Daniel gave her a tight smile. "No. It smells kind of gross actually."
Her gaze zeroed in on his face. "Are you okay?"
He chewed on his lip for a moment before answering. "You want the truth?" When she nodded, he said, "Not really."
"Do we need to leave?" Her face fell, extinguishing the light in her eyes. "We can drive to the Tri-Cities area and catch a movie if you want."
He caught her hand as she started to stand. "We're not leaving. Yes, I'm struggling, but with your help, I'll be fine."
I hope.
She leaned close. "I won't think any less of you if you decide you need to leave."
Her warm breath caressed his cheek, and a surge of desire shot through him. His gaze dropped to her glossy red lips. Now there wasa distraction that erased all thoughts of alcohol from his mind. Too bad Riley wouldn't welcome a kiss from him or any man for a long time.
"Good to know." He squeezed her hand. "I'm not leaving without dancing with you. So let’s track down a server and get some food.”
She grinned. “Sounds good.”
The third best thing about Scooters—besides the dancing and the pulled pork sandwiches—was the fast service, provided you ordered the right thing. Once their food arrived, Daniel found it easier to ignore the fact that he was surrounded by alcohol, and when Riley pulled him out onto the dance floor, the rest of the world faded away.
He was swept back in time as they effortlessly danced together, shifting seamlessly from one move to another. Dancing with Riley was pure bliss. She was graceful and athletic, and every time he swung her out and she returned to his arms, he sighed in contentment.
She’s what I’ve been searching for these past few years.
When the first slow song played, Riley didn’t hesitate to step into his arms. His heart pounded in his chest as he pulled her close and they slowly swayed. This woman was quickly coming to mean the world to him. Again. With all she’d been through, she wouldn’t be ready for a relationship for a long time, but he didn’t think he could ever let her go again.
If she chose to leave the ranch at the end of the summer, it would crush him. His sobriety wouldn’t stand a chance.
I could go with her.
Even as the thought filled his head, he feared he wouldn't be able to stay sober if he left the ranch. Riley deserved a man who wasn't weak and packing baggage. A man whose past wasn't likely to come back and haunt them years down the road.
She looked up at him through her lashes. "You're the best I've ever danced with."
His heart swelled in his chest, and a curl of desire snaked through his stomach. Her blue eyes were so bright and trusting. The light that shone in them was simply radiant. Now that the spark had returned to her eyes, he never wanted to do anything to extinguish it.
Her lips were no longer glossy, but they were full and red, and the flush on her cheeks made her even more attractive. The urge to kiss her hit him even harder than the craving for a drink when they first arrived. Now his mouth watered in a whole new way. A way that wouldn't be satisfied until he'd tasted her kiss again. But then he feared, he'd never want to stop, and Riley wouldn't appreciate that.
"I could say the same about you." He caressed her cheek. "But I think we're both biased. We learned to dance together, so we prefer each other's style."
"Maybe." She blinked, fluttering her lashes. "All I know is I enjoy dancing with you more than any other man I've ever danced with."
Good gravy!
If she kept talking like that he was going to break down and kiss her. Right here on the dance floor. Then she'd probably go ballistic and end up laying him out. Right here on the dance floor. In front of dozens of people.
It would be best if he kept his hands and lips to himself.
Fortunately, the song changed, and a popular, upbeat country song filled the room. Riley seemed as reluctant to leave his arms as he was to let her go.
They danced another long song set, working up a sweat and even doing a few lifts, before returning to their table and ordering another round of sodas.
"I need to go to the restroom." Concern again filled Riley's face. "Will you be okay while I'm gone?"
"I'll be fine." Surprisingly, the words were true. Despite being surrounded by alcohol, he hadn't thought about having a drink since he stepped onto the dance floor with Riley.
"You're sure?"
