“I had a wonderful time last night,” I whispered.
“So did I. It was a magical night.”
I hoped tonight could be equally magical, but I didn’t want to pressure her as we’d agreed to just the one night. I felt sweat drip down my back because the ballroom was stifling with so many people laughing and dancing.
“Do you want to get some air?”
“It’s twenty degrees outside.”
“And it’s about one hundred ten in here.”
“Good point. Lead the way.”
She let me take her hand to guide her through the crowd to the doors that led to the patio. Once outside, with the doors closed behind us, the music faded into the background and the cold air was welcome relief from the heat.
“The stars are amazing tonight.”
Courtney tilted her head to observe the blanket of stars above us. “This is one of the things I miss about home—seeing stars.”
“Same. Not that this is home for me, but I miss stars when I’m in New York City.”
She whipped around to face me. “You live in the city?”
“Yeah, I thought you knew that.”
“How would I know when we literally haven’t talked about it?”
I thought back to our conversations since meeting yesterday morning and we didn’t actually talk about where we lived. I knew that she lived in the city because my sister had mentioned Austin’s high school girlfriend in New York City was attending.
“I guess you’re right.” Turning to her, I moved closer until I was just shy of her personal space. Her exhale was visible in the cold night air. “Since we live in the same city, I’d love to see you again.”
Her eyes went wide as if she hadn’t expected me to ask to see her again. I couldn’t tell if she was open to the idea or not. I held my breath while I waited for her answer. Somehow, her reply to this question became the most important event of this evening.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”
My heart sank and I resisted the urge to convince her otherwise. She’d given me her response and I had to accept it. Her eyes were conflicted but her mouth was set in a firm line I was already coming to know as her decisive expression.
“I respect that. Don’t give me your final answer yet, though. We have an entire evening ahead of us and there is dancing—and cake. I’ll ask you again at midnight and you can give me your final answer.”
Courtney offered an indulgent smile. “I’ll give you until midnight, but only because there is cake. What should we do until then?”
I offered her my arm. “Until then, we dance.”
CHAPTER 10
Courtney
I completely gavein to fear at a critical moment and I knew it. I wanted what Jordy offered so badly, but just couldn’t bring myself to accept that he really wanted me. It was too easy to convince myself he’d gotten caught up in the moment and the good sex.
I’m not sure what possessed me to give Jordy a few more hours before I gave him my final answer. Maybe it was his puppy dog expression or disappointed eyes when I turned him down. Or maybe it was that I wanted to say yes with every fiber of my being.
We shared the perfect evening and I’d cherish those memories forever. I didn’t see our connection translating to real life though. It was one thing to have chemistry in a romantic snowed in cabin, but quite another in the bustling, hectic city. And the age difference was a consideration. What could he possibly see in me?
Yet here I was, my hand in his as he led me across the room to the dance floor, where a slow song was just beginning. I hadflashbacks of high school prom, when Austin and I danced under the mirror ball in the gym. This elegant ballroom was nothing like that, yet a handsome man I had more feelings for than I cared to admit leading me to dance felt all too familiar.
I resisted the urge to pull my hand from his and run. Instead I stepped into his embrace and looped my hands around his neck. Jordy let me slowly around the dance floor as the lights danced off the mirror ball over our heads. The moment felt suspended in time as if capturing magic in a bottle.
The crowd around us disappeared and it was just me and Jordy in our own little cocoon of joy. Because that is exactly the feeling he elicited—pure childlike joy. He experienced life without restraint of the shoulds or the what ifs. He dove headfirst towards anything he wanted, and at this moment that was me.
