Except it wasn’t really playing with fire. After all, they were both logical people. Smart enough to know that letting anything get out of hand would be foolish. And if they both kept that top of mind, what would be the harm in spending a few hours together? They’d enjoy a meal, share a dance or two, talk. It would be a pleasant interlude to break up his usual routine.
It was worth a shot.
He swallowed. Wrapped his fingers around his seat belt. Held on tight. “Speaking of adult partners ... the idea of dancing with a stranger is a bit unnerving for a neophyte triple-stepper. Is there any way I could convince you to go to the wedding with me? Be my partner for that first dance?”
The car swerved ever so slightly before she made a course correction.
It was impossible to read her expression in the darkness, but the note of caution in her voice was crystal clear when she spoke. “Can I be honest?”
His stomach clenched.
She didn’t want to spend an evening with him.
Meaning he’d either misinterpreted her interest or she had farmore self-discipline than he did in terms of clamping down on feelings so they didn’t dictate actions.
Whatever her reason for declining, he should be grateful she was nixing a date that could lead to complications.
“Of course.”
“I’d like to go with you. But unless my social skills are rustier than I thought, there are sparks between us that could be dangerous, given our lives and livelihoods and locations. We could get burned.”
The lady didn’t beat around the bush or play games.
Refreshing.
“CanIbe honest?”
“Yes.”
“We’re tracking the same direction. I have similar concerns. But dancing with a stranger is off-putting, and the appeal of having a partner I know overrode logic. Forget I asked.”
A few moments of silence passed.
“To tell you the truth, I’d rather not.” She exhaled, her words slow and deliberate. “I mean, if we agree to keep things light and view the wedding as nothing more than an opportunity to have a pleasant evening out, maybe we should consider it.” She pulled up in front of his house, a note of longing in her tone underneath the caution.
That was heady stuff.
And too hard to resist.
“I’m on board with that plan.” He tried not to sound like an overeager, hormone-infused teenager.
She angled toward him. “Let me give you my cell number and you can text me the details.”
Before she could change her mind, he whipped out his phone and entered the digits as she recited them. “I’ll be in touch. Thank you again for the lesson.”
“It was my pleasure. Give Isabel a hug for me.”
“I’ll do that.” He slipped from the car, lifted a hand in farewell,and wandered inside as she drove away—all the while wishing Devyn had givenhima hug.
He expelled the air from his lungs while he dug for his keys.
Those were the kind of thoughts he needed to corral before he picked her up for their unexpected date. Otherwise, the situation could get out of hand.
Fast.
Leaving them both with big regrets ... and hurting hearts.
24
