“What can I say? I’m an optimist by nature. Or I was before. Kinda hard to be optimistic when you’re canceling your wedding and going on your honeymoon alone.” I grabbed my water and hid behind the glass, wishing like hell I’d ordered some wine instead of water out of deference for Mal’s sobriety.
And immediately I felt bad. He didn’t ask me to avoid alcohol. I made that choice on my own.
“Right. I think that’s the end of that game.” Mal made a sound that could’ve been a laugh, but it was harsher than any laughter I’d ever heard. “How about a dance?” He pushed back in his chair then stood, holding his hand out to me over the table.
I looked around the room. There wasn’t a dance floor that I could see. And now everyone was staring at us. “What? Where?”
“Right here. Right now. Dance with me, Saylor.”
There was music playing faintly in the background. But it didn’t make me want to dance.
That look in Mal’s eyes did.
Shakily, I stood up and put my hand in his. And he very suavely led me to a wide gap between the tables that I hadn’t noticed earlier. Turning me with a sure hand, he pulled me close to his chest, and we swayed together on his impromptu dance floor.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I took a deep, shuddery breath. I was very much aware of all the eyes in the room being on us.
Mal kept one of my hands in his but held up toward his chest while he spanned my lower back with his other. Brushing his lips against my temple, he whispered, “Relax.”
I laughed softly. “Never in the history of the world has telling a woman to relax actually worked.”
He laughed with me then murmured, “Why are you so tense?”
“I don’t know.” I pulled back slightly so I could look into his eyes. They were gentle and intent on mine. “It just feels like one of those moments, you know? Important. Memorable.”
He stared into my eyes for another beat then leaned down and kissed me. It was quick and gentle and almost over before it began. Then he gathered me back into his arms and we swayed some more.
It was easily the most romantic moment of my life. I didn’t want it to end.
But of course it had to.
Several minutes later, Mal whispered, “You ready to head back?”
His lips brushed against my temple and I swooned again.
Sighing deeply, I finally pulled away and nodded.
And that was the moment I realized we’d started a little movement. All the other couples in the room were dancing too.
Shaking my head, I tugged on Mal’s hand as I stepped toward the exit.
“G’night,” Jone called as we walked past him.
I tried to ignore the leer he sent Mal’s way.
Although judging by the huff he made, he’d seen it too.
We walked hand in hand down the beach path toward my treehouse and my heartbeat thundered in my ears.
This was it.
I was going to do it.
One vacation fling coming right up.
We’d have sex. And have fun for the next ten-ish days. And then when our trip was over, we’d go our separate ways.
I was an adult.
