The bemused smile Peter gave her helped overcome the embarrassing moment.
As Gaby accepted a second glass of wine once the meal was over, she wondered if she’d read too much into the evening when she’d thought of it as a proper date. In the midst of the large group and with multiple conversations happening at the same time in the heart of the noisy pub, the atmosphere didn’t exactly scream romance.
At the back of the pub, the DJ began his set and invited everyone to get up and dance in the open floor space. Peter turned to Gaby and raised his eyebrow in a question.
“Shall we?” he asked and held out his hand.
Gaby smiled and accepted the invitation. Peter led her to the small dance floor. The music was fast and upbeat, and as they joined some of his friends who’d also arrived on the dance floor, it was obvious that this was an opportunity for everyone to blow off some steam and have fun.
Gaby laughed at the ridiculous moves on display and laughed harder still at some of the antics Peter was showing off seemingly for her sole amusement.
It was all good fun and Gaby threw herself into enjoying it.
The music shifted from fast and upbeat to something slow and sultry. Peter held her gaze before pulling her closer. Gaby stepped into his arms with a smile and tried not to sigh as his arms moved around her.
And in a heartbeat, the night transformed from fun and frivolous into something else altogether.
Something delicious and lovely… and very definitely romantic.
17
Peter heldGaby close and wondered if everyone else on the dance floor could feel the sparks flying between them. As they moved slowly together in time to the music, he cherished the sensation of her hands resting against his chest, her head tucked against his neck, her body swaying next to his. The sweet aroma of her shampoo mingled with the light perfume she wore and had him closing his eyes to inhale her scent.
Somewhere on the other side of the pub, his friends and colleagues were watching. He could feel their eyes on the pair of them, wondering at this sudden outbreak of romance. They’d all been coming to this pub for monthly Friday nights out for a couple of years now and Peter had never slow danced with any date he’d ever brought with him.
Not like this, anyway.
With Gaby in his arms, he could stay like this forever, just swaying to the music as her body moved with his.
When he’d kissed her last night, every memory of every kiss they’d shared as teenagers had roared back to life inside his mind. She awakened something in him, something he hadn’t realised had been asleep. Dancing with her only convinced himfurther that what they’d had back then as kids had been the most special relationship of his entire life.
And now she was back in his arms and it felt like coming home.
They hadn’t said a word since they started swaying together to the slow music. There was no need to speak. The ease and comfort he felt while holding her close, paired with the surge of desire he felt, was a combination he’d only ever experienced with her.
To feel those emotions again now was a gift he’d never expected.
The slow song ended and switched to another fast and upbeat song. They stopped dancing and looked at each other as the dancefloor filled with energetic revellers. Peter wanted to continue what they’d sparked between them a moment ago.
“Let’s sit down,” he said.
Gaby nodded and turned back towards the table where his friends were gathered, but he stopped her with a soft tug of her hand.
“No, let’s find somewhere quieter,” he said. “I want you to myself for a while.”
Her eyes darkened as she smiled, and Peter felt a surge of excitement at the idea Gaby might want time alone with him as much he wanted it with her. On the other side of the bar, he found an open table for two tucked into an alcove. It was quiet and private and lit by flickering candlelight.
It was perfect.
He bought drinks for them and joined her there. As he sat down, he noticed she was rubbing at her foot beneath the table.
“I didn’t step on your toes while we were dancing, did I?” he asked, appalled to think that while he’d been lost in the moment of holding Gaby in his arms, he’d also been cluelessly stomping all over her feet.
“No, nothing like that,” she said with a laugh. “I made the mistake of wearing new boots tonight. I’m now paying for it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Was she just saying that so she didn’t have to dance with him again? Had he imagined an amazing moment shared on the dancefloor that simply hadn’t existed?
