VERSUS (Second Chances 2)

I turn my attention back to him as couples dance past us. “It was nice meeting you, Hank.”

I smile when he drags my hand to his mouth to plant a kiss on it. “It was my pleasure, Paradise.”

When Hank turns to walk away, Dylan leans in until his lips brush against my ear. “He has no idea what paradise is. You taught me the meaning of the word two nights ago.”

I close my eyes against the rush of desire I feel.

“Dance with me, Eden,” he whispers, his hands gliding over my waist. “Let the music take you away.”

I step closer to him just as the song changes again. The track we slow danced to the other night fills the air in a pounding beat.

It’s fast, jumpy, and pulls the people around us apart as they flail their arms and bounce up and down.

Dylan tugs me against him and without any thought, we dance to our own rhythm, the same way we did when we were teenagers in the rehearsal hall.

Chapter 15

Dylan

I came to Veil East tonight with the hope that by some off chance, Eden would be here.

I found her wearing a red dress with her hair cascading down her back in waves. The same fiery color stained her lips. I wanted to kiss it off.

Yearned to kiss it off.

I watched from the shadows as she danced her way through two songs before I took a seat at the bar.

I was about to join her when a guy in a black suit approached her.

I studied every move between them. I saw her tug on the silver hoop in her right ear. I stared as he raked her from head-to-toe, his gaze stumbling on the fullness of her breasts under the fabric of her dress.

I swear to fuck he was as mesmerized with her as I was when I first saw her the other night. The truth is, I was captivated when I was seventeen and she asked me to dance when I went to pick her up for one of our tutoring sessions.

I’ll never forget that night.

I fell in love with her as she looked up into my face with her big, blue eyes. I held her petite body in my arms and wished that I could take her in my car and drive her to a place where no one would ever find us.

“Are you thinking about how I’m going to wipe the floor with you in court?” Eden elbows me as we stand on the sidewalk outside the club.

People are milling about. Some want into the venue. Others escaped the crowded dance floor just as we did.

It was Eden’s idea to take a breather outside.

I haven’t broached the idea of going back to my place again. I’ll let her set the pace tonight.

I shake my head. “No shop talk tonight.”

“What do you want to talk about, Dylan?” She smiles.

Christ, she’s so goddamn beautiful.

Her hair is wild. A light sheen of sweat dots her forehead and that red lipstick disappeared onto the rim of the glass of scotch I ordered after we danced.

I took the first sip. The rest slid between her lips when she tugged the glass from my hand.

She’s already feeling the impact of that.

Her cheeks have flushed pink. Her breathing has slowed.