He pointed at his cheek. “You want this handsome face, you gotta pay for it.”
“Nothing wrong with your ego, is there?”
“It’s not ego if it’s fact. This here gorgeous face of mine is worth a lot of money.”
His swagger worked. Her face lost all traces of her previous tension, and she surrendered to a smile. “Fine. But you’ll have to take that up with my brother. I’m just the middleman.”
He sucked his teeth. “You’re not exactly selling me on it, honey.”
She crossed her arms. “Carraig Aonair is one of the most recognizable labels in the global market today. Being chosen as a brand ambassador is one of the most coveted endorsements available to celebrities. Appearing as a representative for us would extend your own brand far beyond anything you’ve been able to achieve so far.”
“I don’t know. I’m already pretty damn famous, honey.”
“What do you need to hear to convince you?”
“A number.”
“A number?”
“Ballpark figure to open negotiations.”
An excited spark lit up her eyes. He wished it was because she was as suddenly turned on as he was, but he knew better.
“How much does it need to be?” she asked.
“Thirty million, minimum.”
She didn’t even blink. “So if they give you an official proposal, you’ll consider it?” she asked.
“I’d be an idiot not to. I mean, as you said, it’s just standing around having my picture taken, right?”
“Thank you,” she breathed.
Something about the way she said it must have pissed him off, because he shot to his feet and held out his hand. “Come on.”
“We’re done?”
“Sorry. No. I want to dance with you.”
“I—I’m not going to dance with you.”
“Why not?”
“I’m embarrassed to be seen with you.”
He laughed like he’d been doing all night—a heady, familiar sound that made stars dance before her eyes and her feet feel clumsy. If he was annoyed with her, he was suddenly hiding it well. He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Well, I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you. You’re not only the most beautiful woman here—”
She snorted to cover the flush of swoony heat.
“—you’re also the most brilliant. I’d show you off everywhere if you’d let me.”
“I’m surprised you’re this good at flattery, seeing how women just throw themselves at you.”
“It’s not flattery if it’s true.”
She snorted again.
“You keep making that noise. Is there something wrong with your sinuses?”
“It’s your hair spray. I’m allergic to it.”
His laughter was softer this time, more intimate. It managed to simultaneously call out her bullshit while also seducing her. He brushed her hair from her shoulder. “Come on. One dance. No one will pay us any attention. I promise.”
Right. Colton Wheeler couldn’t go unnoticed in full camouflage in the middle of a forest. But even if he didn’t notice the attention, she felt the weight of every single eyeball on her and heard every whisper that followed them as he tugged her toward the stage.
Every step they took garnered double takes. He paid no attention. Somehow, over the years, he’d obviously learned to ignore the stir he created. But even if he weren’t famous, people would’ve stared at him. He took up space like no one else she’d ever known, as if the air and the ground bent around him in acquiescence to his unnatural beauty.
As they entered the swirl of dancers, he swung to face her, and in one smooth move he wrapped an arm low around her waist and captured her hand with the other. She couldn’t have resisted even if she’d wanted to, and damn it all to hell, she didn’t want to. Because he smelled good. And he was warm. And he was the perfect height, just as she remembered from Mack and Liv’s wedding. Tall enough that she had to look up to see him but not so tall that she couldn’t rest her cheek against his shoulder if she wanted.
And she wanted.
“You’re tense,” he murmured, the deep vibrations of his voice sending tickles of energy and awareness through her body. His hand slid an inch farther down her back, and though she might have been imagining it, he pulled her a fraction closer.
“Have you ever performed here?” she asked, because if she didn’t say something, she was going to do something completely illogical. Like kiss him.