One Last Time(56)

I take a step toward him, unable to stay where I am, and Federico, one of the cops Heather works with, steps in front of me. The air expels from my mouth as though I’ve been punched in the gut, and I attempt to smile.

“Hey, Kristin, I was hoping I’d find you. Would you like to dance?” he asks.

Noah shifts out of the corner of my eye, and I try to move around Federico to get to where I was going. “I would love to, b—”

“Great.” He smiles and takes my hand. “I’m glad your dance card was open.”

Shit. Now I feel like a bitch if I finish my sentence. I give Noah an apologetic look and head to the dance floor with Federico—reluctantly.

“You look great, Kris,” he says as he wraps his arm around my back.

“Thanks.”

Federico is nice, but I have absolutely no interest in him. There’s only one man I want to be dancing with right now, and I can feel his gaze on me.

“Sorry to hear about you and your husband.”

“It’s for the best.”

Federico’s hand moves up my back slightly and guilt floods me. I find Noah, who is watching me as he slowly takes a swig of his beer. I see the anger in his stance while he moves his weight from one leg to another.

In my eyes, I hope he sees what I’m feeling and knows it’s him I want.

“So what do you think?” Federico’s voice breaks my stare.

“Huh?”

“I figured since we’re both divorced, maybe you’d like to have dinner . . .”

“Oh,” I say taken aback. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m kind of seeing someone.”

The truth is, I’m kind of falling in love with someone. Everything today has shown me that my heart wants Noah. My head wants to never again feel the pain of losing a man I trusted to love me. I’m battling both parts of myself even though Noah is nothing like Scott. It’s more because there’s still so much we don’t know.

The longest song ever ends, and Federico’s hands fall. “I hope he treats you right,” he says, and I nod while biting my lip.

He does treat me right.

He treats me better than anyone has before.

How can I feel this strongly when the relationship is this new?

It doesn’t matter how much I tell myself this is a bad idea, I crave him. Not just the sex, which is freaking unreal, I crave him. His smile, his words, his touch, and the way he makes my whole shitty situation not feel so . . . shitty.

I look for Noah, but he’s not where he was. Butterflies fill my belly, and I keep looking around.

“Don’t dance with anyone else,” his deep voice whispers from behind me. “I can’t watch another man hold you, touch you, feel you in his arms.”

I nod. “Same goes for you.”

The heat from his body is against my back, warming every part of me. And then a split second later, it’s gone.

I turn quickly, but all I see is him walking away.

Thankfully, the reception is almost over, and less than an hour later, we’re on the dock, bidding farewell to our best friend.

“Thank you, guys,” Heather says as the four of us stand in a circle.

“You did it for all of us,” Danielle says. “Well, almost all.”

Nicole sticks her tongue out, causing us to laugh.

“You’re off to Vancouver next week?” I ask, trying to hide the sadness.

Heather’s bottom lip curls. “I am, but I’m not staying the whole time he’s filming. I’ll be back in two months. I’ll miss you guys.”

We all group hug, like we’ve done since we were little girls. They’re the closest thing I’ve had to sisters, and the last two years, we’ve grown even closer.

“If Eli were my husband, I wouldn’t ever come back. He could just do me all day,” Nicole says unapologetically.

Danielle slaps her arm. “You’re so crass.”

“You wouldn’t have me any other way.” Nicole puts her head on her shoulder and kisses her cheek.

Heather and I give each other a look and smile.

“Ready, baby?” Eli comes up behind her and slides his arm around her middle.

She nods. “Okay, loves. I’ll see you in a few weeks!”

We all take turns hugging and kissing them both. She grabs my wrist before I can walk away. “Hey,” she says quietly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I hope. Are you and Noah okay?”

Her question stuns me a little. “Okay? Sure, we’re working on the feature.”

She tilts her head and grins. “Are you going to lie to me? Me? Of all people?”

I should’ve known she’d see through my very bad acting. Tonight was absolute hell trying to stay away from him.

“We’re not saying anything right now. It’s new, and I didn’t want your wedding to be where you found out.”

“Found out?” She laughs. “I’ve known since it started. Hell, I saw the writing on the wall the minute you two saw each other. It’s hard to hide that kind of chemistry.”

I can almost feel Noah’s presence. Sure enough, I look over to see him talking to Eli but looking at me.

“I could love him, Heather. If I let myself, it would be so easy.”