Nice Until Proven Naughty

I stop beside Ben and hold my hand out. “Dance with me.”

Ben and I don’t dance, which is probably why he’s looking at me like I grew a second head. “This is a fast song.”

“So?”

“So.” He smiles sheepishly. “I can’t fast dance.”

“So, we’ll slow dance. I just want to dance with you, Ben.”

“Well, okay then.” The little stinker takes my hand and pulls me to the dance floor with the ease of a man who knows what he wants.

He hooks an arm around my back and cradles my hand in his free one. It feels so good to be pressed against him like this.

Too good.

Like a warm fire on a cool winter night.

Sleeping in your own bed after a long vacation.

Being in Ben’s arms feels perfect.

It feels like home.

I close my eyes and bury my face in his neck. It’s either that or start blubbering like a damn baby, because I love him so much that I’m bursting at the seams.

Last year is a mistake I’ll never make again, and if he gives me a second chance, I’ll show him every day that I can be the kind of woman he deserves.

I open my mouth to tell him just that, but he pulls me tight, keeping my face pressed against him while he brings his lips to my ear and says, “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight.”

I lift my head and smile up at him. “You can tell me now.”

He moves his hand from my lower back, up my side—sending a shiver through my body—over my shoulder and cradles the side of my neck. “Danielle Kringle, you look absolutely breathtaking tonight.” With each word his head dips a little lower. His eyes fall to my mouth, and I take a shuddery breath.

This is it.

He’s going to kiss me.

Bennett Wallace is going to kiss me, and it’s going to be wonderful and perfect and soul shattering.

Warm, peppermint breath fans across my lips. The heat from his body penetrates mine, putting every nerve inside of me on high alert. I’ve never felt so alive…so ready…so—

The front door slams shut with a thud, causing me to jump. Ben quickly steps away and shakes his head, leaving me stunned and a little confused.

Didn’t he want that kiss just as badly as I did?

Or was it a mistake? Did he get caught up in the music and the moment?”

My body is buzzing with a newfound energy as I watch Ben shake a man’s hand.

“I’m Gino, Mr. Strieker’s son. Thank you so much for letting my dad come here. It took me forever to get in from the city. The roads are treacherous.”

“It was our pleasure.”

Mr. Streiker uses his cane to walk toward his son. When he’s close enough he whispers, “Would it have killed ya to take a little longer? The lady and I were just starting a little somethin’ somethin’.”

“Dad,” Gino admonishes.

“What?” Mr. Streiker looks from his son to Ben to me, and I smile. “I might be old, but I’m not dead. And neither is she. Don’t worry. I forgive you, son,” he says, patting Gino on the back. “Here, program this into my phone when we get home.”