Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 102903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
The crowd cheers and shouts, and I just keep on dancing with Dom, almost blacking out at how far removed this is from my everyday life.
And when the song ends and another one starts up, Dom hands off the mic to the lead singer of the band, but he doesn’t guide us off the stage. Instead, we stay up there, dancing together as they dive into a new one.
His eyes sparkle like the aqua waters of the Caribbean, and his hands find their way to my hips, guiding us as one to the beat of the music. My body is butter, melting into the moment, melting into his gorgeous gaze as it locks with mine.
We’re both smiling and dancing and singing along together, but the entire time, he never stops looking into my eyes.
Right now, it’s only Dom and me in this perfect bubble of fun, and a little part of me prays it will never end. I don’t just feel safe with him. I want him. My body wants him.
But it all might as well just be a dream.
Because, I know, reality is right around the corner.
20
Dominic
Saturday, May 18
1:00 a.m.
Hannah’s shoulders sag as I pull to a stop in her driveway and cut the engine.
Tonight was fantastic. We danced and sang and had a few drinks at Honky Tonk Parade, but now it’s over.
Her bare shoulder sticks out of her sweet purple top, goose bumps peppering the soft skin. “Cold?” I ask, my quiet voice ricocheting around us like a gunshot in the silent car.
Her head moves up and down in the moonlight, and I reach to my back seat to pull out one of my button-down flannels. She takes it gratefully, shrugging it on, and I get the strangest twang of satisfaction. Damn, she looks good in my clothes. Soft and small and delicate.
Neither of us moves or says anything for several moments, spellbound or something.
“Thank you for tonight, Dom,” she finally says, breaking the tension. “Seriously. I haven’t done anything like that in . . . I don’t even know how long. It felt really good. Really normal.” She laughs a little. “I didn’t even think that was possible anymore, but I don’t know. I feel renewed. Like maybe I’m ready to take on more.”
Instantly, a visual of her giggling and smiling as I twirled her around onstage pops into my mind. Seeing Hannah let loose tonight was just about the most beautiful sight I’ve witnessed in what feels like forever.
“I had fun, Han.” Truthfully, I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun with a woman. “I’d be happy to take you out anytime, Karaoke Cowgirl.”
“Oh my God.” She bursts into the cutest peal of giggles. “I still can’t believe you have this whole other dancing, singing, cowboy-hat-wearing persona!”
I shrug. “Every moment can’t be the job, you know? There’s more to this whole spinning planet than that.”
Her lips curl into a smile, and for a moment, I swear time slows. Her smile isn’t just beautiful; it’s radiant. The kind of smile that makes you want to do anything—be anything—just to keep it on her face.
The kind of smile that makes you want to kiss her.
Our eyes lock for a long moment, the universe narrowing to the two of us. Her chest moves up and down in fast waves, and my heart races to match it. I think almost exclusively about leaning forward and taking her mouth with mine. Frankly, I’m so fucking close to giving in to the urge it scares me.
The soft scent of her skin has my head filling with vanilla and cinnamon, and when she licks her lips nervously, I sway a little closer to her.
Her breath hitches, and I don’t miss the way her gaze dips ever so slightly to my mouth.
Fuck, she’s beautiful. Everything about Hannah is beautiful. Her brown eyes and her gorgeous hair and her perfect heart-shaped mouth. Hannah isn’t just any woman. She’s special. She’s kind and compassionate and selfless. And even though she might think of herself as someone who isn’t capable of having fun, she is. She’s wickedly funny and smart, and when she lets herself get loose, her smile is downright magic.
I’ve only known her for a short time, but I feel like I’ve known her all my life. And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I only find myself wanting to know her more.
Her long lashes graze her cheeks as she blinks once and then twice, before reconnecting her gaze with mine. My strength is fading, the will to keep things professional draining from my body by the second as we sit here. My fingers tingle and my spine buzzes, and I’m so close to giving in to the urge to press my mouth to hers. So close to—
“Well, okay then,” she blurts in a rush, cutting my thoughts off at the knees. Almost as if struck by lightning, she jolts forward, spinning for the passenger door handle, and then climbs out.