Nikki's hunky counterpart came in close enough that she could feel the warmth of his words against her earlobe.  The sensation provoked goosebumps, but he probably wouldn't notice them.  Regardless, through the course of the ensuing exchange, she drew just a little closer even as her dark eyes scanned the pulsing crowd around them.  Chris was nowhere to be seen, and while she wasn't exactly doing anything she thought might upset him, there was still a temptation to be on the lookout.  Best to put a little more distance between the two of them once he was spotted; or at least look a little less interested than she felt.<br/><br/><em>"Haha,"</em>she snickered aloud, freckle-etched cheeks swelling alongside an adorable wrinkle of the nose.  Perhaps contrary to what one might expect, she'd found humor in the way that he addressed her rather than anything he'd said about Chris.<br/><br/><em>"I don't like the way you said ma'am,"</em>she fired back with a flare of neatly plucked chestnut brows.<em>"I'm Nikki,"</em>she went on to introduce, body swaying close to his own without throwing herself at him any more than she already had.<br/><br/><em>"And I don't think you have to worry about that.  Chris wouldn't hurt a flea,"</em>she reassured with not one iota of disdain in the way she spoke of her husband.  Chris was soft spoken but far from a pushover.  All the same, he wasn't -- at least in her experience -- the type to provoke confrontation in a place like this; even when it came to her.  She could vividly recall a small handful of times in their past where guys had provoked her attention, and for the most part he seemed content to let it happen.  Sometimes she wondered about that, but tonight?  Well, Nikki was just having fun.<br/><br/><em>"He's around here somewhere,"</em>she offered, making it a point to look around as she drew back just enough to whip a glance over either shoulder.<em>"But he wanted to dance, and he's not dancin' with me.  So..."</em>Impish in her smile, the young woman gave a shrug, and then fingertips of each hand sprinkled out across his shoulders in a light embrace as her hips continued to sway.<br/><br/><em>"What about you?"</em>She went on to call out over the music.<em>"I'm sure there's at least one gal on this dance floor who's a little jealous of me right now."</em>