“No.” He let out an incredulous laugh. “I swear, I didn’t.”
…meant to be.
Small red splotches formed on his cheeks, clueing me in that he was feeling anxious—something I always found endearing when we were young. I found it even more endearing now. As the beat picked up a little, he held his hand out to me. My heart jumped. As soon as I took his hand, he twirled me into him so we were chest to chest.
This was the most contact we’d had all night. I practically stopped breathing. My eyes darted to his lips. I’d never wanted to kisssomeone so badly.
His large hand splayed across my hip and lower back, making goosebumps climb my arms. As the song picked up, my body was flooded with nostalgia for our younger selves driving down Michigan dirt roads in his old truck, singing this song on the top of our lungs.
It suddenly felt like we were the only two on the dance floor, and my face actually hurt from smiling so hard. Swaying to the beat, he lifted my hands slightly above my head, then trailed his rough hands down my arms and body. When he reached just below my hips, he dipped to pick me up, so I was now angled above him. A laugh flew out of me as my foot popped while he spun me around.
“I’m impressed,” I said, feeling like I was in a movie. “Where did that move come from?” I asked as he set me back down and resumed dancing.
“Ah, you don’t wanna know,” he said with a little chuckle.
My face faltered slightly, and a little reservation slid into my heart. It was easy to get carried away with him. I was so touch-starved that this night probably meant way more to me than him. I gave a weak smile and looked away. He was right. Why would I want to know? A woman from his past probably taught him.
“No,” he said quietly, giving my waist a little squeeze. “You’re thinking the wrong thing, Al.”
“What? No, I’m not thinking anything,” I denied, but my voice came out a little too high.
“Ah…” He dropped his head back for a second. “This is a secret, okay? Mer still doesn’t know how Colt’s as smooth as he is on the dance floor.”
My eyebrows drew together in confusion.
He licked his lips. “You know that celebrity ballroom dance competition? The one on TV?”
“Yeah, of course. I love watching it.”
“Well, one of our retired buddies went on it a couple years ago.”
My eyebrows flew up. “And he taught you?”
“Yeah, he taught a bunch of us. We were curious.” He shrugged.
For some reason, the thought of a bunch of NHL guys practicing ballroom dance moves together had me cracking up laughing.
“Hey, they’re useful skills, are they not?” he asked with a grin.
I couldn’t hide my own grin as I patted his chest. “They really are.”
A second later, he spun me out again, but this time, when hepulled me back in, he dipped me ever so slightly.
My eyes flashed to his in shock, but there was absolutely no surprise in his. His heavy-lidded eyes were glued to my lips. I wanted this. I’d wanted this kiss for a long time.
In a daring move, my hand slid up his cheek. A grateful look passed on his face. A second later, his lips were on mine as he pulled me up out of the dip, making my whole world feel like it was tilting in the best way possible.
His lips were soft but firm against mine. One of his large hands slid down to my lower back while his other gently fisted my hair. A euphoric happiness filled my chest, but the kiss was only a few fleeting seconds long.
When he pulled back, his eyes were still closed for a beat. “Wow.”
Leaning my head against his chest, I let out a breathless little laugh.
“We got the first one out of the way,” he said, a faint blush stained his cheeks.
A laugh popped out of me. My hand flitted to my chest. I could feel my heart beating erratically.First one, he said, meaning he wanted to kiss me again. I was practically giddy with excitement. When my eyes flitted back up to his, he gave me a knowing grin.
Pretty soon he was singing the words to the song in a hilariously over-the-top manner, making me crack up laughing.
