Into the Fire (Bridge Book 2) by Meredith Wild Page A

be me? I wanted Darren to find love even if it wasn’t with me. I wasn’t sure who or what had warped this woman’s heart, but if any of the Bridge siblings had trouble finding love and keeping it, I wouldn’t hesitate to place a fair share of the burden on the example she’d set for them.
    Emboldened, I walked to Darren. He shifted from his conversation with the man who’d interrupted our almost-kiss on the beach and looked up at me from his seat. Heaven help me, one look at the man made my skin tingle.
    His lips curved into a grin as his friend chatted away, and all the pleasures from the night before seemed to flicker in those beautiful brown eyes. Something had passed between us beyond ecstasy. Whatever that was had thrown us both off, and as long as we were here, together, I was going to live it and feel it.
    “Want to dance?” I mouthed, not wanting to interrupt the conversation that was looking a bit one-sided.
    He turned to his friend. “Hey, Jeffries, this is Vanessa.”
    The man had big eyes and a genuine smile. “Nice to meet you, Vanessa. You keeping this in guy in line?”
    “Doing my best. He doesn’t make it easy.”
    He laughed. “I bet.”
    “Can I steal him away for a few?”
    “Sure thing.” He slapped Darren on the back and winked in my direction before leaving us alone.
    Darren rose and took my hand, gently tugging me to him. “This is a slow song. You know what that means, right?”
    I lifted an eyebrow.
    “Means as long as that song plays, I get to put my hands on you, and I can’t guarantee I’m going to be a complete gentleman about it.” The way he looked me over, I guessed he was only half joking.
    I ran a finger down his teal tie and smirked. “Well, we’re not in middle school. I think you could probably cop a feel without serious consequences.”
    The edge of his teeth dug into his bottom lip, and he brought his arm around me. I closed my eyes a moment, tempted to skip the dancing part and get right to the ungentlemanly part…in his hotel room.
    But the night was young.
    I took his hand and pulled him toward the filling dance floor. “Come on, Casanova. Let’s dance.”
    Once there, he pulled me into his arms. I melted into his embrace, one I was soon becoming addicted to. I rested my cheek against his solid chest and breathed him in. The cool and uniquely male scent that hit my lungs became a sixth sense. No doubt about it, I was attracted to this man on a level that felt primal and beyond my control.
    He roamed his hands over my back, along the edge of my dress where satin hit bare skin. “Good speech,” he said against my ear.
    “Thanks, you too. Where did you dig that up?”
    “The speech?” He arched an eyebrow and a knowing grin curved his lips. “That was all me. Trust me, I surprised myself.”
    “I’m impressed. Love isn’t the easiest thing to talk about in front of an audience, I guess. But it was beautiful.”
    “Thanks, red.”
    He stared down into my eyes, making my heart hammer the way it always seemed to when I was around him. Would that ever go away? Would a day go by when I was with him and didn’t feel that addictive pull? No matter if my brain knew better, my body wanted him. A kind of unseen magic lit up under my skin and made me want to take chances with this man.
    The song changed, and the slow sway of our bodies seemed out of place. Darren spun me away, pulling me back close. We moved together to the faster dance beat, and I giggled, loving the way my soul came alive around him.
    If I was being honest with myself, I didn’t care enough if this tryst with Darren only lasted one more night. I wasn’t going to let a minute pass me by without making the most of this time. Who knew what real life would throw at us back home? For the first time in a long time, I was really happy.
    We danced until we were out of breath and I was nearly boneless from keeping up with his crazy moves. We finally took a break and grabbed some water at the bar. He