“Do you want anything?” she huffed, aggravated at the dismissal.
“A bottle of water would be good,” I told her, flashing her a dimpled simple before I spanked her ass. I knew Elle caught the gesture, and I knew it pissed her off from the way her fists clenched at her sides.
When Krista disappeared down the stairs, I made my move. I approached Elle with ease, flashing that special smile I knew I could never replicate for anybody but her. It seemed so natural to walk towards her.
“Where’d you boyfriend run off to?” I asked, raising my brow in question.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but he got called into work,” she glowered at me. I couldn’t even prevent my smile from slipping into a ridiculously huge grin. “What are you smiling for?”
“No reason,” I shrugged, trying for indifference. “Dance with me.”
“No,” Elle crossed her arms, her eyes cold.
“Come on, for old times’ sake,” I challenged. “We’re going to have to dance together at the wedding. Might as well practice a little—don’t need you stepping all over my feet or stabbing me with one of those glass mason jar vases Tessa’s been putting together.”
“I would never stab you with a centerpiece,” Elle smirked. “Now the bread knife…”
“So funny,” I said dryly, extending my hand out to her. “Now let’s dance.”
Elle debated for a few long seconds, her eyes dropping down to my hand and back up to my face again. Uncertainly lined her eyes. We stared at each other for another beat, and she must have seen something in my gaze. Her expression softened, the walls coming down a little—or at least, a door opening somewhere for me.
“Ugh, fine. But so help me God Braden, if you try anything…I’ll kick you in the gonads.”
I led her out onto the dance floor, placing my hands on her hips and drawing her close to me. Her arms went around my neck and I was struck again by just how well we fit together. It was as if she was made for my arms and my arms alone. The way she worried her lips had me wondering if she was feeling the same thing.
“What’s with you and Krista?” she finally said, unable to handle the silence I basked in.
“Nothing,” I grinned. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing.”
“Are you jealous?” I asked her, loving that idea.
“Of course not,” Elle huffed, rolling her eyes. The lie she spoke written clear as day across her face.
“There’s only one girl for me,” I told her, my lips dangerously close to her ear lobe. Elle used to love it when I kissed her neck and nibbled on her ear lobe. She shivered, erupting into tiny goosebumps as my breath cascaded across her skin.
Frozen in time, I allowed myself a moment to linger there, my lips hovering above the sensitive skin just below her ear. The desire I felt for her was evident, but I didn’t push myself against her like I wanted to.
She abruptly pulled away from me, her eyes locking on mine, wild and wary. Her breath was coming out in quick bursts. “Don’t,” she told me, her lips tight as she walked away without another word. I followed her out of the barn, watching as she pulled her cell phone out and called someone.
“Come on Mom, pick up,” she grumbled, hitting end and redialing when her call went unanswered.
“Do you need a lift home?” I offered, keeping my distance from her. I shoved my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch her. She froze again, slowly turning to glare at me.
“No Braden, I’m fine,” she practically hissed.
I pulled my hands out of my pockets and raised them in surrender. “Easy, I’m just saying. I’m heading home now, and I haven’t been drinking obviously so I can drive you.”
Elle debated, looking down at her phone and back up at me. She knew as well as I did that nobody else was leaving any time soon. “Fine,” she sighed. “Where are you parked?”
I gestured with my head over to the field on our left. The Clayton’s had made a couple of parking lots in their old fields to the left of the barn. They’d left the right fields for their beautiful thoroughbred horses to roam. I led the way to my truck, Elle falling into step beside me.
“Is it hard?” she asked me, looking at me funny.
“Not right now, but I’m sure if you took your top off—“
“That’s not what I meant, Braden,” Elle scowled. “I meant…is it hard for you to be at things like this?”
