LITMIR.BIZ

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what about your costume?” He lowered his dark gaze from her face to study her revealing outfit. “Are you portraying a particular character?”

      She felt a funny little quiver follow the path of his survey all the way down to her exposed leg. Taking another sip of her drink, she shook her head. “Just a generic gypsy fortune-teller.”

      “You’re much too stunning to be described as generic,” he commented, his deep tone intensifying her quiver to a full-blown tingle.

      “Thank you. You look quite dashing, yourself.” She took another long swallow of the drink, looking up at him through her heavily darkened lashes.

      “That drink looks good.”

      She lowered the now-empty glass. “It was. Very good.”

      “There are some tempting snacks on those tables across the room. Would you like to join me on a food raid, Esmeralda?”

      Amused by his wording, she lifted an eyebrow. “Esmeralda?”

      With a chuckle, he shrugged. “Sounds like a gypsy fortune-teller name to me.”

      She hesitated only a moment before setting her glass on a tray and tucked a hand beneath the arm he offered with a flourish. “I’d be delighted to accompany you on a food raid, Dr. Jones.”

      “Maybe after we eat, you can read my fortune in the champagne glass.”

      A little giggle escaped her. “That’s tea leaves. I don’t think they’re serving tea tonight.”

      “Then you can read my palm.”

      She rather liked the image of cradling his hand in hers. “Maybe I will.”

      His arm flexed a little beneath her fingers, and she felt the strength there. Obviously this man stayed in very good physical condition. He carried himself with an athlete’s grace befitting his choice of costume.

      She supposed they should get around to introducing themselves eventually. But at the moment, it was so much fun pretending he was a globe-trotting archeologist and she a mysterious gypsy. Threading their way through the milling partygoers, they approached the tables. He nodded familiarly to several of the people they passed, a few of whom did visible double takes upon recognizing him. Either they hadn’t expected to see him there, or this was not the costume they would have predicted from him.

      “Dude. Looking sharp,” someone said, tipping her off that the latter guess was likely correct.

      “So, Jones—see anything that looks good?” she asked, studying the almost-dizzying array of sweets and treats on the snacks tables.

      “As a matter of fact, I do.” He wasn’t looking at the food.

      She savored the little ripple of sensual awareness that coursed down her spine in response to his tilted smile. It had definitely been too long since she’d spent an evening flirting with a charming stranger.

      A colorful selection of more mixed drinks was displayed nearby. She plucked a tall, thin glass from the table and tasted the clear liquid appreciatively. “Mmm. Good. You should try this.”

      He reached out to take the drink from her, holding her gaze with his when he lifted the glass to sip from exactly where her lips had just touched. “You’re right. That is good.”

      The ripple of awareness turned into a tsunami. She snatched the glass back from him. He reached for a drink of his own. Their backs to the rest of the party, they stood close together while they filled their snack plates. It was necessary to stand that close, just so they could hear each other over the music.

      Right.

      She laughed when he slipped a pecan tart onto her already-full plate. “No more,” she insisted. “I can’t eat all of this.”

      He eyed his own equally full plate with satisfaction. “I’m going to make a valiant effort.”

      Turning away from the table, which was becoming crowded as other guests followed their example in helping themselves to the food, he peered into shadowy corners where seating had been arranged. “Where shall we take these?”

      He was making the assumption that she would be eating with him. Fair enough. “Wherever we can find an empty space, I suppose. Not too close to the speakers, though. That music is really loud.”

      “Werewolves of London” was the current selection, and every wailed “aaahoo” made her eardrums vibrate. She wished someone would turn down the volume a bit. And then she winced, deciding she was sounding old and stodgy again. She renewed her earlier vow to abandon herself to the party tonight. Starting with sharing decadent snacks with a handsome adventurer.

      If he found her comment off-putting, he didn’t let it show, to her relief. “I have an idea. Follow me.”

      Happily, she thought, staying close behind him as he wound his way through the costumed revelers. She didn’t even hesitate when he slipped through a set of French doors that led out to a cobblestoned courtyard.

      Beautifully landscaped and discreetly lighted, the courtyard was small and quiet, fenced with wrought-iron. There were no tables, but several iron benches lined the sides. A pretty little fountain in the center of the circular garden added the soothing sound of splashing water to the tableau.

      Madison was a little surprised that they were the only ones outside on this nice autumn evening. October had been accompanied by very warm temperatures in Dallas this year, and while the air had cooled with sunset, she was comfortable even in her off-the-shoulder blouse. She supposed it was still early enough in the party that the others weren’t yet ready to escape; or maybe no one had yet spotted the doors hidden among the over-the-top decorations.

      Her companion nodded in satisfaction. “We can eat in peace here, if you don’t mind balancing your plate on your knees.”

      “I don’t mind at all.”

      “Maybe you can tell my fortune while we eat?”

      So they were still in character. Fun. She glanced at his coiled whip. “Only if you promise to protect me if any evildoers try to attack.”

      “It’s a deal.”

      She chuckled and sank onto one of the benches, setting her drink on the wide arm. He sat beside her, leaving sufficient room between them that she didn’t feel uncomfortable but close enough to be companionable. She popped a shrimp puff into her mouth and sighed in satisfaction.

      He dabbed at his mouth with a black paper napkin. “Good food. I had a sandwich for lunch—I think. It was so long ago, I hardly remember.”

      She smiled. “Digging up mysterious artifacts keeps you that busy?”

      “You have no idea.”

      She wasn’t in any hurry to discuss work, neither her own nor whatever his job might be. That would only lead to talk about other everyday topics that would bring an end to this diverting charade. Of course she was curious about this man’s real name, what he did, how he knew BiBi and Carl—but she was content to savor the passing moments until they got around to that point.

      “Did you get one of these chocolate-dipped apricots?” he asked.

      She glanced at her plate. “No, I don’t think so.”

      He held an apricot to her lips. “You should taste it. Really good.”

      Her gaze locking with his, she took a bite.

      The noise from the party drifted through the glass doors behind them, seeping into the quiet of the courtyard. A cool breeze toyed with her hair and brushed her cheek like a faint caress. Overhead, a misty gray cloud drifted across the face of the silver moon, adding to the fantasy feel of this beguiling encounter.

      “Good?” he asked, his voice low, deep.

      “Mmm.” She licked a spot of chocolate from her lower lip. “Very good.”

      “You

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