Nicki Night - It Must Be Love

Jewel picked up the glass of ice water at her table setting and sipped. It was the only way to break the intense gaze and keep her cool. She could still feel his eyes on her. When she looked up, he wore a gentle smile, revealing those pearly whites framed by luscious lips. His erect posture exuded confidence. Jewel found that and his stylish, well-made suit sexy.

“What are you doing these days?” Harper asked him.

Jewel wished they would cut the small talk so he could walk away and allow her to breathe. Neither of them caught her drift when she fell silent. Dominique and Harper continued to engage Sterling, yet his eyes were glued to her. Jewel grew hot under the collar even though she had on a strapless dress.

She remained silent as the rest of them swapped stories about life since high school. Though she didn’t partake verbally, she absorbed every word that fell from Sterling’s full lips. He listened as much as he talked and Jewel liked that. Even when he spoke of his success, it didn’t sound like bragging. He wasn’t trying to impress them. Sterling was being himself—cool, confident.

Jewel shook her head. Why was she summing him up? She wasn’t interested in this man. She continued to listen but couldn’t help her muscles from tightening when Sterling pulled out pictures of his precious six-year-old daughter and spoke about his ex now living in Chicago with her. It was obvious that he was smitten by the pretty little lady with the adorable mess of curls on top of her head. Everything he’d just said made what she was feeling come crashing to an abrupt halt when he uttered the words my daughter and ex-wife . Jewel looked at the picture, offered a cordial smile and sat back, unfastening herself from Sterling’s intangible draw.

She cleared her throat, which captured their attention. “Excuse me.” She put the glass back down on the table.

“What about you, Jewel? What have you been up to?” Sterling’s grin made her pulse quicken and she wanted to excuse herself again.

What was happening here? “Working the family business,” she said as if it was no big deal that she was heir to a billion-dollar food empire.

“I see.” His response felt compressed. There was so much more behind those two words. Jewel could feel it.

“Hey, ladies!” Noah stepped up, bringing a fresh wind of excitement. His voice boomed, reaching their ears clearly over the hum of the crowd.

“Noah Hamilton!” At first, Harper parked her hands on her hips and then opened her arms for a hug.

“Long time no see, but you’re all still gorgeous.” He passed out hugs and kisses to each one of them.

“How’s it going, Noah?” Dominique asked after their embrace.

“I can’t complain. My dad always said that no one even listens anyway!

“Jewel!” Noah raised his brow. “Life’s been good to you.”

“Yes. Thank you, Noah. You look great!”

“You ladies wouldn’t mind if I stole Sterling for a moment would you?”

“Not at all,” Jewel offered up quickly.

Harper widened her eyes at Jewel. Dominique closed hers for a brief moment and sighed before chuckling. Sterling grinned.

“See you around, ladies.” Sterling lifted his glass before walking off with Noah.

The second he left, Dominique and Harper looked sharply at Jewel who flopped back in her chair.

“Did you see how he looked at you?” Dominique’s hand flew to her chest.

“What. Was. That. About?” Harper sat and fanned herself.

“I don’t know,” Jewel said.

“He wouldn’t take his eyes off you, Jewel. I must say.” Dominique picked up a glass of water. “Sterling Bishop has certainly grown into one fine specimen. I could see you two together,” Dominique added. “He’s gorgeous. You’re beautiful. If the two of you walked down the street together, you’d give people whiplash from trying to look too hard. Ha!” Tickled by her own comment, Dominique actually slapped her knee.

“Sterling Bishop and I could never be an item. Did you forget he just proudly showed us pictures of his little girl and said the word ex-wife ?” Jewel shuddered dramatically, generating another round of laughter.

“You are so theatrical,” Dominique waved her hand dismissively.

“No one said you had to marry him.” Harper shrugged.

“Nope. And I don’t believe he’s an Ivy League man, either. We’re not compatible at all!” Jewel lifted her chin punctuating her summation as if the discussion was over.

Dominique twisted her lips at Jewel. “Even you don’t believe that!”

Harper cackled.

“At the very least, I’d say he’s great for a few dates. It doesn’t have to be anything serious if you know what I mean?” Dominique winked.

“You’re so bad!” Harper rolled her eyes in jest.

Jewel hadn’t noticed the music playing until it was lowered and Emily took to the podium to welcome everyone and announced what was to come for the remainder of the evening.

“I bet he’s the type of man that gets all into your system before you even realize you’re smitten.” Dominique went right back to their conversation the moment Emily walked away from the microphone.

Jewel sniffed. “I am not that gullible.”

“Then go out with him. I dare you. He’s obviously interested. You have nothing to lose,” Dominique challenged.

Jewel bit her bottom lip and glanced across the floor to where Sterling was bent over laughing next to Noah. “I imagine he’d be incredible in bed.” The three of them giggled like they were back in high school.

After a scrumptious dinner of lobster and chateaubriand, the organizers began the program starting with an icebreaker activity. A half hour later, it was time to party.

The band played a popular song from their high school years and almost everyone hit the dance floor. Jewel, Dominique and Harper danced together in their own circle. The three weren’t strangers to a party scene.

A tap on her shoulder startled Jewel. She turned around and was swallowed up by Sterling’s piercing hazel eyes.

“Can I join you?”

Jewel’s pulse quickened. She wanted to say no. She couldn’t control this effect he had on her. Despite that, she said yes. Sterling eased his fingers between hers and they swayed to the music together. Jewel felt as if she were back in school. Sterling had never been the object of her affection then, but she felt something brewing now.

Jewel physically shook her head to shake off whatever that feeling was. She stepped back, adding space between Sterling and her, then moved in time with the lively beat. Sterling matched her step for step and before long they were engrossed in a playful battle, stirring up memories of old popular dances. Next, a song came on from their senior year. A certain dance was known to accompany the rhythm. Jewel and Sterling joined the rest of those on the floor moving along with the crowd in unison. They danced, laughed and danced more. Other songs began and ended and the two were still dancing some time later. Dominique and Harper had found partners, too, and were no longer beside Jewel and Sterling. Sweat was beginning to trickle down the center of Jewel’s back. Her body had warmed from all the movement.

“Whew! I need a break.” Jewel panted, threw her head back and laughed. She hadn’t danced that hard in years. She felt free. “That was fun.”

“Let’s get a drink.” Taking her by the hand, Sterling led her off the dance floor and headed to the bar. He asked for two waters and handed one to Jewel. “Want to get some air?”

“Sure.” Jewel took the ice-cold water Sterling had just handed to her. She moaned after a long sip. “I needed this.”

Sterling took her hand again and led them to the terrace. Jewel was hyperaware of his touch as they snaked through the crowd, but didn’t pull away. She liked the way his strong, masculine hand felt wrapped around hers.