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Brady leaned into me, his hot breath skipping across my skin and sending goose bumps shooting all over me.
“Fancy a dance?” he said.
His body heat was radiating through me, sending me into a whole new spin. And now, now he wanted us to dance? Press our bodies close together in an intimate few moments of already bubbling tension, make me crave him even more? How was I supposed to rationalise anything when he was having this effect on me?
“Sure,” I replied, my heart rate spiking even more.
He took the bottle from my hands and led me to the dancefloor. Couples were already snuggled up against one another— from old married folk to youngsters fresh in love. But where exactly did we fit in?
Picking out a spot in the middle, he slid his arms around my waist and pulled me in close. Trying not to focus too much on his hands being on my lower back, I dared myself to rest my arms around his neck. The spicy scent of his aftershave circled around me, drawing me further inside his embrace.
He took the last few inches between us, bumping our hips together. With our faces so close, a volcano of heat erupted inside me. The anticipation of what might happen next consumed me to such an extent that when his lips brushed against my ear, I gasped and shuddered inside his arms.
“You look stunning tonight,” he said, his voice barely even a whisper.
I murmured a thank you back, praying he couldn’t feel my body overheating. I glanced over his shoulder and found my attention captured by an elderly couple a few feet away. They were cuddled against one another as if it was their last dance. The woman’s head was nestled against her husband’s chest, and he rested his cheek against her grey hair. Both of their eyes were closed with contentment, warm smiles enveloping both of their wrinkled, happy faces.
A deep ache tore through me as I gazed upon them.Thatwas what I wanted. I wanted a true love, a love that stands the test of time, and is still with me in my golden years. Who would be the man holding me so tenderly? Ben? Brady? Or someone I was yet to meet?
I squeezed my eyes shut as if it would rid my mind of the thoughts, but it didn’t. An image of Ben floated before me. His bright green eyes were dancing with joy, and his familiar face creased into that lop-sided smile I’d come to adore over the years. And then came the memory. The one single vision which I’d burn my eyes out for if it would remove it from my mind.
That wasn’t the Ben I knew. That wasn’t my childhood sweetheart, the man who more or less owned every part of me. I didn’t know anything but him. Could I really close the door on a decade of my life, our lives? What was this with Brady? Was it just a holiday romance attraction? Some deep desire for revenge? Or something more?
I suddenly understood what John meant about dragging Brady into my problems. I was such a confused mess, how could I expect him to step into this? Despite the profound longing I had for him to press his lips to my skin, ease the physical ache growing within me, I had to listen to my head, not my heart.
The hypnotising rhythm of the song blended into the start of another waltz, and I couldn’t take any more. The constant carousel of thoughts whirring around and around my mind were driving me crazy, along with the desperate fight to not react to the gorgeous man with his arms wrapped around me.
I drew back, taking just a second to feel his muscled shoulders beneath my fingertips. Like butter on hot toast, I liquefied into nothing. I couldn’t do this. I had to go.
“I need some air,” I said, before all but running for the door.
As I left the safety of his hold, I suddenly felt very bare, naked almost. My body was screaming for his contact the second he released me.
I headed for the safety of the corral, needing the sturdy fence to help support me. The comforting scent of horses and leather calmed me as I leaned against the top rail. I rested my arms on top and flopped my head down on them, closing my eyes. Why was nothing simple in life? Why did everything have to be such a life changing decision?
Then it hit me.
Ben had literally changed our lives the moment he even considered my sister in that way. He had obviously thrown all caution to the wind and not given another care, yet here I was, in a quandary because I’d done...nothing?
Even though we were stuck in a limbo, neither together nor apart, he still had this hold over me, yet I clearly had no hold over him. He claimed he thought of me, felt guilty and all the rest of it, but which is worse? Thinking of me and doing it anyway, or just doing it without a second thought?
I sighed and glanced up into the clear night sky. Watching the stars glowing against their contrasting background, I found myself a little lost, but also a little more found. This was my life. It was mine to do with as I wished, to share in whatever way I deemed fit, with whoever I thought worthy.
Hearing footsteps crossing the dirt, I turned to see Brady striding towards me. My heart burst into a new life, pumping adrenaline through me at a rate of knots. I admitted to myself then that I wanted him. I wanted Brady Lancaster. And I wanted him to want me.
“Brady, I’m sorry. I just—”
I don’t think he heard my words. His purposeful march never faltered once. Those alluring dark eyes of his locked onto me, pulling me back into his world. He cupped my face, and melted his soft lips to mine.
