He looked me up and down quickly. He nodded once but I got the impression he hadn’t fallen for my bullshit excuse.
I shrugged into my coat, the cool mountain air chilled me. Or my shitty behavior. I fixed my bangs back in place.
“Well, have a safe flight.” He turned to go.
I gnawed my thumbnail as he retreated. Panic grew with every step he took away from me.
“Wait,” I called completely surprising myself.
He was back in front of me in less than a second. “Yes?” His expression was open wide and a smile teased his mouth.
“It doesn’t leave until six a.m.,” I said.
I had hurt him. I didn’t deserve another shot but I just wasn’t ready to end this night. I fought to keep still as his smile grew.
“Plenty of time to get ice cream, hey?” he suggested.
I loved his accent even more every time her spoke. “Ice cream?”
“A sweet treat couldn’t hurt? Maybe chat a bit and get to know each other.”
I smiled at the ground and let my hair fall to cover my face. He didn’t insist on my hotel room. He didn’t ask for more explanations. He just wanted to go get ice cream. With me. The innocence of it made my heart swell. Had a man ever wanted to justtalkwith me? Sure, I had to leave in a few hours and would never talk to him again. But I could have tonight. We could have a few hours of talking.Talking. I could handle this.
I looked left and right, not sure what I had expected. “Ice cream actually sounds really good.”
Chapter 4
Sanders
Ifought to keep from punching the air in victory. It was just ice cream but it felt like so much more. Another chance to explore why meeting this woman felt so right. I’d never felt a physical connection so strong, so fast. If touching her felt like a gift from the universe, imagine what good conversation would be like.
I laced my fingers through hers, desperate for contact again but keeping my touch light like capturing a baby bird. “Is this okay?” I asked.
Blush pinkened her cheeks as she glanced around the busy sidewalk. “Um, yeah.” She lightly squeezed my hand back.
Not to put the horse before the cart, but I wracked my brain for things to ask her. I wanted to know anything and everything she’d share with me. And the way she called me back after returning her jacket, told me she wasn’t ready to end the night yet either.
“I was thinking,” I started as we maneuvered through the nighttime crowds, toward the 16th Street Mall area, “it’s going to be difficult to have a conversation with you without knowing your name. I can’t keep referring to you as The Beautiful Woman Who Stole My Heart On the Dance Floor.”
She scoffed loudly. I was laying it on a little thick but I liked making her blush. You’d think she’d never been praised for her astounding beauty before.
“You’re too much.” She glanced away.
“I’m just looking out for you. It’ll be easier to remember than Good-Looking Stranger With The Sweet Dance Moves.”
She snickered again. Making her laugh was beginning to feel more valuable than the thrill of adrenaline. “Actually I’ve just been referring to you as Smooth Talker, not too bad.”
“It’s Sanders. I’m Sanders.”
She stopped and her gaze narrowed before she tossed out her hands to the side. “Fine. I’m Roxanne.”
“See, that wasn’t too hard,” I teased and then immediately started singing the famous song by The Police that shared her name. She gasped and covered my mouth with her hands after a few people stopped to stare at me.
“Stop. Oh my God!” She was laughing though and I continued through her fingers. “Shh. Stop,” she pleaded with a grin, casting looks from side to side.
I pulled her closer. Her laughter stopped as her hands fell to her sides. Her gaze grew heavy as it dropped to my lips. I’d pay money to know if she was replaying our earlier kissing like I was.
She cleared her throat and stepped back. I gave her space but kept her hands grasped in mine.
