“You inherited the family’s easy-to-talk-to and love-to-help-people trait.”
His comments warmed my spirit, bringing a smile to my face.
“And you have a bad habit of picking your nails, but you’re trying to stop.”
My jaw dropped open. “Wait. How did you know that?”
His left thumb caressed the tops of my fingers. “You can learn a lot just watching.”
The bold admission turned my heart into mush.
“You also don’t like being on the hot seat or getting attention in any way which is why you won’t look me in the eyes right now.”
I shook my head because I felt totally exposed. He had gathered all these things about me?
He continued, unfazed, “You’ve got two beautiful daughters and are clearly a wonderful mom.”
A lump rose in my throat.
“And speaking of beautiful…” He paused long enough that I finally looked up, his green gaze glowing gold in the yellow light. “You got all the best Thompson genes. I don’t know if it’s fair to your sisters.”
Oh, my heart. It swelled with emotion so fiercely it hurt. Jesse had no idea he was spoon feeding me all the things I wasted away with want for. The dancing, the closeness, the sweet words over my soul. He looked at me as if Imeantsomething—as if I truly was beautiful to him, as if I was someone a man like him could treasure one day.
His kindness carved an ache in my chest—a drop on my tongue when I was thirsty for an ocean. Inwardly, I begged him to go on, keep talking, keep seeing me, keep making me believe I was worth noticing. I blinked against the tears swirling my vision, fighting to hold onto my game face.
But hetsked, his tone turning facetious. “Yet, underneath your beautiful, sweet exterior, I know the truth.”
A smile tugged my lips. “What truth?”
“You’re a dirty, rotten Go Fish player.”
A laugh slipped from my mouth, loud and unhindered, and my welling tears receded. He laughed too, his hand on my back squeezing me closer. “And,” he continued, leaning over my ear, “you’re also a liar.”
His warm breath sent tingles down my spine. “That’s bold. What have I lied about?”
Jesse moved my right hand in front of my body and lifted his arm, twirling me beneath it. I followed his cues as easily as I filled my lungs. While I spun, his hand left mine, landing on my upper back and his right palm fell to my hip, gripping it as he bent his knee and lowered me in an achingly slow, romantic dip.
I arched back into the movement, completely confident in his ability.
And I wasmadeto be touched this way.
Unhurried, he guided me up and my spine rolled until we were face to face. His hands settled on my waist as mine clasped around his neck. Stunned that we had executed a move flawlessly, I blinked a few times, unable to do anythingbut stare into his eyes.
His breaths were heavy, loud. Mine were too.
Then he whispered, “You said you don’t dance.”
THIRTEEN
Hollie
Seventeen years old
Sweat glistened on my skin as applause rippled through the auditorium. Under the roar and blinding light, Jade squeaked in excitement, gently squeezing my arm. “We did it, Holls!”
When the beat of the curtain call dropped, the varsity troupe at Eclipse Collective stepped forward to mark the end of the winter showcase. My closest friends and I held hands, bounding forward to receive our due praise. Lee started the bow stage right and we continued the wave until all of us were laughing, bent at the waist—the rush of adrenaline racing up my spine.
Even though I smiled, a lump of emotions rose to my throat.
