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“Depends,” I said, instead of voicing my thoughts. This wasn’t a first date where terms had been set and I knew what I was getting at the end of the night. This was different. This was an anger management session and quite possibly still a betting situation, too.
Was I still hanging onto the notion of the bet? Of getting her to fall for me?
Maybe.
But it felt like more than that, had felt that way since she’d opened her mouth the second I’d walked up to her table. Had felt that way since I’d spotted her laughing while helping her group of kids with the game, me unable to take my eyes off how free she looked, and how much joy she brought the people she’d dedicated her time to helping.
“On?”
I stepped closer to her, unable to stay across the room. “What you need me to do?”
Her lips parted open just slightly as she looked up at me, then something flashed behind her blue eyes and she spun away from me.
Shit. Real smooth, Ethan.
Life coach. Key to my success and gaining back a good reputation. That’s what I needed to think of her as.
A slow tune played through the still connected speakers, and despite the pep-talk I’d just given myself, I asked, “Didn’t you say one of your experiments with me included dancing?”
I opened my arms, flicking my fingers at her in a come-hither motion, and fuck me if she didn’t fall right into my embrace. Jesus, the action was enough to send fire licking through my veins, but feeling her against me? That was enough to make my fantasies turn up another notch.
“I suppose I did,” she said, tipping her head to look up at me. “I owe you.”
She didn’t hesitate to bring her body flush against mine as I moved us to the music, and she felt so warm and soft in my hands. She had this natural floral and woodsy scent that had me dipping my head to get a better breath of her, my mind racing with how well she fit against me, how easily we danced to the music. There was nothing awkward between us, no veiled movements or curious glances—we moved like we’d done it a thousand times, and when her eyes met mine, they were open and inviting.
I splayed my hand on the flat of her back, holding her other hand with my free one before dipping her as the song came to a close. I held her there too, just because I could, just because I wanted to drink in the curves of her face, the way her lips were merely a breath away from mine.
Lips I wanted to explore again.
Lips I craved like my next breath.
Tension coiled between us as her eyes fluttered from mine to my mouth and back again, and I knew in that moment that there were zero thoughts of our client-coach relationship. This was a consuming chemistry I didn’t fully know how to handle.
I quickly drew us upright, clearing my throat as I released her.
“How’d I do?” I asked.
“You did all right,” she said, a clear tease in her tone.
“Just all right?” I asked. “Do you need me to show you again?” I held out my arms as another song started playing, but just as quickly, a soft alarm overtook the music on her phone.
“Time’s up,” she said, heading to the table and grabbing her phone. “I told Nora and Ella I would lock this place up.”
I nodded, grabbing my jacket and the speakers, carrying them to her car. After stowing them, I couldn’t help but lean against her opened driver door, bending slightly so I could hold her eyes from where she sat behind the wheel.
“What kind of situation are you going to put me in tomorrow?” I asked, dying to know.
I couldn’t wait to see her again. Hell, I didn’t even want to leave her side right now. The night was still young. We could absolutely track down a coffee shop and keep the night going. And knowing how badly I wanted to do just that was the exact reason I needed to let her go. To not ask her to stay with me.
“I get a more genuine reaction and experience if you don’t know.” She started her car.
“And when are you going to shadow me in my world?” I asked.
“Soon.”
“So informative,” I said, backing away enough to close her car door, but she had her window rolled down.
“I’m sure your team prepped you on my style,” she said.
They had, but it was nothing like experiencing it in person. Her methods were unconventional, but they produced results. That’s why she was so sought after.
“You really were amazing in there, Ethan,” she said. “Thanks for helping my friends.”
I nodded, knowing I should end the conversation, walk to my car, and try my best to stop the lingering need to be near her.
