Stay With Me (With Me 1)

Jesus, Kilyn, pull yourself together.

Swallowing hard, I licked my lips and tried to speak past the lump in my throat. “What did you say?”

“Would you dance with me, Kilyn?”

Dear God. Talk to me like that again and I’ll let you do whatever you want to me.

“Um . . . yes. I mean okay.”

When he took me into his arms, my breath caught and I was pretty sure he knew he was having an effect on me.

“Show me how to two-step.”

Can’t. Think. Body. On. Fire.

“Give me a second. Your whole speaking to me in Greek threw me and I’m trying to get myself back together.”

His head dropped back and he let out a roar of laughter.

After adjusting his hands into the right position, I showed him how to take the correct steps. He was catching on pretty good and I was honestly impressed with how fast he was learning. There might be hope for him after all.

We stopped after two songs and got a drink. “You’re learning pretty fast.”

Thano flashed me a sexy-ass grin and said, “I’m a fast learner.”

I bet.

When LOCASH’s song “I Love This Life” started, I jumped up.

“I love this song!”

Thano finished off his beer and took my hand. “Then let’s go dance.”

A part of me was bummed out because I loved cutting up the floor with this song and was kind of hoping to hook up with another dancer. Thano pulled me into his arms and we took off.

He guided me around that dance floor like he’d been two-stepping all his life. Then he spun me and pulled me back to him without missing a beat. I’d never danced with anyone who knew how to lead like this guy was.

Giving him a look only a mother could give, I yelled, “You already knew how to two-step, didn’t you?”

He winked and spun me again. Laughing, I let it go and enjoyed being in his arms and listening to my song as we danced our asses off. We were a force to be reckoned with as Thano spun me around, dipped me, and even did some fancy move where he whipped me around his body.

I’d never had so much fun.

A slow song came on and I quickly headed to our table where Claire and Blake were. Any closer contact with Thano and I was positive I’d be begging him to make me scream out his name.

Trying like hell to catch my breath, I dropped in my seat while Thano reached across the table and shook Blake’s hand.

“Sorry!” I shouted. “You remember Claire, right? This is her husband, Blake.”

Thano smiled and gave Claire a friendly nod. “The cooking queen.”

Claire laughed. “That’s me! And part time interior decorator as well.”

Thano looked between us. “You work together?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Claire mainly handles everything after the designs have been approved. The contractors and such. She also designs most of the kitchens, since that is her thing.”

Thano stared at me with a goofy smile. “What?” I asked.

“It’s just, someone your age to have your own company and already be so well-known in what you do . . . it’s impressive. Very impressive.”

I could feel my face turn hot. Looking away, I couldn’t help but notice the shit-eating grin on Claire’s face. “She started her company when she was still in college. Kilyn somehow talked one of her professors into letting her design her new house. It was supposed to just be the paint color but when Kilyn started making suggestions, the professor hired her on the spot.”

Needing to change the subject, I turned to Thano. “Let’s forget about that. Do you want to explain to me why you lied?”

He jerked his head back in surprise. “What do you mean? I haven’t lied to you about anything.”

I shook my finger at him. “Oh, oh please. You clearly knew how to two-step, Mr. Drivas. You probably do it better than me!”

Leaning closer to me, I felt myself pull back. “I never said I couldn’t two-step, Ms. O’Kelly. I said I didn’t like country music.”

My head was spinning. “You said you didn’t listen to it! If you don’t listen to it, how in the world can you dance to it? Plus, you asked me to teach you.”

He lifted his beer and took a drink. I watched as the muscles in his throat worked while he swallowed. Why in the hell is that turning me on?

Placing the bottle on the table, he looked directly into my eyes. “My mother started all her sons in dance class at age six. I can probably dance to any type of music you asked me to. My favorite is ballroom dancing.”

Claire leaned forward and shouted, “If I wasn’t married, I’d crawl over the table and have sex with you right now.”

My head snapped over as I yelled, “Claire!”

Blake laughed and chimed in. “That’s my cue to get my wife out onto the dance floor and take her for a spin. Clearly, I’ve been neglecting her.”