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The idea of kids… He didn’t even know what he thought about that. He didn’t think about it at all because that was something that felt so far in the future he didn’t have to. He lived in the moment.
But if he always lived in the moment, he wouldn’t have much of a future.
Cam walked back to take care of his daughter as Hale and Elisa came off the dance floor. Holding hands.
Hale was holding her hand. Hale wasn’t particularly affectionate but there he was, clutching this woman like she meant something.
Could she mean something?
“I think you should take the slow dance.” Hale brought her hand up, offering it to Van. “I should practice more before I try. I do not have any rhythm, and I’m worried I’ll step all over her toes.”
Elisa grinned his way. “You do have rhythm. It’s just a different rhythm from the music.” She turned that high-wattage smile on Van. “What do you say? Wanna dance?”
That seemed like way too much temptation, but he’d never been a guy who was good at walking away from something he wanted. He was the guy who was excellent at getting his stupid heart broken, and he didn’t even hesitate because he never learned.
He took her hand and led her out to the dance floor where other couples were swaying to the music.
He eased his arm around her waist and gently brought her close, very much enjoying how good she felt in his arms. He liked that she could look him in the eyes. “You’re lucky. The floor is full of couples tonight. Usually there’s at least one weird threesome trying to figure out how to dance together.”
He always found it amusing. The woman in the middle would have to twist and turn to try to keep in contact with both her partners. Often one of the dudes couldn’t dance and made it all look weird. And yet they always made it look like none of that weirdness mattered. To them it wasn’t weird at all. It was everything they wanted. They were connected and happy, and dancing was simply another way to be together.
She glanced around as though confirming what he was saying. “I hadn’t noticed. I was having too much fun with Hale.”
His conversation with Cam was completely forgotten, along with all the reasons why this was a terrible idea. All that mattered now was being here with her. “He doesn’t dance much. Actually not at all. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him dance, and now I know why.”
“He’s not that bad,” she retorted and then shook her head. “He’s sweet.”
He’d never once thought of Hale being sweet. “You seem to bring out that side of him. He’s usually quite taciturn. He’s talked more tonight than I’ve heard in a long time. You and Hale seem very connected. But I’m glad you’re willing to let me dance with you, too.”
A soft look came over her face. “I don’t dance much, either. I’m afraid I might be as bad as Hale. I guess that’s what kind of makes it okay. I’m not worried about embarrassing myself in front of him.”
“You dance fine.” Even the little awkwardness in her movements called to him. They made him wonder how she would move when she was comfortable, when she trusted the hands on her. Would that charming awkwardness fall away, replaced with pure sensuality?
She felt so fucking good in his arms. He wasn’t sure if it had simply been a long dry spell or if it was all about her.
“Well, it’s been a long time,” she said. “Not much dancing in the military. Well, there is. We have parties and everything, but I usually didn’t go to them. I make it sound like it was all dreary responsibility, but I think it was more about me than the actual Army. Now that I look back, I can see where people tried to engage me and I didn’t know how to connect.”
“Didn’t know how?” She seemed so open but she talked about how disconnected she was.
“My family wasn’t outwardly affectionate. Not inwardly affectionate either. My mom taught me to tamp down most of my emotions from an early age,” she admitted. “She didn’t have an easy life, and she kind of bred her pessimism into me and my sister. It’s taken a while to realize that the impulse to suspect everything and everyone doesn’t actually come from me.”
He knew exactly where she’d gotten that from. “Ah, so you went to therapy.”
She winced slightly. “It’s still weird to say that because it’s the last thing my mother would have wanted, but yes. It’s made a big difference in my life and my sister’s. It’s absolutely why I’m here tonight. If you’d met me years ago, I wouldn’t have given either of you the time of day, and not because I wouldn’t have found you attractive. I would have thought it was ridiculous to even entertain the idea that you or Hale might want me.”
