By this time, Mike and Maddison had joined us and were also enjoying the show.
I noticed the way Mad was nursing a bottle of water and wondered to myself how long it was going to take for anyone else to notice.
The band began a familiar song, and I leaned in close to Chloe, whispering near her ear. “You done screwing with this fool?” Looking back, her cheek glided over my lips. “I think there was a question of my dancing abilities.” Smiling wide, she shifted her gaze from my lips to meet my stare, and that very second I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. Chloe Rigdon, all it took was one sweet look from her and I was wrecked.
I held out my hand, and she turned completely around to face me. “Are you gonna step on my toes?”
“I can’t promise I won’t.” Thing was that I could dance. My mother was a dance teacher for as long as I could remember. When my father retired, she did, too, but growing up, she ensured that I knew my way around a dance floor. I was ashamed of it as a young boy. I mean, what boy wanted to share with his friends that he was in dance classes three nights a week? Mainly it was because my mother had classes and I was forced to tag along, but still, young boys could be cruel. Now, years later, I was thankful for those days. Being able to woo a lady was a necessity.
“Maybe we should just sit this one out.” Chloe wasn’t yet convinced.
“Not a chance, Kitten.” Her eyes widened at the endearment. “I promised lots of dancing, and I plan to deliver.”
Before she could argue more, I gave her hand a light tug and began walking backward toward the dance floor. I ignored the looks from the ladies but didn’t miss the knowing smirk on Mike’s lips. He knew all about my years of dance classes.
Immediately, I lifted the hand that held Chloe’s high above her head and gave her a little twirl. Laughter fell from her lips, and when she was facing me once more, I pulled her body in closer to mine. “Are you ready?”
I wasn’t just talking about the dance, but for now, I would keep that fact to myself. She offered a little nod, and I slid my free hand around her waist. Still holding onto her left hand with my right, I began to move my hips against her, and her eyes widened.
Instead of calling attention to it, I leaned in and took full advantage of how close we were. Breathing her in, I closed my eyes and committed this moment to memory.
The first time I saw Chloe, I’d admit I thought she was a lot younger than twenty-one at the time. That was a year ago. Not once in the last year had I been able to look at her and not feel my heart race. She held that kind of elegant beauty that could knock a man flat on his ass.
When the music switched to a faster beat, I sped up with a little more seductiveness, and she matched my movements. Her cheeks reddened, and I wanted nothing more than to lean in close and kiss her pouty lips, only I held back. Chloe deserved more; she deserved better than being mauled on a dark dance floor with a few dozen drunks standing around taking it all in.
“So about that second chance.” Not kissing was harder than I had anticipated. “I think we should start on Sunday.”
She got that confused look in her eyes. Her brows wrinkled, her nose all bunched up as she stared up at me. “I’d say it starts first thing in the morning, but I have to be at the station and am on for twenty-four hours.”
“Sunday I promised to babysit Blake while AJ and Rhett finalized some wedding stuff.”
“Then I’ll help.” Again, she looked surprised. “I’m good with kids. They love me.”
“Okay then, Sunday it is.”
Twirling her once more, I pulled her back to me just as she threw her head back and laughed. “See, I told you I’m not such a bad guy.”
Something crossed over her face, and she tucked her chin toward her chest. “Thank you for the flowers.” Doing my best to see her face, I moved back and caught the tail end of her nervously worrying her lower lip. “I’ve never gotten flowers before, and they were beautiful.”
I made a mental note to shower her with more flowers than she knew what to do with. What in the hell was wrong with the men in this town? This woman shouldn’t have had to wait so long to have a man send her flowers.
“No need to thank me. I would have done just about anything to get you to understand I was a good guy. You wouldn’t let me close enough to explain.”
“Sorry.” Again she tried to shy away.
“I got my teeth cleaned for the second time in less than six months just to get the chance to be near you.” Her chin lifted, and her eyes widened. “Told you I was willing to try anything.”
“Including reminiscing with an old girlfriend?”
It’s my turn to react, and I narrowed my eyes, which only made her laugh. “Not an old girlfriend, just a few dates. Believe me, it never went any further than that.”
“It’s none of my business.” Chloe held up her hand that had been resting on my chest, and I instantly wanted her to put it back. “There was some mighty heavy talk of plans being made for a reunion after you left the office that day.
