the town decides to print our names in tomorrow’s gossip
columns.  Besides, I’m afraid I have my own selfish reasons for wanting to
dance with you.”
    Several indeed , he thought, silently remembering how she’d mocked him at their last
meeting.
    He gave a slight bow, taking her hand to bestow a
gentle kiss.  Only the briefest contact, yet Julianna felt her heart leap, wondering
if she was blushing as his eyes met hers again.  Tightening his grip on her
hand, he began to lead her onto the dance floor.  Sensing more than one pair of
eyes upon them, Julianna shook her head quickly.
    “Mr. Westbrooke,” she faltered, “I really don’t
think this is such a good idea.”
    Smiling reassuringly, he remained silent as he
led them amidst the other dancing pairs.  Several of whom gave knowing smiles
to the new couple.  Now she knew she was blushing!  Amused,
Dominick said nothing, merely squeezing her hand once as he led her through the
steps of a waltz.
    “Not so difficult, is it?” he asked, earning a
smile from his companion.
    “No, it’s quite pleasant really,” she agreed
brightly, a moment before curiosity surfaced.  “Now then, sir, just what did
you mean earlier when you said you had selfish motives for this dance?”
    It was a good thing she couldn’t read his mind at
the moment, Dominick thought privately.  For right now, it kept playing back
their last meeting, and how she’d quite cleverly wounded his pride.  Especially
over that damned kiss .  He still remembered how she’d slammed her heel on
his foot when he hadn’t expected it.  After that incident, he’d been adamant in
not wanting to see this particular female again in this lifetime.
    Yet in spite of his best intentions, he had not
been able to forget her.  When he’d come here tonight, he hadn’t expected her
to remember his name, much less chase after him.
    It was only when he caught her staring that he
remembered her earlier question.  So she wanted his motives for this dance, did
she?  What would she say if