A bitter September wind swept through the area, sending a shiver down her spine, making her step closer to Max. He rubbed her shoulder.
Opening the heavy wood door to the honky-tonk, he whispered, “I’ll be fighting off the cowboys who want to steal you away.”
“You’re such a talker.” A laugh formed on her lips as she surveyed the room. Men in cowboy hats led women to the dance floor. Couples shared drinks, clinked beer bottles together.
Dim yellow lights hung suspended from the ceiling over the bar area. The lighting only seemed to deepen the color of the wood, making the place feel out of time, like a relic from decades ago.
“Is that a challenge?” He shucked off his sports coat and draped it on the back of a chair at an unoccupied high-top table. His lips thinned to a confident line.
“All right, then. I hope you are prepared for this.” She pulled her heels off, becoming substantially shorter but growing in confidence.
They made their way to the dance floor. Bright spotlights illuminated the area. She leveled her gaze at him, remembering the times she and her college friends used to frequent a country bar, learning all the line dances and smiling at cowboys. Her roommate, Jessie, made them go week after week. She was a Georgia girl, through and through. Weekly visits had made Jessie feel more at home during that scary time of transition. Natalie picked up the steps to the various dances quickly, found a way to lose herself in the music and movement.
This was her turf.
A square dancing song began and the crowd let out a variety of emphatic whoops. Max and Natalie began as partners, but soon the movement of the dance swept them from each other.
No matter which partner she found herself with, her eyes found Max’s. Even from across the room, the stare electrified her.
Eventually, the song ended and he closed the distance between them. Suddenly, she took in how tall he was, noticed how the other women dressed in cowboy boots eyed him. He didn’t pay them any mind.
His steady gaze seemed to see her—only her. As if they were alone in this space.
The Texas two-step began, and his arm instinctively went to the small of her back. Taking his hand in hers, they swayed together. Bodies melting into one another.
For four more songs, they stayed like that.
A country ballad replaced the more active tunes. Sweat had pooled on her brow and his. The lights dimmed, became cooler. Natalie’s hips swished in time to the slow music. Max’s agility surprised her, thrilled her. She pressed closer to his chest, looked up at him.
His lips were so close to hers now. They tasted the same breath.
Max’s hand tangled in her hair. He lowered his mouth to hers. A kiss unfolded, exploded her sense of control.
What had started as a gentle kiss soon deepened to pure passion. Electricity still surged and hummed beneath her skin.
Her tongue explored his mouth, drawing them somehow closer together. All sounds seemed to fade.
Nothing else existed.
Except for a faint ringing. A literal vibration.
Her imagination? She felt disoriented at the sensation, distracted by the taste of him.
Slowly, the sound registered. Her phone was in Max’s pocket. Pulling away, she said breathily, “I need to take that. My kids...”
Heart still pounding, she waited as he fished the phone out of his pocket. She answered it, rushing off the dance floor.
She’d been too late—no one was on the other line. Stepping farther away from the dance floor, she went to return the phone call. A text buzzed through.
Lexie was crying. She wanted to come home now. Natalie’s heart sank. Guilt washed over her. She needed to be there for her kids. Not gallivanting with a mind-numbingly sexy man at a smoky honky-tonk. How could she have thought otherwise for a second?
I’ll be there in a half hour.
She sent the text. Max had reached her now, concern washing over his features.
“I need to go pick up my kids.” She needed to get her head on straight while she was at it. Remember that she wasn’t in a position to indulge herself with a wildly sexy newcomer to town.
He nodded. “Of course.” Turning on his heel, he went to collect their things from the table.