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Stacey stopped eating as a chuckle escaped from her chest. “That from the one person who had a baby first and a relationship second.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “Yeah, well, whatever. I hope you have a great time on your date.”
Tristan took her to Nashville.
Even though she grew up just a short drive from the city, she didn’t venture here often. She was a small-town girl who preferred the quiet and openness of the country to the closed-in feeling she always got when she was surrounded by tall buildings and lots of noise.
Their dinner was delicious, though. They had sushi and hibachi. It was a fun night, and the company made it even better.
They talked about nothing exciting, but the conversation never got awkward. Once they were done eating, he wanted to take her dancing, so they hit one of the bars on Broadway.
Tristan was a superb dancer and even taught Stacey how to two-step. He was a natural on the dance floor, and she found herself laughing and forgetting about her crappy week. It wasn’t hard wrapped in his arms and watching his eyes gleaming with laughter.
All that dancing made them hot, and they needed some fresh air. She followed him up steps, and he pulled her through a door and out onto the rooftop of the bar overlooking the city. It was a beautiful, clear night. The sound of music spilled from the bars up and down Broadway, and laughter filled the air.
Wednesday nights downtown were crowded but not as crazy as the weekends tend to be. Because of this, they were able to get through dinner and into the bar without a problem.
Stacey wandered to the railing and looked out at the view. The Cumberland River, off in the distance, was calm, and the lights of the city reflected off the still water. She leaned against the railing and closed her eyes. It was peaceful there, even with the muted sounds of music and laughter. They were high enough that it all seemed far enough away not to matter. She took a deep breath and felt the weight of the week float away.
Tristan intertwined his fingers with hers. “A penny for your thoughts.”
Stacey sent him a smile and glanced at his handsome figure. She gave his hand a slight squeeze and moved closer to him. “I’ve had a blast tonight. Dinner was delicious, and I’ve never danced so much. Thanks.”
“That’s one of my favorite places to eat down here. Not fancy, but delicious. And you know, that’s the second time you told me that you don’t go dancing often. I don’t know why. You’re a great dancer.”
Stacey thought back to the other time they danced. It was the night they met. Once they started talking, Tristan asked her to dance, and they danced until the girls needed to go.
Thinking of their first meeting sent a grin across her face. “Honestly, I usually don’t like to dance. I guess I just never had the right partner.”
His hand released hers and made its way to her face. He caressed her jawline. Her breath caught as their eyes met. “I guess not. It looks like you do now.”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment more. All the stress she kept bottled up from the week seemed to melt away. Then their lips met. This wasn’t the first time they kissed. They kissed that first night when they met at the bar. They kissed on their first date, but this wasn’t a goodnight kiss. This was a kiss they both wanted. Just because.
This kiss had Stacey’s stomach doing somersaults and made her pulse race. Her hand went behind his neck, and she pulled herself closer. They were so close together she could feel the heat of their bodies through their clothes, and again, there was a force that shot through her veins and traveled throughout her body.
His hands slid up her back, pressing her into him even more, and their tongues continued the dance their bodies started earlier. She liked how his body felt up against hers. His hard muscles against her soft curves. Their mouths continued tasting and devouring each other.
Her insides warmed and throbbed.
The door to the roof banged against the wall, and they jerked apart. They were no longer alone on the rooftop.
Catching their breath, Stacey laid her head on his muscular chest. She could feel the effect she had on him as his heartbeat thundered against her cheek.
Having control of her body and breathing, she gazed into his eyes. His eyes could change from a soft gray, like clouds covering the sky right before rain starts to fall, but now they were darker, stronger, like thick stormy gray rain clouds.
“Thank you for an amazing time tonight. This week has been horrible, and I really needed this.” She turned, looking back across the city to the river. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come tonight. If this would be something I needed to go into any further.”
Tristan rubbed her arms and forced her to face him. “Hey!” He bent down so his eyes met hers. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I’m a good listener.” His hands moved to her face, and he held her there.
Stacey searched the depths for something to enable her to walk away from him now. She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her or to try and fix her problems. She didn’t want to be dragged into a relationship just to be dumped later.
But the more she searched, the more she could only find peace and safety. She pulled her gaze from his and pressed her lips together. She breathed in deep, trying to calm her nerves, but the smell of his aftershave and cologne invaded her senses. She placed her hands on his arms and felt a smile crawl across her lips, and she relaxed. “It’s just been a really bad week.”
She held his attention for a bit, then leaned in and lightly pressed her lips against his. “I may not have wanted to come at first, but I’m glad I did. You helped take my mind off everything.” Her voice was soft.
Tristan smiled, flashing a set of perfect teeth. “Good. I’m glad you decided not to cancel on me. I don’t know what it is with you, with us, but I really like you, Stacey. And I’ve had a great time tonight.” He led her to the other side of the rooftop.
The brick gave way to a plexiglass wall, and they sat on a bench. The view here was all river. It was breathtaking.
