LAST DANCE is the first book in a new series, Missed Connections, by Jeffe Kennedy. It is a contemporary romance, and the series features a group of five young women sharing a house in Chicago as they begin their careers. I know and love Kennedy best for her paranormal and fantasy books. She also writes contemporary erotica, and LAST DANCE is firmly in that category. This is a quick and steamy read.
Charlotte Emory and her four best friends call themselves the Fabulous Five. Charley and her girlfriends have been living by a list of Dating Rules. A potential romantic interest must meet the progressing (not progressive!) criteria of the rules before he can advance to the next "round" of interaction with one of the Five in a their dating game of elimination. I'm not a fan of Sex in the City or things of that ilk, so I struggle to connect with these shallow young women and their frivolous rules. I do like the Girl Power vibe that underlies their friendships, though, and heartily endorse their sisterhood.
Charley has a brief encounter with a mystery man and a club. Mr. Mystery invites her for a slow dance and they share a single melting kiss on the dance floor. She is separated from him when the club shuts down for the night, however, and he disappears. Charley is reduced to trying to track him down using a Missed Connections ad. Egged on by her friends and their rules, she manages to connect with Mr. Mystery and yet keep him at arm's length.
There's a fun underlying puzzle to Mr. Mystery that is teased out just so, and provides a lovely fillip to the story. As usual for Kennedy's writing, the erotica portions are well done but not overpowering. I appreciate authors who provide solid underpinnings of a real storyline to support the sex scenes. Mr. Mystery slowly teases Charley into following him along the path toward a true relationship, and because I like him, I cheer for their HEA. Kennedy's LAST DANCE is a quick bite of delicious eroticism.
It was five minutes. His hand on the small of her back.
His
eyes watching like there was no one else in the crowded
club. His body a breath away from hers. A kiss full of
heat
and need and promise.
But then the stranger disappears. And Charlotte Emory
canβt
forget him. Worse, according to the dating Rules she and
her
four best friends swear by, all she can do is post an ad
online. No names, no numbers. Just a missed connection β
and
the hope heβll meet her, and see where another dance
leads.
Except Mr. Mystery has his game, too, and he isnβt
playing
for only one night. He tempts Charley into a daring
exploration of power, lust, and suspense, where even the
most innocent requests sound indecentβ¦and the indecent
ones
make her burn all night.
If she plays by the Rules, theyβll never get past teasing
each other. But rules were made to be brokenβ¦
EXCERPT
The problem with martinis is, although they look and
taste fabulousβplus low carb, if done rightβthe steep
slope of the glass makes them easy to spill. Disaster in
the making.
Particularly on the second round.
Being a cautious sort, if only in this arena, I sipped at
mine before taking another step and used the opportunity
to survey the clubβs offering of masculine company. And
to let them get a good look at me. Take the spotlight
when you can because thereβs always someone meaner ready
to upstage you. The bright bounce of lights glanced off a
good set of shoulders hereβand ooh, a very nice ass in
black jeans there. A table of guys gave me a long look as
I passed and I pretended not to notice, though the dark-
haired one could be a possible.
βAny likelies?β Amy asked, taking the fresh drink from me
as I got to our table, blowing me a kiss of thanks. She
wore a lacy black sheath sheβd designed in her spare time
and made from remnants at her jobβand she made it look
like couture, the talented bitch.
I set down my own glass. βNobody stands out as fabulous.
But the table over your right shoulder might have
potential.β
βThe night is young,β Ice observed, scanning the dance
floor below with dark eyes. Sheβd refused another round,
as had Julie. Both of them still nursed their first
drink, though IceβAnaisa, though only her professors
called her thatβwas theoretically not supposed to drink
alcohol. She made a regular practice of doing all the
things her family disapproved of, which was fairly easy
since most of them lived elsewhere, some of them in
India. Marcia didnβt drink at all and she clutched her
seltzer, clearly wishing to be at home. It was a rare
Friday night that I didnβt have a show, Julie wasnβt
slaving in her restaurant, and everyone else was free,
too, so weβd talked Marcia into coming out with us
instead of staying behind in our empty house. But no one
could force her to have fun.
Believe me, Iβd tried. My own personal sacred mission.
Saint Charley, thatβs me.
βI gave the bartender Marciaβs number though,β I added,
because I couldnβt resist. The girl needed poking. βHe
said he wanted a virgin sacrifice for some shamanistic
ritual.β
βOh, ha ha.β Marcia at least transferred her black look
from the seltzer to me. βThereβs nothing wrong with
saving myself.β
βSaving is economical.β Amy nodded, making a serious
face.
βA virtue, even.β Julie licked off the end of the plastic
gecko tail the Lizard Club used for drink stirrers.
βUnless you count hoarding. Then it turns ugly.β
βOh my god. That show is riveting.β Ice shuddered. βIβm
horrified but I canβt look away. Even in reruns.β
βItβs a disease.β I deflected Marciaβs glower of warning
with my best Julia Roberts angelic smile. Itβs a good
one. Iβve practiced it. βYou canβt judge people like that
βjust give them your compassion and try to help. Or refer
them to social services.β
βCharlotte Emory, Iβm going to crawl across this table
and strangle you if you donβt shut up,β Marcia growled.
I batted my lashes at her. βWhat? Iβm just trying to
help.β
βWell, youβre not. Iβll find the right guy sooner or
later.β
βSooner is more likely with you pried out of the house,β
Ice noted.
βAnd later than anyone we know,β Amy toasted her with a
martini already half gone.
βThan the rest of the known universe.β Julie poked Marcia
with the gecko tail, which at least diverted Marciaβs
attention onto her.
βI hate all of you.β Marcia folded her arms. βWhy donβt
you go dance already?β
βHello, ladies.β Ooh, right on cue, Mr. Dark Hair had
come through. His gaze fell on me and I returned his very
charming smile. βWanna dance?β he asked me.
Yes. Yes, I did.
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