He turned, and the way his eyes swept over me, the rest of the world fell away.
“Hi,” he said softly. “I was hoping you’d come out here.”
“I didn’t think you’d be here tonight,” I admitted. “I thought this was more Kelly’s domain.”
“I was feeling charitable,” he said, as his dimples carved in.
“I see. I’m surprised you didn’t bid on the puppy… or the dinner with theHousewife.”
“I’m holding out for the private dance lessons with a surprise guest fromDancing with the Stars.”
“I hear that’s going for a lot. Better get your paddle ready,” I advised.
“The way you just said paddle…”
He took a step closer to me. “I wish more than anything I was your date tonight.”
When his gaze dropped to my mouth, I felt it like a touch.
“I hate this,” I said. “Seeing you and pretending like we’re strangers. Watching you from across the room and not being able to—” I cut myself off, the words sticking in my throat.
“Me too.” His voice cracked. “Every time I see you and can’t touch you… it kills me.”
Our fingers touched, barely. Just a whisper of contact, but it lit something in me that made it hard to breathe. It would’ve been so easy to fall into him, to lose all sense of consequences and just feel. But we didn’t. We couldn’t.
“I should go back in,” I said, even though my body was screaming at me to stay.
He nodded, but his eyes didn’t let go of mine. “I know,” he said, “but I’ll be thinking about you all night.”
I swallowed, heart racing. “Don’t.”
“Too late.”
We stood there for one more second, the ache between us so thick I could taste it. And then I turned, slowly walking away from the man I couldn’t stop wanting, and back into the ballroom, where the paddles were still rising, and my husband was waiting.
Back into the life I was still pretending to belong to.
CHAPTER 38
PADDLES AND PRETENSES
WILL
Going to the gala was a last-minute call. Natalie mentioned she was attending, and said that Jason wasn’t sure if he could make it. That alone was reason enough to consider showing up. Maybe it’d be fun. Not that we’d be able to say much with the gossip tribe lurking nearby.
I asked Sarah if she’d come with me.
“Is this a good idea, Will?”
“It’s for the kids,” I said, already bracing.
“I’ll come, but only to keep you out of trouble.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I know it’s not ideal.”
“The only reason I’m okay with this is because she seems… unhappy. She’s alone all the time. If this is a real chance at something good…” Her voice trailed off.
“If it wasn’t real, I wouldn’t even be thinking about it, but I know she feels it, too.”
