Dinah leaned against the bar, took a sip of her sparkling water, and watched as the rich and famous entered the ballroom of the Governor’s mansion for the annual Valentine’s Day gala. But the party did nothing to lift her sour spirits--she didn’t have a date, Ollie was making noises like he wanted to get back together…again, and she was bored out of her mind at this all too lame event that dared to call itself a party.

She sighed, looked back up at the entrance, and grinned when she saw Bruce enter the ballroom with his date. Maybe the night would be more fun than she thought. She always did have fun watching Bruce interact with his arm-candy. This one looked particularly entertaining.

Bruce turned around, sweeping the room with his gaze, finally noticing her from across the room. She grinned at him and waved.

Bruce smiled, leaned down and whispered something to his date, who giggled and didn’t seem to mind when Bruce walked away. Dinah rolled her eyes. Bruce sure knew how to pick them.

Dinah watched Bruce cross the room and couldn’t help but admire the finesse with which he made his way through the crowd--a handshake here, a peck on the cheek there--hardly ever breaking his stride until he was standing in front of her.

He took her hand, kissing it lightly. “Dinah. Where’s Ollie?”

“I’m here alone.” She took a sip of her drink, hoping he didn’t notice the red that she was certain was beginning to flush her cheeks.

Bruce grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took a sip. He then appraised her with a slow, sensual gaze. “I’m confident you won’t be for long.”

“Why, Mr. Wayne, are you trying to seduce me?”

He grinned. “Always.”

She’d known Bruce for a long time. She also knew that he rarely broke away from his playboy persona when in public. But this felt too much like Ollie, and the whole philandering issue that she seemed destined to continue to deal with didn’t sit well with her.

“Too bad I’m more than a one-night stand, then.” Her voice was rougher than she’d intended.

Bruce grimaced. “Sorry.”

Dinah looked over at Bruce’s date. “Is she just a one-night stand?”

“One can only hope.” Bruce grinned. “However, it looks like she’s found greener pastures.”

She was talking to a much older man. Old enough to be her grandfather, it seemed. “Him?”

“Movie producer. And she wants to be in the movies.”

“Ah.”

Bruce downed his drink and looked at Dinah. It was filled with an intenseness that made Dinah nervous. “I guess we’ll both be leaving early tonight. Unless we meet someone here.”

Dinah shivered, felt the heat rise to her face, and took another sip of her water to hide the physical response. She could do this--pretend she wasn’t attracted. She’d done it for a while now. “It’s a Valentine’s Day party, Bruce. How many people do you think come to these things without a date?”

Bruce’s smile was wicked. “It’s stuffy in here.” He turned to leave but not before looking back at her. “You coming?”

A few twists and turns through the upper levels of the mansion had them on a secluded balcony, no semblance of a party to be seen.

Bruce just watched her with that damned grin that kept Dinah off balance. “Do I make you nervous, Dinah?”

“Nothing makes me nervous. Well, maybe the crab balls they’re serving at this thing, but that’s all.”

Bruce shrugged. “Just a guess. You done holding that doorway up?”

“It’s a nice and cozy doorway.”

Bruce patted the railing next to him. “It’s even cozier over here.”

She sauntered closer, could see Bruce swallow hard.

“Tell me, Dinah. What did you ever see in Ollie? You deserve so much more.”

“When he was with me, he was really with me, you know? He just seemed to forget anything about me when I was out of sight. I guess it was a challenge to see if he’d ever change.”

“And has he changed? Since the resurrection, that is.”

“I think so. But I’m not the same person he knew back then. There’s just too much water under that particular bridge.”

Bruce nodded. “I’m glad.”

“And why would you have any reason to be glad about my failed relationship with Ollie.”

He took her hand, his thumb rubbing against it. “Because you deserve better.”

“Are you better, Bruce?”

He looked into her eyes, didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes.”

Good answer. “What makes you think I’m even interested?”

“You haven’t hidden your feelings as well as you think.”

Dinah could feel the heat rising to her face, for the umpteenth time tonight, and she wasn’t sure if it was because she was embarrassed to have her feelings discovered or just damn ticked off by it. “I should take lessons from you, then. Or is your emotional stoicism the real thing?”

“You tell me.” Before Dinah realized what was happening, she felt Bruce’s lips pressed to hers. The kiss was long and hard, and more passionate than she’d remembered. Of course the last kiss they shared, she’d surprised him. It had been more of a thank-you-for-treating-Huntress-the-way-she-deserved-to-be-treated kiss, but a kiss nonetheless. That kiss had been amazing, but now…there was no comparison.

But she still pushed him away. “Like I said before, I’m not a one night stand. Not any more, at any rate.”

“I don’t do one night stands.” Bruce put his arms around her waist and drew her to him. “I’m not Ollie, Dinah. And I think you know that.”

“Do I?”

Bruce frowned, gestured to the ballroom. “In there, that was an act. I took Bambi tonight because I knew I’d leave without her.”

“You knew she’d hook up with a movie producer?”

“I garnered an invitation for him myself.”

Dinah laughed, pointed her finger at him. “You’re good.”

Bruce grinned. “I know.”

This time Dinah pulled Bruce to her, kissed him like he’d never kissed before, she was sure. The look on his face when she pulled away proved it. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Bruce.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Dinah.”