She probably would have tried to developsomething more with one of them, especially her first. He wassweet, cute, and really liked her, but when he asked about herparents, she realized she’d have to lie to him for the rest oftheir time together, and she couldn’t do that.
So instead of telling him more about herself,she stopped answering his calls. She still couldn’t meet his gazewhen they ran into each other in the halls, at the cafeteria, orparties.
However, none of those men had intrigued orenticed her as much as Kyle. When he lifted his head and their eyesmet again, her spark of interest surged into an inferno no amountof alcohol could extinguish.
The sexy smile curving his mouth causedbutterflies to erupt in her stomach, and an ache spread between herlegs. She wanted him more than anyone else before him, and she’dconsumed enough alcohol to make it seem like a good idea.
When the song changed, he broke away from thegirls and glided toward her. And that was by far the best way todescribe how he moved… gliding. He was like the ocean flowing oversand, all grace and beauty with a hint of danger lurking beneaththe surface.
When he stopped before her, she had to tipher head back to take in all of him. He was about six foot two, agood ten inches taller than her, and she liked it.
When his smile revealed all his perfect whiteteeth and the hint of a dimple in his right cheek, she smiled backat him. She told herself it was the light reflecting in hismidnight blue eyes that caused them to sparkle, but she had afeeling they always twinkled.
With the confident way he carried himself, itwas evident Kyle knew how good-looking he was and his effect onwomen, but he wasn’t arrogant about it. Plus, she liked confidence;it was sexy.
Kyle drank in Melanie’s cinnamon-coloredhair, tawny eyes, round face, and the smattering of freckles acrossthe bridge of her button nose. The dusky rose color of herbow-shaped lips was natural. He almost stroked her cheek butmanaged to restrain himself from caressing her sun-kissed skin.
“So, we meet again,” he said.
To be fair, he was determined to make surethat happened.
Melanie nervously licked her lips. She stillhad no idea what she’d planned on doing while making her way backhere, but at least she didn’t run as she had during their firstencounter.
“So, we meet again.” As the silence stretchedon, her brain fumbled for something to say until she blurted. “I’venever seen you at one of these parties before.”
“I’ve never been invited before.”
“Oh.” She was rocking this conversation withher witty insights. “Are you new to the school?”
“More like trying to decide.”
“Trying to decide what?”
“If I want to attend.”
“Oh.” There went her stellar conversationskills again. “Do you have friends who go here?”
“I did once, but not anymore.” It wasn’t alie. Dante, his future brother-in-law, had attended the college,and Kyle considered him a friend.
“So why do you want to go here?” Melanieasked.
“Because I like what I’ve seen so far.”
She realized he wasn’t talking about thecampus when he gave her a pointed look. She fought against theblush creeping up her neck as she resisted the impulse to tug ather shirt again. The thin, yellow shirt had been cool and comfywhen she put it on. Now, it was suffocating her.
“Oh,” she murmured. “Well, if you have anyquestions about the classes or the campus, I can probably answerthem for you.”
“I’ll have to take you up on that later. But,for now”—he held his hand out to her—“would you like to dance?”
The idea of touching him almost caused her tobolt again, but she managed to keep herself restrained fromfleeing. However, she couldn’t stop herself from staring at hishand like an idiot.
Take it!But even with the tequilabolstering her confidence, her doubts and the same problems shealways had roared back to life. No matter how close they got, shecould never share much of herself with him.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, it’s a dance, not amarriage proposal!Being asked to dance shouldn’t make youthis neurotic.That was completely true, but it did.
Then someone bumped her from behind andnearly knocked her into Kyle as she staggered forward.
“Whoops, sorry,” a girl said and giggled asshe danced into the room.
