Just a sharp poke in the ribs. It was the truth calling loud and clear.
I think I do notnotlove Connor Wolfe.
We drive through the woods until we reach a clearing. Connor spins in a circle before cutting the Jeep’s engine. Taking my hand, we walk toward the center of a field. The stars are clear and the moon is a mere crescent.
“Okay, close your eyes.”
“Um, are you going to summon wolves or something?”
He chuckles. “Definitely not. You’re safe. Trust me. This is going to be cool. We just have to be quiet and still. They should be coming back by now.”
From behind, Connor’s arms wrap around me. I can practically rest my chin on his forearm. I feel snug, like he’ll protect me from anything.
“Okay, open your eyes,” he whispers.
I do and then blink a few times as little specks of light wink in and out of focus. Glowing greenish-yellow points of light dot the field in every direction.
“What are they?”
“They’re fireflies, and if you look carefully, you may even see a blue one. They’re good luck.”
I sink back into his arms as we watch nature’s light show all around us. My body relaxes in the fresh, dewy night air and inthis man’s arms. I was wrong about Connor. He’s surprised me in the best of ways.
His voice drawls to me like mist over water, like in a dream. “I’ve been thinking a lot. Turns out that I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
I crane my head to see Connor’s copper eyes spark, and ask, “Why’s that?”
“Because of right now. Because of this. You.”
“Now? This? Me?”
He takes my hand and twists me to face him. “I happen to know you’re a very good dancer. Care to teach me a move or two?”
“You already took a ballet lesson.”
His lips twitch at the corners. “I mean ballroom dancing, the kind you might use at a wedding.”
I think I got an accurate read on Connor’s brother and I doubt we’ll be attending a wedding reception with a ballroom. “How do you know I can dance?”
He scrunches his nose as if he’s not buying my demure reply.
I grip his back and join our hands and then begin to move, but before we get more than a few steps in, Connor takes the lead like he’s been doing this all his life.
“Wait a minute, I thought you wanted lessons.”
He winks. “I catch on quickly...and maybe I know a thing or two. I just wanted an excuse to dance with you.”
“Oh, yeah, what other secrets do you have, Mr. Wolfe?”
“Plenty, Miss Berghier. Plenty.” Connor’s feet go still.
So does the world. The air, the fireflies, and my heart stops as he leans in. I can’t help but watch his eyes and his lips, anticipating what’s about to happen. Telling myself I should stop it, but not wanting to. Not at all.
Connor’s hands find their way to the pins in my bun and he starts to pull them loose. My head and shoulders relax as he runs his fingers through my hair.
I let out an exhale I’ve been holding onto for years.
Connor’s nose nuzzles my neck. His breath whispers across my skin before I blink my eyes shut.
