Page 97 of Fake it for Keeps

“I think that’s exactly why we do what everyone expects.”

“I don’t know that Ed Sheeran song,” she said. “Let me pull it up.”

“Hold it on, my phone connects to the Bluetooth.”

It only took a few seconds to pull up the song. The music filled the room. Speakers discreetly tucked into the ceiling pumped out the first notes.

“Dance with me,” I said.

“We already danced. At the fundraiser.”

“We’re talking about our wedding with everyone watching us,” I said. “We don’t want to look like we’ve only danced one time.” I held out my hand. “Please?”

She looked at my hand, then at my face, wariness in her expression. Finally, she nodded and hopped off the counter.

“One song,” she said.

“One song.”

I understood her reluctance. Neither of us was saying it, but there was some major tension in the room. We both agreed to no sex, but the desire was there, hanging in the space between us. We both wanted it. We both knew it was a bad idea.

I pulled her into my arms in the middle of my living room, and suddenly the massive space felt intimate. The massive windows surrounded us, Manhattan’s lights twinkling like stars. A gentle snowfall swirled outside like we were inside a snow globe.

“This view,” Hallie murmured, looking out at the city.

“Nothing compared to you,” I said, and watched her blush.

I led her in a slow dance, our bodies finding an easy rhythm. She fit perfectly against me, her hand in mine, her other resting on my shoulder.

“What do you think of the song?” I asked quietly.

She nodded. “Good. Fine.”

“Fine?”

“I like it,” she said with a soft smile.

“This would be perfect for our first dance,” I said. “Right? It suits us?”

“Actually, there’s a song.” She stopped.

“What? Tell me.”

“You’re going to think it’s silly. It’s one my mom and dad used to dance to. I used to watch them and think I wanted to dance to that song with my husband.”

“Name it.”

“The artist is Cat Power. It’s ‘Sea of Love.’”

“I don’t think I’ve heard it.” I grabbed my phone and quickly pulled it up. Her face transformed. There were tears in her eyes as she gently swayed.

I went right back to her and pulled her against me. “I’ve heard this song. A man sang it, right?”

“Yes.”

She was clearly not interested in talking, so I held her while we barely moved. It didn’t require moving. We simply held each other.

She leaned back just a little to look at me. There was something vulnerable in her gaze, something that made my chest tight.