She took another few bites then asked, “Did Tara go to your place?”
“Yeah. Madden and Lily drove her. She had a ball tonight. It was nice to see her happy.” He took another couple of bites.
Setting down her fork, she considered her next words. He’d made it clear he didn’t want to talk about his family, but damn it, she wanted to know. She wanted him to open up to her. “Has she not been happy lately? Is that why she came?”
Reid stared down at his half-empty plate. “Tara’s life hasn’t been easy. Especially with my living so far away. A lot falls on her shoulders that shouldn’t, and she’s tired of carrying the burden. I hope being here for a while will show her it’s time for her to live her own life. To pursue her own passions.”
“I’m sure she will. If she’s made the first steps toward that, you’ll help her make the second. She’s lucky to have you as a brother. I wish I would have had one like you growing up.”
Disgust pinched his features. “You wish I was your brother?”
Heat snaked up the back of her neck. “No. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant, you two are lucky to have each other. My parents are great, but I always envied all my friends who had siblings. Built-in partners in crime. It’d be nice to know someone is watching out for you, standing in the shadows to help things go your way.”
“As far as Tara’s concerned, I’ve been in the shadows for too long. I plan to change that.” He set his fork down and pushed away his plate. Rising to his feet, he captured her hand in his. “And that’s not the only thing I need to change.”
He tugged her to her feet and led her to the corner of the room.
If her curiosity wasn’t so strong, she’d complain about how late it was or how much her feet hurt. Instead, she followed along, curiosity growing when they stopped in front of the jukebox. With the lights low, the neon signs and colors from the jukebox cast a rainbow glow around the room. “What are you doing?”
Snagging a quarter from the front pocket of his jeans, he fed it into the machine and pressed a button. A familiar song filled the air. The music was slow, and a woman’s voice belted out words of love and longing. He held out a hand. “Have time for that dance?”
A smile blossomed on her lips, and she stared down at his palm before returning her focus to his handsome face. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “I missed my chance earlier. I don’t want that to happen again. Just one dance then we can head home. I know you’re probably exhausted.”
With her mouth suddenly dry, she nestled her palm into his and electricity shot all the way down to her toes. Her heart raced so loud she could barely make out the words to the song, but they didn’t matter. All that mattered was Reid and his charming grin and the look in his eyes that told her she was in big trouble.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her close. “Here we go.”
A rush of excitement threatened to steal all coherent thoughts from her brain. A hint of his sweat mixed with the cedar and citrus cologne holding on strong, making her head swim. He spun her around the dance floor, never taking his eyes off her.
She moved her body impossibly closer to him and got lost in the moment. Lost in his arms. Lost in a fantasy that this wasn’t just one dance but a promise of wonderful things to come.
The music faded. The song ended. She stared up at him, her heart lodged in her throat. A sense of déjà vu struck her. They’d been in this moment once before. With her gaze fixed on his mouth and a need to know how he tasted consuming every inch of her being.
“Eve?”
The question may have been filled with a hundred words with all the meaning put into it.
She forced her dry throat to swallow her apprehension. “Yes?”
“A dance like that deserves one hell of a finale, don’t you think?”
Unable to speak, she nodded.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” His smirk melted away as he leaned down and placed his lips on hers.
Chapter 16
Fireworks.
Goddamn fireworks.
Nothing else could describe the eruption of desire and emotions uncapped as Reid held Eve in his arms and kissed her. Not wanting it to end, he held her tighter and molded her body against his. The feel of her breasts pressed to his chest and the way she slid one hand up to thread her fingers through his hair threatened to make his heart explode.
Why had he resisted this? Why had he struggled against the feelings he had for Eve for so long? Everything about her—about this moment—was pure perfection.
A moan purred from her throat, and she opened her mouth just enough for him to slip his tongue inside. She tasted sweet and tangy and tempting as hell. He deepened the kiss and glided one palm up her spine to rest at the nape of her neck.
