Ignoring him, I walk away. As I reach the dance floor, Sally lifts her arms and yells above the music, “Just the man we were talking about.”
“Good things, I hope.” I glance at Daisy. I bet she’s telling them what an asshole I am.
“We were wondering what we needed to do to get you to dance with us.” I again look at Daisy. She blinks with surprise at Sally’s comment. Is that what they were really talking about?
“I don’t dance.”
“You own a club, and you don’t dance in it?” Sally plucks the glass from Daisy’s hand and puts it on a nearby table with her own glass. Then she grabs Evan’s hand. “Don’t leave her to dance on her own. You never know what handsome stranger will sweep her off her feet.” She grins as she drags Evan away.
Daisy fiddles with the ends of her hair. “I’ll… umm… go find somewhere to sit and wait for them.”
When she takes a step, I clasp her wrist and pull her toward me, so our chests bump together. There’s no way I’m leaving her in the club alone. Who knows what creep will try and hit on her… or ‘sweep her off her feet’.
“Oh,” she gasps with surprise.
I didn’t lie when I said I don’t dance, yet my arms wrap around her waist. The song is fast-tempo and heavy with bass, and not suitable for a slow dance, yet we sway like it is.
“You don’t have to dance.”
“It’s fine.”
“Don’t sound so happy about it,” she says sarcastically. “You’re obviously uncomfortable. I’ll find Sally.”
“I want to dance.” Fuck me. Never in a million years would I have said those words. Who am I? What the hell is Daisy doing to me?
She links her fingers behind my neck, and her face tilts up to look at me.
I don’t have time for this. There’s a jet waiting to take me to Vegas, but I don’t want to be anywhere but here.
The jet can wait.
There’s nothing that can pull me away from this moment. It’s wrong, I know. I should let her go. Let her find the man who can give her what she needs and make her happy. I’m not that man. Selfishly, I hold her tighter.
“Evan told me you broke up.”
“We weren’t officially together, but yes, we’ve decided we’re better off as friends.”
“He’s perfect for you.” He’s the type of man who could give her everything.
“No, he’s not.”
I caress my hands up and down her spine, and she trembles under my palms. “Then who is?”
Her eyes lock with mine. I hold my breath, waiting for her to say it’s me. But that’s fucking crazy. I’m the opposite of what she needs.
“No one’s perfect,” she says.
“Maybe not. But they can be for each other.” We’re still slow dancing like we’re the only people in the room. “What do you want?”
Small creases form between her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“In a man. What kind of man will make you think he’s perfect?”
“At the moment… no one. I’m tired of dating. The plan is to eventually settle down. What I want right now is to have fun. Not think about the future.”
“So, you want no strings?”
“Yes. As long as I feel comfortable with who I’m with.” By the way her body is pressed against mine, I’d say she’s comfortable with me. “Sally is always telling me that I’m too young to take life so seriously. I need to live a little before I settle down.”
