Page 285 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“Come on, son. Join us out there for a dance with your good one,” Tanner Shepard said with a wink.

Harlow was visibly uncomfortable, and I clung to it. Normally, an insinuation of a serious relationship on my father’s part would have made my teeth ache in discomfort, but somehow, knowing Harlow wasn’t clinging to hope at every syllable made me feel completely at ease.

“Yeah, doll,” I said, pulling Harlow’s front flush to my own. She glared. “Let’s dance.”

Skimming slowly down her arms from top to bottom, I linked my hands with hers and pulled them up to settle on my shoulders. A deep crevice of a wrinkle formed between her eyebrows, like a canyon carved by an angry river, but with so many bystanders nearby, she didn’t fight me physically or verbally.

Once her hands were settled, I moved mine back down the sides of her dress, smiling as an unconcealed tremor ran through her at the sensation of my touch, and clamped them tightly to her hips.

Just about boiling over, she opened her mouth to speak, but I was too quick, spinning her rapidly around and around as we traveled to the center of the floor.

Her fingers dug in on instinct, hoping to keep herself steady, and I smiled as I slowed us to a stop and changed direction into a gentle sway, pulling our bodies even closer together. She pushed against my shoulders to fight it, but as the song faded to a close and Etta James “At Last” built in its place, her body melted.

It wasn’t me—at least, the dislike on her face didn’t suggest it was—but the song. Something about it made you give in. I could feel it in my body too, instinctively pushing closer to hers on its own accord.

Soft, warm, and willing, Harlow’s body was everything her mind refused to be around me.

She leaned in even closer as I spun us, softly this time. Light flickered as it filtered through the other couples on the floor, and my hands tightened on her hips like a reflex.

She feels good. Christ, maybe too good.

We moved in perfect time with one another, and her eyes held mine like she could read all of my secrets—my past and present, my hopes and dreams…even things I didn’t know about myself.

So lost in it all as the song came to a close, I jolted as she separated our bodies, almost violently, as the last note struck. As if it was Cinderella’s clock on the last chime of midnight, she left the dance floor at a near jog.

Not once looking back, Harlow was careful to leave nothing behind for me to hold on to—not even a shoe.

God, he feels so good, I thought to myself as I nestled even deeper into Scott’s arms while we danced. It’d been a long time since I’d actually let my defenses down and enjoyed the simple touch of a man.

Sure, I’d willingly gone on a date with Barron, and even let him engage in the world’s most traumatic oral foreplay, but I’d done that under the pretense of wanting no-strings-attached sex.

But, this, dancing with Scott, actually savoring his skin against my skin, wasn’t the same type of scenario. This was different. This felt like…something more.

His grip tightened as his fingers rubbed soft circles against my skin through the thin material of my dress. I shivered. And, surprisingly, found myself fighting the urge to moan out loud.

I wanted to stay wrapped up in this moment forever.

And as I looked across the dance floor to find Tanner and Linda wrapped up in one another’s arms as they slowly swayed to the music, I found myself wondering what it would be like to be in a loving and committed relationship like theirs. Not the kind of relationship I’d had with my ex, but one where there was a solid foundation of trust, mutual respect, and admiration. The kind of relationship that stood the test of time, both people willingly and happily sacrificing silly personal wants for another.

I think I want an amazing relationship like that…

Oh my God, had I really just thought that?

I’d made a promise to myself a long time ago that I’d never get into another long-term relationship. I’d attempted that once in my life, and I’d found out that I was better off on my own, doing my own thing, and only relying on myself. My last—and final—long-term relationship taught me one thing: Never trust anyone too much. For myself, for my happiness, I had to stay strong in that mind-set…right?

Christ, until now, I’d been absolutely certain singledom was what I wanted.

Until now.

God, what was happening to me?

My chest grew tight with the initial sensations of panic. This moment on this dance floor was now officially emotional overload, and I wasn’t equipped enough to understand all of these foreign things I was feeling.

I have to get the fuck out of here.

I didn’t know what was happening to me, but I knew I didn’t like the direction of my brain’s thoughts. I needed to get somewhere safe—preferably, not inside of Scott’s arms—and find a moment of peace from this fucked-up emotional roller coaster I’d managed to hop on.

As the last notes of the too romantic song filtered into the room, the urge to push up onto my toes, meld my breasts to Scott’s chest, and touch my lips to the perfect pink of his became consuming.