Red. Hot. Sexy.
Like magnets, Clay’s eyes clicked on
Charlotte, unable to repel the force holding them. Her chestnut hair was
held up in a loose, sexy do that had him itching to pull the pins to release
it. Her strapless dress showcased a long neck and creamy shoulders that called
out to be kissed. His involuntary focus on her lovely traits throughout the
evening had made him a rude dinner companion; unable to answer even the easiest
of questions.
He had come here tonight to socialize
with the powers that be at the hospital, to talk up the ER, to lay the
groundwork for future requests. But his concentration had been directed elsewhere.
Since he’d squandered his opportunity to network, he should leave. But here he
was at the bar at ten-thirty, waiting for a scotch and soda. The band was
heavily into their Motown set and many of the revelers packed the dance floor.
Across the room, Clay zeroed in on
Charlotte talking to a group of men, her red gown like a flame in a sea of
black. He smiled. She sure knew how to turn heads. His included.
But he knew her better than those
clowns. He knew the sweet, tough eighteen-year-old who’d lost her parents
within hours of each other. The broken girl whose emotional health had worried
Dr. Collins, their Chief of Surgery, much more than her physical wounds.
As the band segued into a slow song,
Clay covered the distance between them. “Excuse us, gentlemen, but the lady
promised me a dance, and I’d like to claim it now.” He
deposited his drink on an empty table and guided her toward the dance floor.
“I don’t recall promising you a dance.”
Her beautiful face held the hint of a smile.
“You don’t? I must have dreamed it.”
He pulled her into his embrace, and
moved with the music around the floor, feeling like one of the luckiest men
there. Although she
hadn’t promised anything, she glided around the room, following his lead. Her
perfume intoxicated him more than any drink ever could, and the movement of her graceful body against his had
his heart palpitating.
Little Charley Taylor had certainly
grown up, and he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to know her
now. As an adult. Ten years removed from the time their lives had intersected.
About the Author:
Maria
Imbalzano is a matrimonial lawyer in central New Jersey where she not only uses
her law degree to navigate her clients through the court system, but her
psychology degree to guide them through their personal struggles. While writing
motions, legal memoranda, and briefs is fascinating, it pales in comparison to
creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys.
In
addition to practicing law and writing fiction, Maria enjoys spending time with
her husband and two daughters either at home or at the Jersey Shore.
Visit
Maria at www.mariaimbalzano.com
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