“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. She was so upset, she could be imagining the worst. Best to let her just talk, even if it didn’t make perfect sense. It would help to ease her mind some, Parr thought.

She frowned and stepped forward, but Parr didn’t move. There wasn’t enough room on the narrow path for her to get around him without snagging her lovely dress.

“And I’m going back with you.”

He wanted to add that she was his now, but wasn’t sure how she would react to such undisguised possessiveness.

She shot him a disbelieving look. “Promise not to hit anybody?”

It was clear to Parr that her instincts were excellent. She might as well have read his mind. “Ah—as long as he—your fiancé, I mean—doesn’t touch you, I promise.”

“Be good and I’ll introduce you to my father.”

Parr was thinking that if she was able to envision that scenario his kisses had done her good. But even so. Hell of a way to meet the man who’d produced this goddess. She’d said nothing about her mother.

Oh Lord. What had he gotten himself into?

“Move,” she instructed.

He did, but his eyes twinkled with mischief. “Just tell me what you plan to say. ‘Dad, I want you to shake hands with this man I just met outside in the dark. He’s been trying to make mad, passionate love to me, and I haven’t even tried to stop him.’”

The dimple flashed above her smile. “If I said anything like that, then Daddy would hit you.”

“Then by all means, introduce me some other way. I’m leaving it up to you.”

She couldn’t seem to hold back her laughter. “Hey, how about I tell him how very kind you’ve been, considering the circumstances, and how much I like you?”

“Do you, Strawberry?” He wanted her to. More than anything.

“Very much.”

Parr said nothing, but he felt like he’d been shot by the sharpest arrow in Cupid’s quiver. Even if she’d never really loved her good-for-nothing fiancé, it was too soon for her to trust her own emotions.

You’re not her big brother, he reminded himself. So skip the good advice.

“If you want me to stand by you, I will. But let’s get it over with.”

Parr hoped that the fiancé would be too ashamed to show his face, because he wanted nothing more than to knock him senseless.

He extended his arm for her to take and they went back the way they’d come—and then made a turn, once inside, toward the doors leading to the main ballroom.