Chapter 2 #2
Taking the lead, Jo started to move her hips, swaying to the beat. Not wanting to overwhelm the woman, she kept her movements simple. “Feel the music,” she encouraged.
Slowly, hesitantly, the woman began to move.
Her movements were stiff, and at first, her body was rigid.
Clearly, she was nervous. But as the song went on, Jo saw her starting to relax, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly.
Slowly, the woman set the tempo between them, and Jo wasn’t quite sure how she felt about it.
She was used to being the one in control of the dance floor.
The one leading and setting the pace, but something about the woman made her want to hang back.
She wanted the birthday girl to find her own rhythm.
As they danced, the world around them seemed to fade.
The crowded bar, the pulsing lights, even the loud music became background noise.
Looking at the woman, their eyes met, and Jo found herself lost in how the woman’s face lit up when she finally seemed to let go and truly start to enjoy herself.
Jo noticed the music beginning to shift.
The fast-paced beat gave way to something slower.
Uncertainty crossed the woman’s face, and for a moment, Jo thought the spell might be broken.
Without thinking, Jo stepped closer so her lips almost brushed the woman’s ear.
She put her hands on her hips. “Do you want to keep dancing with me?” she whispered.
She heard the woman catch her breath, and a slight tremor ran through her body.
For a heartbeat everything seemed to hang in the balance on Sapphire’s crowded floor.
Surrounded by strangers and friends alike, Jo found herself holding her breath waiting for the woman’s response.
Pulling back a little, she looked into her eyes and saw her lips were slightly parted as if she were about to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she gave a small nod.
Slowly, as if handling something fragile, Jo moved her hands onto the woman’s waist. She felt the soft silk of her blouse, but also sensed a slight tremor that ran through the woman’s body at her touch. “Relax,” Jo murmured. “Follow my lead.”
As she swayed to the slower beat, Jo found herself aware of every point of contact between them.
The heat of the woman’s skin beneath her hands, the slight touch of the woman’s breath against her neck, in the way their bodies seem to fit perfectly together.
Around them, other couples moved to the music, lost in their own worlds, but for Jo, everything narrowed down to this exact moment, this dance, and the stranger in her arms.
Clearly not used to dancing so close, the woman’s movements were hesitant at first, but as the song progressed, Jo felt her melting into the rhythm and into Jo’s embrace.
As they danced, Jo found her mind replaying the events that led up to this strange moment.
How the woman had caught her eye from across the room, and the unexpected pull Jo had felt.
That nervous energy that radiated from her and the impulsive way the woman had downed her friend’s drink clearly for courage.
Jo had seen countless women in Sapphire over the years and had danced with more than she could remember, but something about this one was different.
Somehow, she was more vulnerable, and for some reason, tonight of all nights, Jo found that utterly captivating.
As the melody reached its bridge, the smaller woman rested her head on Jo’s shoulder and sighed.
The gesture was so natural, so unguarded, that Jo sucked in a breath.
She nearly froze, unsure how to respond.
This reaction isn’t part of my routine , she thought.
This is not how these nights typically go .
But the woman’s warmth seeped into Jo, and the scent of her perfume, something light and floral, filled Jo’s senses.
Her arms tightened slightly around the woman’s waist, pulling her closer.
Slowly, all of Jo’s carefully constructed walls, all her rules about keeping things casual and never getting involved, seemed to crumble.
The colored lights of Sapphire covered the dance floor in an array of patterns, but Evelyn’s world shrunk to a single point of focus.
All she could think about was the woman who had introduced herself and asked her to dance.
Jo , she thought, finding it so perfect.
The woman’s strong arms encircled her waist, and their bodies moved together in perfect sync with the beat that thrummed through the air.
Her heart racing, Evelyn had trouble catching her breath.
With every subtle shift of Jo’s hips against hers, she felt a blaze of heat.
“You’re a natural,” Jo said near her ear. Her voice was low and husky, sending a shiver down Evelyn’s spine.
Lifting her head and letting out a nervous laugh, Evelyn’s cheeks flushed. “It’s the alcohol,” she stammered, doing her best to steady her voice despite the trembling in her body.
Jo responded with a smile, which sent sparks of electricity everywhere the two of them touched. “Maybe,” Jo said, tightening her grip on Evelyn a little more. “But I think you’re selling yourself short.”
Moving together in the sea of other dancers, Evelyn became intensely aware of her own body.
She felt the warmth of Jo’s hands resting on her hips, the whisper of her breath against her neck, and how perfectly they seemed to fit together.
All of it was intoxicating, and it had nothing to do with the drinks she consumed earlier.
As the music’s tempo increased, Jo suddenly spun Evelyn away, only to gently pull her back in close. The surprise movement sent Evelyn’s head spinning, and for a moment, she stumbled, bumping against Jo’s hard body.
