The Friendship List(64)

“We’ll take our time over dinner,” he told her. “And then we’ll dance.”

“You know how, because I’m not an expert.”

“We’ll wait for the slow songs.”

She smiled happily and reached for her cocktail. “You’re the best date ever.”

“I hear that all the time.”

  Ellen spent dinner in a state of anticipation. The last dance she’d been to had been her junior prom. Jeremy had taken her and later that evening, in a brief, unsatisfying encounter, he’d gotten her pregnant. She’d spent the night of her senior prom caring for a colicky newborn.

But now she was going dancing with Keith. She knew that even if she didn’t know what she was doing, he would take care of her. He was good that way.

When he’d paid the bill, they made their way to the bar and sat at a small table in the back. The band was already set up and, exactly at eight, started to play.

The music was quiet, old-fashioned and slow. Perfect for dancing. Two couples got up and moved to the open floor. The women stepped into the men’s arms and they began to move. She watched intently, telling herself it didn’t look difficult.

“What are you thinking?” Keith asked.

“That I would do better if I wasn’t wearing high heels.”

He chuckled, then stood and held out his hand. “Shall we?”

Nerves clutched at her, making her want to stay where she was. But curiosity and a desire to be more than she had been had her placing her hand in his and standing.

He led her to the small area and drew her close, still holding her one hand. He put her other on his shoulder, then rested his fingers on her waist. Before she could wrap her mind around what was happening, they were moving to the soft strains of “Stormy Weather.”

After a few minutes, she was able to relax. Keith used his hand at her waist to kind of direct her where he wanted to go. They moved well together and she liked being able to look up into his eyes.

“This is nice,” she said. “We should have done this ages ago.”

He smiled at her and pulled her closer until they were pressed against each other. She rested her head on his shoulder and put her hand on his back. Her eyes drifted closed.

Better, she thought, inhaling the scent of him and liking how secure she felt. Secure and maybe a little tingly. Her breasts were pressed against his chest and his leg brushed against hers every few steps.

The man had powerful thighs and she knew he was strong. She’d seen him working out, all sweaty with the muscles. And his hands were big.

Aware that she’d had wine after her cocktail, she thought maybe she was flirting with being a little drunk and should probably watch herself. Only...

“I’d rather watch you.”

Keith shifted so he could look at her. “What did you say?”

She tried not to panic. Had she spoken that out loud?

“What? Me? Nothing.”

She put her head back on his shoulder, only this time she didn’t close her eyes. How could she when his neck was right there, just above the collar of his shirt?

She wondered what he would taste like. Salty maybe. Had she ever tasted a man’s skin before? Did it taste different than a woman’s skin? The question made her giggle because she had no idea what a woman’s skin tasted like. She didn’t go around licking people.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Just thinking stuff.”

He felt really good, she thought as they continued to dance. The room heated, or maybe it was just her. Every time their legs brushed she had the oddest idea that she should rub herself against his hard thigh. That would feel really good. She could rub and rub and rub.

Need began slowly, trickling down to her center. Without thinking, she let her hand drift from the center of his back to his waist. At the same time, she moved her head those few inches so that she could press her mouth against his neck and—

He swore quietly and jumped back. “What are you doing?”

The question shocked her into awareness. They were on the edge of the dance floor. No one seemed to be paying attention to them, but that didn’t stop the wave of humiliation from crashing through her.

What had she been doing? She couldn’t go around touching and kissing people. She and Keith weren’t together. She had no right, and based on the way he’d reacted, he also had no interest.

Horrified at her behavior and embarrassed beyond words, she bolted for their table, grabbed her small evening clutch, then hurried out of the restaurant. Once she was on the sidewalk, she frantically tried to figure out where the hotel was so she could hide in her room until the mortification killed her.

She’d barely taken a step when a strong hand clamped down on her arm, holding her in place.

“Ellen, what’s going on?”

Her cheeks were on fire. She desperately wanted to be anywhere but here, only she had no superpowers and she probably deserved to suffer for what she’d done.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered staring at the sidewalk. “I’m so sorry. That was inappropriate and I never meant to try to—” She couldn’t even say what had been happening. She forced herself to look at him. “I’m sorry.”

She did her best not to cry. She didn’t want him thinking she was playing the tears card. It was just so awful.