Shattered Hearts ePub by Pen Name Page B

liked being out there with Nate.  Even though there were a few other people milling around outside the barn where the vehicles were parked, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.  I wasn’t ready for that feeling to end just yet.
    “Don’t you want to get back to the dance?” he asked with surprise.  “You looked like you were having a good time in there.  Maggie must have introduced you to half the town,” he observed with a chuckle.
    “You were watching me?”
    He shrugged and studied his cowboy boots intently, not answering the question.  “I’ll show you the river if you want,” he offered.  “But it’s dark.  I’m not sure how much you’ll be able to see.” 
    “That’s okay.  Show me.”  I just wanted to be alone with him a little longer.
    “Alright, this way then,” he said.  I felt his hand lightly touching the small of my back, gently guiding me through the semi-darkness.  A shiver ran through my spine.  I tried to concentrate on walking but all I could focus on was the way that feather light touch felt.  My body responded immediately, my nipples hardening as I thought about how close Nate and I were to each other.
    “Wow,” I breathed as we approached the rapidly flowing river.  “It’s beautiful here.”
    Up close, the moonlight illuminated the river bank in the most exquisite way.  I could faintly make out wildflowers near the water’s edge, adding to the natural beauty of the area.  The dull roar of the water forcefully moving was like white noise, relaxing and therapeutic.  I could understand now why Nate liked the place so much. 
    Unfortunately, I was so busy looking around – and inwardly squealing about how close Nate was standing to me – that I lost my footing.  My foot caught on what felt like a stone and I stumbled in the tall grass.  Nate’s strong arms immediately caught me, steadying me before I fell. 
    Still holding onto me, he studied my face in the moonlight.  “Are you alright?”
    “I’m fine.”  My mouth felt dry and my heart was beating a mile a minute.  The night was so perfect I could hardly stand it.  Then I said something even I wasn’t expecting.  “Will you dance with me?”
    “Here?” he asked, looking confused. 
    Inwardly cringing, I nodded and bit my lip.  I wished that hadn’t slipped out.  Trying to undo it, I started speaking quickly.  “But I just remembered you said you hate dancing, and I’m a lousy dancer anyway, so it’s okay if you don’t –”
    “I’ll dance with you.”
    “You will?”
    Instead of answering, Nate took a step closer to me and put his hands on my waist.  Miniature explosions went off inside me.  Instinctively, I reached up and placed my hands on his broad, manly shoulders.  He was so tall...and I loved the way his body towered over mine.  It made me feel safe.  He made me feel safe. 
    Pressing my head against Nate’s chest, I settled into him and we began to move in unison as the notes of a slow, sweet country song drifted out of the barn.  We didn’t talk.  We just stood there in each other’s arms, barely moving, swaying in time to the music.
    Our bodies were so close together that we were almost pressed up against each other.  We stood there amidst the trees chest to chest, knee to knee...  A shiver of excitement ran through me as my mind raced.  In fact, I even felt myself break out in goosebumps. 
    I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the sort of thing people were referring to when they talked about making love.  We were both fully clothed and there was no sex involved, but that wasn’t important.  I felt something I’d never experienced when my ex was grunting on top of me, forcefully and sometimes painfully taking his pleasure.  I felt close to Nate...connected. 
    I hugged him tighter and listened to his heartbeat, not wanting to let go.
    “You’re shivering,” he noted with concern, coming to a standstill and taking a step back so he