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She blinks, a tear sliding down her cheek. “My brother. Fatal car accident. July fourth, the day he’d planned to propose to the love of his life.”
My fingers gently wipe away her tears. “I’m so sorry, Irelynn.” Tugging her gently, I pull her into my arms, feeling her heartbeat against mine. My lips press against the top of her head. Breathing her in, she eases the deep ache of sadness that has permeated my bones to their very marrow that horrible night. I hope I’m doing the same for her.
She clings to me, her arms wrapped tightly around my back, her face on my chest. We sway gently, although no music plays, and I feel her smile against my shirt.
Pulling back slightly, I see the gentle glow of happiness that settled in as we slowly swayed together, as if we were dancing.
I have an idea.
“Hold that thought.” I step back, putting my plan into action.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I connect it to the Bluetooth speakers in my room. Finding the song I want, I set it on my dresser. As the opening notes of “Nights in White Satin” play through my bedroom, I extend my hand. “Irelynn Rose, will you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
Her lips part and her eyes shine. “You did hear more of the conversation with Vanessa than I imagined.” She shakes her head as I give her a rueful grin. She nods, her smile growing brighter. “With pleasure.” She puts her hand in mine and I pull her into me, taking a couple of steps, leading her. I twirl her out, then bring her back, my arm around her waist as her back pressed against my chest. Swaying with her, she looks at me over her shoulder. I grin down at her, twirling her away from me and spinning her around, pulling her back so she’s facing me. Our feet move in time to the music as I lead her, holding her gently, dancing around my bedroom.
“Who taught you to dance? Your hold is perfect.” Her smile is bright as I twirl her again, then pull her to me, dipping her backward.
“My grandparents. They loved to dance. Taught me when I was a kid.” I grin as the memories of twirling my grandma around the room making me smile. Of course, I didn’t hold her the way I’m holding Irelynn.
We continue moving, our bodies rising and falling in time with the music, our movements graceful and passionate, like the song.
Leaning against her ear, I whisper, “You are an amazing dancer. Your dad taught you well.”
Her eyes glow as she raises them to me. “Thank you. I have the perfect dance partner.”
As the final notes play, I pull her tightly to me, my heart pounding inside my chest.
We stare at one another, our bodies swaying gently, although no music plays. Our feet move to the thundering beats of our hearts.
Like magnets, our lips move toward one another, meeting in a sweet, tender kiss.
When we finally break away, her fingers softly caress my jawline, and our feet begin moving to music that only the two of us can hear.
As much as I desire Irelynn, if we do nothing else but kiss and dance all night, I’ll be perfectly content. Just holding her in my arms makes me feel alive again.
Fear lodges in my throat, and I try to push it away, but I’m struggling. It’s so easy to get lost in her, in the connection between us. To forget about everything else, excepther. The problems swirling around us, the entire universe, cease to exist when she’s in my arms.
And that’s dangerous as hell. For both of us.
Chapter nineteen
Irelynn
August27,2018,7:00a.m.
As Max drives me to my apartment, my stomach twists in knots. While I’m looking forward to seeing Vanessa, so many questions loom inside my head.What will happen with Max and me now that Vanessa has returned? Will we spend time together or was I just a temporary obligation?
He didn’t make me feel that way, especially after the kisses we shared last night. And that dance was amazing.
I also have to consider what William might do.Now that I’ll be spending time at my apartment again, will he keep stalking me? What will happen when I’m on campus and Max and Vanessa aren’t around?
Max’s hand wraps around mine, pulling me from my troublesome thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
Turning my head, I meet his intense gaze, before he turns his head to look at the road, then back to me again.
“So many things.” I try not to sigh as I squirm in the passenger seat of his Jeep.
“Such as?” He turns his attention to the road, then to me, his eyebrows raised quizzically.