“Whoa,” Jo said, steadying her with a firm grip. “Easy there. You okay?”
Nodding, Evelyn felt her face burn with embarrassment. “Sorry, I just got dizzy,” she answered. “I can be a little clumsy.”
Jo’s eyes searched Evelyn’s face, dark and intense in the dim light.
“I wouldn’t call that clumsy,” she said, but before Evelyn could answer, the music changed to a new song, and Jo’s grip loosened.
“You know what? How about we grab another drink?” Jo leaned in a little closer. “I want to get to know you better.”
Her breath catching in her throat, all Evelyn could do was nod.
Maybe she should politely decline or make excuses about needing to return to her friends and her sister.
Let’s face it , she thought. It’s the sensible thing to do, the kind of decision I usually make.
Yet, as she looked into Jo’s handsome face, Evelyn felt something unfamiliar.
She felt brave. “Yes,” she said, unable to hide the breathiness in her voice. “I’d like that.”
In response, Jo’s face lit up with a smile so charming that Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat.
“Perfect,” she said, taking Evelyn’s hand.
“Let’s do this.” As Jo led her toward the bar, Evelyn couldn’t help but notice her sister and friends watching from the table in the corner.
Jasmine’s eyebrows rose in surprise while Sophie and Brooke exchanged glances.
Evelyn felt a pang of guilt for abandoning them during her own birthday celebration.
But then Jo’s thumb brushed over her palm, and all other thoughts fled from her mind.
They reached the bar, and Jo claimed two empty stools.
She helped Evelyn onto one before sliding onto the seat beside her.
The bartender, a slender woman with vibrant pink hair, gave them a smile. “What would you like?” she asked, and Jo turned to Evelyn.
“Yes, what would you like?” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Not sure what to do in this sudden, unexpected situation, Evelyn hesitated.
She had already drunk more tonight than she planned, and a small voice warned her to be careful.
But another part of her, the larger part that still tingled from Jo’s touch on the dance floor, craved something to calm her nerves.
“Well,” she said. “How about a Cosmopolitan?” She hoped she sounded more worldly and confident than she felt.
Jo nodded. “Excellent choice,” she said, glancing at the bartender.
“And you know what? How about one for me?” The bartender’s eyebrows rose a beat before she moved away to prepare the drinks.
While they waited, Jo faced Evelyn again, and their knees brushed.
It was casual, yet it felt deliberate to Evelyn, and she had to suppress a gasp.
“So,” Jo said, her voice low and intimate despite the club’s noise. “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
“It’s Evelyn,” she whispered.
“Evelyn,” Jo repeated, clearly savoring the name. “That’s a beautiful name. And Evelyn, can I ask what you do for a living? Wait, let me guess. It’s something highly intellectual and important.”
Surprised, Evelyn let out a laugh. “How could you know that?” she asked. “I could do anything for a living.”
Jo’s eyes twinkled. “Consider it a lucky guess,” she said with a wink. “Let’s just say you have that slightly overworked but brilliant glimmer in your eyes.”
“Hmm,” Evelyn said. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not.” She blushed, surprised at her boldness.
“Oh, it definitely is,” Jo said with a chuckle. “I find intelligence incredibly sexy.” Evelyn felt her cheeks heat at Jo’s words. The arrival of their drinks saved her from responding.
As Jo picked up her glass, she raised it in a toast. “To new friends,” she said, her eyes locking with Evelyn’s. “And new experiences.”
Swallowing hard, Evelyn picked up hers and clinked it against Jo’s, her heart racing. “To new friends,” she echoed. “And new experiences.” She took a sip of her drink. The vodka mixed with cranberry burned pleasantly as it went down, adding to the warmth already spreading through her body.
Jo leaned in slightly. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“All right,” Evelyn said. “I’m an environmental conservation research assistant.” She sipped her drink again. “I promise it’s more exciting than it sounds.”
Without missing a beat, Jo nodded. “I believe you,” she said, reaching to tuck a strand of blonde hair behind Evelyn’s ear. The casual gesture, where her fingers brushed against Evelyn’s skin, sent shivers down her spine. Jo’s eyes met hers. “Because you seem very exciting to me.”
The woman’s intent was clear in her gaze, and Evelyn felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation fluttering in her stomach.
If she were honest with herself, she was in completely uncharted territory.
A deviation from her carefully planned life.
Yet, meeting Jo’s gaze she realized that for once, she didn’t want to overthink things.
I want to live in the moment , she thought.
I want to see where this might lead . With courage she didn’t know she possessed, Evelyn closed the distance between them.
Their lips met, and Jo tasted of vodka, cranberry, and infinite possibility.
As the world faded around them, Evelyn knew in her heart that whatever happened next, her life would never be the same.