I smile sweetly. “In that case, I’m going to need more lingerie. The expensive kind.”
“That can be arranged.”
Our eyes lock, and I swear it feels like he’s sliding his hand up my thigh. He’s not, but my mind recalls it so well.
Nate clears his throat. “Eliza always wanted to take ballet lessons, but my mother had her in violin or something horrid like that. She’s going to beg you for a lesson, I’m sure.”
“Of course. I’m happy to take her to the studio.”
“How long have you been dancing, again?”
I don’t even have to think about the answer. “Sixteen years. Since I was three. I haven’t stopped since. Right now, it’s the only thing keeping me somewhat sane.”
“It keeps your mind off the situation with your father.”
“Mostly. But dance has always been grounding for me. I know for some dancers it’s an escape of sorts, but for me…I guess it’s really been the one thing I could always count on.”
Suddenly self-conscious, I grab my sparkling water and take a few sips.
“I want to see you dance,” he says quietly.
My eyes shift to him. He does? He didn’t even want me to keep teaching at first. This time it is his hand touching my leg, his palm pressing lightly, comfortingly, on the top ofmy thigh. He doesn’t slide it up or dig his fingers into my skin. It’s a soothing touch.
“Okay,” I say.
Happy little tingles wash up and down my spine and I swear I can feel a subtle shift, something warm passing between us. I feel it as viscerally as I do his hand on my leg.
Am I imagining things? Or does he feel it, too?
24
PIPER-LILY
Instead of driving straight home,Nate takes a detour and pulls into a parking space next to Hudson Park, right beside the river.
I haven’t been here in years and forgot how pretty it is with the softly glowing streetlights and the strand lights wrapped around trees that line the paved waterfront walkway. The waves gently rock against the shore. A boat blows its horn from somewhere far away. Nate helps me out of the car and puts my hand on his arm as we stroll down the path. Another couple walks ahead of us and disappears around a curve up ahead where the lighting doesn’t quite reach.
It’s a beautiful evening and I’m surprised there aren’t more people taking advantage of the waterfront.
“Do you like to swim?” Nate asks as he looks over the dark expanse of water.
“No, not really. I’m not a fan of deep water. Unless it’s a well-maintained pool where I can see all the way to the bottom, I won’t even get in.”
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t throw you in for a nighttime swim?”
I stop walking and look at him to gauge the seriousness of that threat. He wouldn’t. Right?
“No. Definitely not.”
He sighs as if greatly inconvenienced by this, then quickly spins me to face him and takes my arms in his hands.
“How about this instead?” He gently pushes me backwards so we leave the path and move onto the grass. “I’m going to shove you up against this tree and make you come. Does that sound better than going swimming?”
Rough tree bark presses into my back and I’m aware that we’ve stepped mostly out of the light of the path. The bark scratches my bare skin and presses against the thinness of my dress. It’s nothing compared to the feeling of his hand pressing against my lower abdomen, hot and possessive.
“Much better,” I whisper. “But what if someone walks by?”
He nuzzles the side of my neck. “Even better.”
