018:

Tom Roberson was not tall, barely taller than Melia. He wore his tuxedo with the absolute grace of one born to it. His dark hair parted to the left, his brown eyes bored into hers, with little laugh lines at the corners, his lips curled up in a perpetual knowing smile that melted her heart. He was very fit... he waltzed her around the dance floor with complete mastery of the skill. His hand on her back was warm. But he said to her, softly, in her ear, "You're quite warm."

This was embarrassing to her, because she knew she was on a slight build, and it would be well to change partners and dance with Matthew who was close by, but she didn't want to. Tom's longer hair fell across his eyes and he blew it up and out, only to have it fall back again. Melia easily lifted it back into place, with a slender finger, and a cute smile. This sent paparazzi flashing for diamonds. She wondered if her dress was too low cut.

Well, actually she didn't wonder. Her dress was too low cut. It was gold as well, not typical at all. Too flashy. But it had been recommended by a couple of people she liked in her wardrobe staff, who were feverishly working on her tour costumes. The dress was off-shoulder and then partially sleeved, with a low cut back and a high cut front, laces in the back. Tom's hand was actually touching her bare skin.

She swallowed and tried to catch Matthew's eye. "Hey, om, Tom? Yeah, I may need to..." She smiled prettily and turned her head slightly to the hallway that indicated restrooms close by. She saw Matthew out of the corner of her eye and let hers widen at him in a plea for help. He was to her side in seconds.

Had he just dropped his date there in the middle of the floor? That was kind of classy. Not.

He placed one hand casually on her shoulder and asked in a gentle whisper, "Feeling all right?" The build diffused instantly and she was able to smile brightly, while Matthew gave Tom one imperceptible glare. He suspected it was due to something Tom had done, but Melia knew, it was more due to the reminder she gave herself that this was what Jared expected of her.

Tom didn't even notice Matthew's glare, let alone his intrusion as he ushered her over to the hallway and she took her leave. But Matthew followed them.

"Hey." He said. "What's up with you?" He wasn't exactly hostile, but felt that Tom's hands had been 'all over the place' a little too much.

"She's a doll, isn't she?" Tom grinned. "You're friends, aren't you? Do you think she might be in the market to start a relationship?"

"No, definitely not." Matthew gritted, now holding the hand of his annoyed date, Thella.

Tom glanced at him keenly. "She's gorgeous." He commented again, now to get a reaction.

"Don't get too fresh." Matthew warned.

"Me? Fresh? Are you kidding?" Tom laughed huskily.

"Yeah, you. You don't know her." Now Tom could see that Matthew was really agitated and wanted to bait him even more. As soon as Melia came out of the restroom he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the dance floor. She was quite animated, in a softer kind of way. Her eyes still spoke sadness to him, but her lips spoke of determination to move on with her life. He twirled her energetically, and she laughed and tossed her hair.

"Hey Melia, you want to go back to my place tonight?" He called to her as he molded her to him and then swung her out. She was definitely the sexiest woman he'd ever held. He was absolutely enchanted.

The look she had on was without a doubt the most adorable nano-second of surprise he'd ever seen. That was her charm, he thought, acutely, she's like this innocent fresh little rose blossom. She shook her head again. "I've got stuff tomorrow before the picnic. Plus I have the baby."

"A nursing baby?" he said, slightly disappointed, wondering if she'd ask him back to her place then. He had a nanny, the kids would be fine without him. He ran his hands up her arms, pressed her to him in a naughty fashion and rubbed just a little where he shouldn't. Melia pulled away just as Matthew caught him against the chest and shoved him backward. This had escalated a lot faster than Melia would have liked. She held up her hands to stop the tempest and got caught in the middle.

"Leave her alone!" Matthew commanded, his face a snarl, and Tom grabbed him as he recovered and pushed him forcefully into the same hallway Melia had just exited, not wanting to make a scene, Melia ran after them.

"No fighting." She ordered, and Tom laughed.

"We're not fighting!" Tom shoved again, as they made it into a large reception room beyond the dance hall that was less inhabited.

Matthew glared, and Tom restrained him, he was staring at Melia. "You need to tell him. If you guys are going to work together, you should tell him. He doesn't get it and I can't be doing this all night!"

Melia was mortified, and shook her head. Not here, not now, not taken to task for this, it wasn't her fault! She took Tom's hand and tried to pull him away, but Matthew grabbed her. "Stop it!" She screeched.

Tom now eyed them curiously. "What? What's weird and hiding in the closet?" He dropped her hand and stared intently at Matthew's face as he stared into Melia's green and unreadable eyes. The only thing he could tell for certain was that Melia was trying to use telepathic signals to warn Matthew off. Tom hadn't realized these two were so close.

"She has a condition." Matthew gritted as Melia's eyes widened and then she literally stomped her foot. He didn't care. "She has a condition that causes a backward electromagnetic current to run through her and when triggered it can shock you, or even put you in the hospital. She's---"

"Shut up." She said and started to walk away from both of them. Tom caught her and whirled her back around.

"No, wait, I want to hear this. Don't I deserve to understand what's going on here? I am totally turned on and wanting to take you home, if there's a reason that's not possible say so now."

Melia stopped and her stiff back was unyielding. "How dare you?" she hissed. But neither man was sure to whom she was actually speaking. When she turned her eyes were flashing angrily.

She pointed a finger at Matthew, "You. Have. No. Right." She said hotly and then flashed those beautiful green eyes at Tom. "And you! How can you so blatantly assume? I told you it was purely platonic. You don't know me at all. I am not...." And then she turned and stiff backed it out of the hallway and out of the party completely.

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