photo booth near the basketball hoop. If you’ve a mind to dance or want to request a song, the DJ is happy to accommodate you.”
Caleb pulls on my arm. “Whitney, will you go with me to get some punch?”
“I’d be glad to.” I take his hand in mine and inform Aidan we’ll be back shortly.
I try to keep my mind on Caleb as he chatters away about his costume, but my eyes keep straying to where Aidan and Rebecca are standing. She has her arm draped possessively over one of his shoulders and keeps leaning into him now and then. Her laughter is just loud enough that I can sometimes hear it from across the room.
While Caleb and I snack on finger foods, I work to give him my full attention. I catch a glimpse of Aidan at the DJ booth. When he turns away, I can tell he’s looking for someone. His eyes land on me, and he smiles. He walks toward us and reaches us just as a slow song starts.
He offers his hand to me. “Miss Dawson, may I have this dance?”
How can I turn down the chance to be in his arms again? “It would be my pleasure, Mr. Walsh.” I place my hand in his, and he pulls me to my feet. Caleb giggles behind a fist full of crackers, and I give him a wink.
Aidan leads me to the middle of the gym where a few other couples are already dancing. He places one arm around my waist and pulls me close, his other hand still clasping mine. I’m sure we are a respectable distance apart, but I can still feel the heat radiating off of every inch of his body. My mind is screaming at me to get closer, and my heart agrees, but I know this isn’t the time or place. We should be alone when I confess my feelings for him. An audience would only make things awkward. Besides, I still harbor a small amount of fear that he doesn’t want me. I’m not going to let that deter me from trying, but it’s a concern I’ll have to overcome.
We’re swaying to the music, and I’m having a hard time looking him in the eye. My mind keeps wandering to the hotel room in Illinois, and I can feel the heat of the memories rush through me.
“Whitney?” he says ever-so-softly, and then he waits until I look at him. “What are you thinking about?”
I try once again to tamp down my fears and embarrassments. I take in a fortifying breath. “Honestly, I was thinking about our time together in the hotel room.”
His expression grows serious. “Really.” He pulls me a little closer and the hand on my lower back is tracing tantalizing circles that I can feel even through the fabric of my costume. “What part are you remembering?” He gives me a lazy smile.
“I was thinking about how you held me.” While the sex was amazing, simply being held and cherished by this beautiful man was mind blowing. I feel sure I’ll never find that again with anyone else.
He gently coaxes my head to lay on his shoulder, then places an affectionate kiss just above my ear. “Yeah, I think about that too.”
I want to look at his face and reassure myself that he’s serious. He sounds sincere, but I still find it hard to believe someone as amazing as Aidan Walsh is interested in someone as dull and plain as I am. I keep my face buried in his neck and enjoy the contact until the song ends. He’s reluctant to let me go and pulls me close for a quick kiss. I can’t help but feel a bubble of joy over his obvious and very public affection.
He leans to whisper in my ear. “I know I said I’d be on my best behavior, so I apologize if kissing you broke the rules. To be completely honest, I’ve never liked rules much.”
He puts his hand on my lower back and leads me to the spot where Caleb is sitting. I don’t have time to respond to his comment about breaking the rules before Rebecca has an arm around Aidan, claiming she needs to speak with him urgently. She hauls him back to the dance floor, and he looks at me apologetically. I give him a smile and turn to Caleb.
“So how many of those pastry things have you eaten?” I ask, pointing to a
Caleb pulls on my arm. “Whitney, will you go with me to get some punch?”
“I’d be glad to.” I take his hand in mine and inform Aidan we’ll be back shortly.
I try to keep my mind on Caleb as he chatters away about his costume, but my eyes keep straying to where Aidan and Rebecca are standing. She has her arm draped possessively over one of his shoulders and keeps leaning into him now and then. Her laughter is just loud enough that I can sometimes hear it from across the room.
While Caleb and I snack on finger foods, I work to give him my full attention. I catch a glimpse of Aidan at the DJ booth. When he turns away, I can tell he’s looking for someone. His eyes land on me, and he smiles. He walks toward us and reaches us just as a slow song starts.
He offers his hand to me. “Miss Dawson, may I have this dance?”
How can I turn down the chance to be in his arms again? “It would be my pleasure, Mr. Walsh.” I place my hand in his, and he pulls me to my feet. Caleb giggles behind a fist full of crackers, and I give him a wink.
Aidan leads me to the middle of the gym where a few other couples are already dancing. He places one arm around my waist and pulls me close, his other hand still clasping mine. I’m sure we are a respectable distance apart, but I can still feel the heat radiating off of every inch of his body. My mind is screaming at me to get closer, and my heart agrees, but I know this isn’t the time or place. We should be alone when I confess my feelings for him. An audience would only make things awkward. Besides, I still harbor a small amount of fear that he doesn’t want me. I’m not going to let that deter me from trying, but it’s a concern I’ll have to overcome.
We’re swaying to the music, and I’m having a hard time looking him in the eye. My mind keeps wandering to the hotel room in Illinois, and I can feel the heat of the memories rush through me.
“Whitney?” he says ever-so-softly, and then he waits until I look at him. “What are you thinking about?”
I try once again to tamp down my fears and embarrassments. I take in a fortifying breath. “Honestly, I was thinking about our time together in the hotel room.”
His expression grows serious. “Really.” He pulls me a little closer and the hand on my lower back is tracing tantalizing circles that I can feel even through the fabric of my costume. “What part are you remembering?” He gives me a lazy smile.
“I was thinking about how you held me.” While the sex was amazing, simply being held and cherished by this beautiful man was mind blowing. I feel sure I’ll never find that again with anyone else.
He gently coaxes my head to lay on his shoulder, then places an affectionate kiss just above my ear. “Yeah, I think about that too.”
I want to look at his face and reassure myself that he’s serious. He sounds sincere, but I still find it hard to believe someone as amazing as Aidan Walsh is interested in someone as dull and plain as I am. I keep my face buried in his neck and enjoy the contact until the song ends. He’s reluctant to let me go and pulls me close for a quick kiss. I can’t help but feel a bubble of joy over his obvious and very public affection.
He leans to whisper in my ear. “I know I said I’d be on my best behavior, so I apologize if kissing you broke the rules. To be completely honest, I’ve never liked rules much.”
He puts his hand on my lower back and leads me to the spot where Caleb is sitting. I don’t have time to respond to his comment about breaking the rules before Rebecca has an arm around Aidan, claiming she needs to speak with him urgently. She hauls him back to the dance floor, and he looks at me apologetically. I give him a smile and turn to Caleb.
“So how many of those pastry things have you eaten?” I ask, pointing to a
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