He spun me once, twice, thankfully not a third time, and pulled me in close, our bodies moving as one, like muscle memory had taken over.This was us—effortless and electric, like nothing else mattered but each other.
He dipped me low, earning a cheer from the crowd, then popped me back up.Our eyes locked, his grin wide, thriving off our energy.I laughed, breathless, head tipping as the room spun just a little too fast.
I blinked, forcing my focus to him.
“Hey,” he said, his face flashing with concern.His hands tightened at my waist.“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly.I forced a smile.It was easier than trying to explain the sudden wave of heat coursing through me.“Just… warm.”
He leaned in, lips brushing the upper part of my ear.“That’s what happens when you dance with me, Grasso.”
I rolled my eyes, but my vision blurred for a half a second, the lights above smearing into color.I steadied myself, gripping his shoulders a little tighter than necessary.
Wyatt didn’t pull away.He held me steady, grounding me without even realizing he was doing it.He pressed his forehead to mine, slowing our pace just enough that no one would question it.The crowd kept cheering; the music kept pounding, but I focused on the rise and fall of Wyatt’s chest.The comforting grip he had on me.The way his golden-brown eyes sparkled despite the concern.
I inhaled through my nose.I could do this.Just one more song.
Just one more minute pretending everything was exactly how it always was.
Then, I could go back to the room, take a cold shower, climb into bed and fall asleep in Wyatt’s arms.
I closed my eyes, focusing on that, and ignoring the voice in my head that screamed at me to come clean to him.
I would.Just not right now.
We’d stumbled out of the reception hall, sweating in places I didn’t know were possible, high on the energy of the night, but I felt myself coming down.The flashing lights had stopped.The bright, harsh lights of the hotel lobby assaulted my eyes as I draped my arm over Rose and guided us toward the elevator.
“Damn, that’s a long line,” I said when we approached the single elevator with a line of about fifteen people deep.I glanced at Rose.“Want to take the stairs?”I asked.It was only two floors.
“Sure,” she said with a smile, but she looked tired.Drained really.And as much as I wanted her stripped bare and beneath me, I didn’t think either of us was capable of that tonight.
“WYATT!”Paxton, a friend from college, yelled from across the lobby.
I threw my arm up in the air.“PAX-TON!”I let the letters rumble deep and loud.
“You killed it on the dance floor,” his wife, Becky, said to me as they drew closer.
I tightened my hold on Rose, who I could tell just wanted to get to bed.
“Thanks,” I said with a grin.“I try.”
Paxton clapped me on the shoulder.“Man, you always were a menace.”
“Still am,” I said.“Just with better music.”
Rose gave a polite smile, her head resting briefly against my chest, and I felt a subtle shift.Her weight leaned heavier on me.Not in the good, familiar, I want you now way.My grin faded.
“Are you feeling all right?”I asked quietly as Paxton got swept up in Chris’s arms and carried across the lobby.
“Yeah, just tired.”Her words were soft, almost too soft.My girl needed a bed and stat.
“We’re going to call it a night.Early flight tomorrow,” I said to Becky, who was rolling her eyes at her husband.
“Smart,” Becky said.“If only I could wrangle that one.”
“Good luck,” I said with a laugh as I guided Rose toward the stairs.
The noise from the lobby dulled as I pushed through the heavy door.Cool air and concrete walls surrounded us.The fluorescent lights weren’t nearly as bright as the lobby.I took the tie from my head and stashed it in my pocket.
