Huntley’s mouth was close to my ear after all eyes were off of us. “You’re the most beautiful woman at this table.” His soft breath tickled the shell of my ear again and I trembled in my seat.
I felt myself blush for like the hundredth time already since the date started as I shook my head. I was nowhere in the same zip code as the other ladies when it came to looks.
“Don’t do that.” He turned his hand over so that our palms were touching. “You are fucking gorgeous and the only one I have eyes for.”
Hello floor, save me a soft spot to land because this man is going to turn me into a pile of goo before the night is over.
Staring into his eyes, I knew he meant every word but was sure he must have lost his marbles when my gaze wandered over the group of women again.
Alley, Teal, Brinley, Ruby, Gemma, Capri, and Lake, were the gorgeous ones. We were just missing Jurnee, Summer, London and Patience. Four more ladies who would just add to the beauty I was surrounded by.
Then you had their husbands, all of whom were strikingly handsome.
But none held a candle to the man next to me.
“Promise you’ll dance with me after we eat.”
I turned back to Huntley. “I don’t know how.”
Tilting his head, he studied me. “I can show you,” he said just as the waitress came over with all our food causing a distraction.
As much as the idea of doing something I had never done and being held by the extremely sexy man next to me held appeal, I didn’t want to make a fool out of myself.
And what if I enjoyed it too much?
Getting used to being with Huntley and then getting let down or having him vanish still weighed heavy on my heart.
Along with never being what he fully needed.
I’d thought the talk of dancing had been resolved, but a few minutes later, Huntley said, “I’ll talk you into it and I always have the gals to help convince you to give it a shot.”
Between him and the ladies, I probably didn’t stand a chance of saying no.
Chapter Twenty-Six
HUNTLEY
It took a little coaxing.
River had said she couldn’t dance. I’d been going to leave it alone, not pushing her to do anything she didn’t feel comfortable with.
Even if I longed to feel her in my arms.
But when she’d confessed that she had never danced with a guy before, the ladies worked their magic, gave her a pep talk, and soon after we had eaten, I found her nestled in my embrace.
I was one lucky fucker for sure.
We swayed back and forth, River’s arms wrapped around my waist, her head lying over my furiously beating heart. I rested my hands on the small of her back and my chin on top of her head.
She felt so right against me. Like she was made just for me. My mother would probably tell me to make sure I didn’t mess it up.
I didn’t have any plans to do so.
The date had been going well. We teased and laughedwith friends, the food was great, we checked two firsts off her list, one with the date itself, and another with the dance.
Well, make that three—the unexpected kiss. While we had kissed before, it hadn’t been as intense or filled with heat. Don’t get me wrong, I would cherish the first one until my dying breath, but there was something to be said about the taste of her on my tongue.
River tasted of sweet peaches on a warm summer’s day.
