Raleigh
FROM ONE HOLIDAY to the next—isn’t that how it always goes? Blink after Christmas and you miss the rest of the year. My blink came in the form of a giant man with a brooding demeanor and questions left unanswered by a kiss. I was so very wrong about getting Dalton out of my system. It’s been a few days, and besides my ironclad resistance to contacting him on my personal phone, I have failed to get the feel of him out of my head. Not just the physical feel of him, but the mental security he had given me as well.
I told him things I shouldn’t, things that I’m embarrassed and still hurt by. And yet, he offered me nothing but patience and kindness. It was enough for me to jump the man in his own kitchen, and me in his damn clothes.
I need to get over it and fast. Tonight’s New Year’s Eve party is being hosted by Trenton’s friend, Callum Smith, a western singer at the top of his career. The venue is Callum’s swankyranch outside city limits, and wouldn’t you know, the entire Mae Evans crew was invited. I had no intention of going but Mae returned from her trip and implored me to come. I couldn’t say no to that, even if Dalton will be a constant walking reminder of my breakdown at Christmas.
Before I can count to 10 to fully calm down, I’ve pulled into the round drive at the main house. From here, the lights of Nashville are just a lingering blur on the horizon. As a valet moves my car away, I collect my courage and ascend the stairs. Tonight’s look is a black sleek dress, and my hair lays naturally, a far cry from my look at the Halloween party. I’m not feeling like a green light tonight, more like a hellish glow. People will hopefully catch the hint to not speak to me. Oh yeah, I’m a real treat when I’m unnerved.
All to plan, I arrive fashionably late, late enough that no one gives a care when I walk in. Many are already drunk, others completely wrapped up in conversations…or each other's lips. Unlike the Halloween party, this one includes celebrities as well as crew, producers, musicians and those in my field. Some of my anxiety is buried by this observation. If I need an escape, I’ll have options.
“Raleigh!” No sooner do I have a drink in my hand then Mae comes barreling into me. As she crushes me in a hug, I try not to pay too much attention to the hulk of a man in tow. She’s speaking a mile a minute when she releases and pulls away. It’s a never ending sentence about her vacation and how much she’s looking forward to touring with Trenton. At the mention of him, I catch Dalton’s eye. It’s a quick glance but one that Mae catches onto. She stops speaking and looks back and forth at us. I’m afraid she can sense the electricity between us. I’d hoped that feeling would dull in the days apart but I was oh so wrong.
Dalton clears his throat and Mae moves to speak, but we’re bailed out by the host. Callum has his drink held up in the air,a microphone resting lightly in his free hand. “I just wanted to thank ya’ll for coming tonight. Enjoy the evening and let’s celebrate the accomplishments of the year!” He tips his glass in a symbolic clink and then downs it before the music overtakes the room once again.
Mae returns her scrutinizing gaze to me, but moments later, Trenton arrives. I can honestly say I’ve never been excited to see him, but maybe this once it won’t be so bad to have him distract Mae. The last thing I want her to do is find out about Dalton and me. I can’t have her worrying about me being distracted or not being there for her.
“We’ll have time to talk later,” she says in a whisper, clearly suspicious. With one final look to Dalton, she’s taken the arm of her boyfriend and headed toward the spotlight of the dance floor.
“Did you tell her about—”
“No,” I say angrily, tossing my hair behind my shoulder and turning away. This is the last thing I want to talk about tonight. Parties with free-flowing alcohol are not designed for sorting through feelings. A holler erupts from the dance floor, coaxing my attention. Mae is all over Trenton, dancing up against him. I don’t know why the sight rubs me the wrong way. Jealousy perhaps?
Unfortunately for me, the crux of the issue didn’t take the “no” in a way I wanted. Tight at my heels, Dalton follows me all the way to the small bar in the back corner. Hand at my lower back, he leans in.
I sigh, angry at how much I love the feel of him at my back. “Listen, I’m sorry—”
“Mae didn’t think you were coming.”
We’ve both spoken at the same time. My apology is already forgotten as I answer with more sass than intended. “Well, I couldn’t leave you alone to the hyenas could I?” I tap my emptyglass and nod toward the whiskey bottle near the bartender. “What kind offriendwould I be?” My glass is filled and Dalton’s touch falls from my back, leaving me cold.
Frowning, I stare him down and he matches my glare with raised eyebrows. How can I be so wanting of something and yet so resistant to it?
“Raleigh?”
Without thinking much about it, I grab his hand and put it back where it had rested moments ago.
“Raleigh, I don’t think this is the mostfriendlyway to be touching you.” His thumb makes small circles, teasing me. Breaking into a sweat, I down another glass of my drink. All around me couples dance freely, kiss freely, drink freely. What if I tried that for one night? It’s not like anyone cares about me in this room ofactualstars.
“You have until midnight to do whatever you want with me.” Bravely looking into his eyes, I find a slacked jaw and a blank face.
“What?” he asks, his hand dropping again. The stun has ebbed away, leaving behind confusion. I won’t let his confusion get to me, because I finally know what I want.
“Listen, whatever this is, I know you feel it too. You made that very obvious on Christmas.” Bolstered, I continue, “Just for tonight, let’s see where it goes.”
“You’ll have it out of your system by the time the ball drops?” It’s not a no, but it is a tease.
“Ass,” I say with a smirk.
My joking tone doesn’t land. Even as I guide his hand to my thigh, he seems uncertain; his fingers curl into his palm, refusing to grasp onto my dress. “I’m on the clock,” he grunts.
“I’m always on the clock,” I say with a shrug. “That doesn’t stop me from thinking about you.” I slam my mouth shut whenI realize what I’ve divulged. He leans away from me slightly, taking the seat to my right. “I’m sorry, that was a bit much.”
“Don’t apologize for saying things like that. I like you best when you speak your mind,” he says with sincerity, causing my breath to catch. “And even if it’s just for a few hours, I wouldn’t mind hearing more about how you think about me.”
He’d removed his touch before I could lose my decorum, and for that, I’m thankful. Even with this small distance back between us, it does little to dampen the temptation.
“I suppose,” I begin. The heat cools between us ever so gently as our conversation eases into other things. I ask him about his goals for the new year, and he tells me about his plans to open his own security company. Something I didn’t know about him but think he could be really successful at. I never got ambition from him. He’s always been so quiet when it’s come to Mae and business plans. I suppose he was being careful not to step on my toes.
