forward, through the others still swaying to the music, even twirl ing me once for good measure. My insides did a happy sigh. About three-quarters of the way through the song, I finally placed it as “You Look Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton.
“Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight,” Dane whispered softly into my hair as the final chords rang out of the song. I swooned so hard I almost tipped over in my heels.
I luckily recovered my composure, but even after the song ended, neither of us moved. The people around us clapped as the band announced they were taking a break before a final set, and, still, we didn’t move. Although I desperately wanted to peek up at his face – so I could read what he was thinking – I refrained. If I was being honest, I was afraid of what I would see.
Instead, I let Dane hold me, relishing in the feel of being in his arms. I sighed happily as he dropped my hand and wrapped his now free arm around me, hugging me. I’ll hand it to the guy, he gave great hug.
“People are staring,” Dane mused, his lips close to my ear.
“So?” My brain had fogged and I wasn’t thinking clearly. Who cared? Not me, that’s for sure. I was as content as a cat in his arms, which was strange for me, but I decided to go with it. Something that felt so good couldn’t be wrong.
“I think I saw one of the journalists bust out a camera.” His voice was still soft, though I could hear a hint of irritation and urging. It wasn’t hard to tell he was unhappy about the prospect. “Let’s get out of here,” he continued, pressing his lips to my temple in a gentle kiss. I shivered before stepping back to look at him.
“What?” I asked, shaking my head to clear it. A flash from a nearby camera was more effective and I felt the blood drain from my face. What was I doing? This wasn’t Atlanta; I wasn’t anonymous here. I didn’t even really know this guy, except that he was mega good looking and made me laugh. Now our picture was going to make the tabloids. The ones taken on the way in were paling in comparison to what they would have now. I could see the headlines now and I dreaded them. The two of us caught canoodling in a public place was just the kind of thing the rumor mill workers loved.
“Oh, shit,” I exclaimed, wanting to cover my face but deciding against it. If they were going to run pictures of us together, I preferred they not be of me hiding, ashamed . No, instead I plastered the fakest smile I could muster and grabbed Dane’s hand. “I need to get out of here,” I told him, my voice strained but quiet.
“Come,” he commanded, returning my grin and giving my hand a tug. He pulled me back toward the bar and collected my clutch from the man behind it. Good thing he remembered … I’d completely forgotten about it. Oops. Wow his bum looks good bending over. Stop it, Ryen, focus.
“Do you have a shawl or jacket?” Dane asked, interrupting my scattered thoughts.
“No,” I squeaked, immediately embarrassed and hating it. Good for me, though, he didn’t seem to notice. His eyes were intense as he looked me over and nodded. So serious. As he clasped my elbow and led me toward the door, his grip gentle but strong, I decided I liked the serious side of Dane too. Too? Crap, so maybe I just like Dane. Orrrr… maybe I was just happy to be in the company of a guy who wasn’t talking about video games. Yes, that’s it. No, it’s not, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I couldn’t silence the voice in my head that was cheering happily. All my warnings were going ignored on the possibility of a new man in my life. ALL THIS CELEBRATION IS PREMATURE, I thought in all caps – that’s the only way you can scream internally, right?
Chapter Nine
Dane maneuvered us easily through the room and out the front door. We both smiled and nodded to the few remaining press before making our way to the valet booth. Luckily for us, none of the cameras followed
“Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight,” Dane whispered softly into my hair as the final chords rang out of the song. I swooned so hard I almost tipped over in my heels.
I luckily recovered my composure, but even after the song ended, neither of us moved. The people around us clapped as the band announced they were taking a break before a final set, and, still, we didn’t move. Although I desperately wanted to peek up at his face – so I could read what he was thinking – I refrained. If I was being honest, I was afraid of what I would see.
Instead, I let Dane hold me, relishing in the feel of being in his arms. I sighed happily as he dropped my hand and wrapped his now free arm around me, hugging me. I’ll hand it to the guy, he gave great hug.
“People are staring,” Dane mused, his lips close to my ear.
“So?” My brain had fogged and I wasn’t thinking clearly. Who cared? Not me, that’s for sure. I was as content as a cat in his arms, which was strange for me, but I decided to go with it. Something that felt so good couldn’t be wrong.
“I think I saw one of the journalists bust out a camera.” His voice was still soft, though I could hear a hint of irritation and urging. It wasn’t hard to tell he was unhappy about the prospect. “Let’s get out of here,” he continued, pressing his lips to my temple in a gentle kiss. I shivered before stepping back to look at him.
“What?” I asked, shaking my head to clear it. A flash from a nearby camera was more effective and I felt the blood drain from my face. What was I doing? This wasn’t Atlanta; I wasn’t anonymous here. I didn’t even really know this guy, except that he was mega good looking and made me laugh. Now our picture was going to make the tabloids. The ones taken on the way in were paling in comparison to what they would have now. I could see the headlines now and I dreaded them. The two of us caught canoodling in a public place was just the kind of thing the rumor mill workers loved.
“Oh, shit,” I exclaimed, wanting to cover my face but deciding against it. If they were going to run pictures of us together, I preferred they not be of me hiding, ashamed . No, instead I plastered the fakest smile I could muster and grabbed Dane’s hand. “I need to get out of here,” I told him, my voice strained but quiet.
“Come,” he commanded, returning my grin and giving my hand a tug. He pulled me back toward the bar and collected my clutch from the man behind it. Good thing he remembered … I’d completely forgotten about it. Oops. Wow his bum looks good bending over. Stop it, Ryen, focus.
“Do you have a shawl or jacket?” Dane asked, interrupting my scattered thoughts.
“No,” I squeaked, immediately embarrassed and hating it. Good for me, though, he didn’t seem to notice. His eyes were intense as he looked me over and nodded. So serious. As he clasped my elbow and led me toward the door, his grip gentle but strong, I decided I liked the serious side of Dane too. Too? Crap, so maybe I just like Dane. Orrrr… maybe I was just happy to be in the company of a guy who wasn’t talking about video games. Yes, that’s it. No, it’s not, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I couldn’t silence the voice in my head that was cheering happily. All my warnings were going ignored on the possibility of a new man in my life. ALL THIS CELEBRATION IS PREMATURE, I thought in all caps – that’s the only way you can scream internally, right?
Chapter Nine
Dane maneuvered us easily through the room and out the front door. We both smiled and nodded to the few remaining press before making our way to the valet booth. Luckily for us, none of the cameras followed
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