CHAPTER SIXTEEN #2
“I’d love for us to be friends again,” I said. Before I could say that I was interested in seeing where things went beyond friendship, he interrupted me.
“I have to say this,” he blurted. “The last time you said you wanted to be friends, it really meant that you were saying goodbye and were about to block my number. Is that what this is? A gentle way of letting me down? Or do you mean it this time?”
I winced. That is what I did last time. I’d had to—to protect my heart. “I mean it. I wouldn’t be sitting here with you now if I was just going to do that again. I would’ve just told you I couldn’t go to dinner with you, you know?”
He nodded, looking happy.
“I want to be friends. And…” I took a deep breath, ready to take a huge leap of faith. “I want to try again.”
He went still. “Do you mean…”
I nodded. “I’ve never felt anything for another guy. Not even close to what I felt for you. I’ve been searching for that kind of connection ever since those days.” I gave him a wry smile. “I probably shouldn’t admit that.”
“No, I’m glad you did. I feel the same way. I tried to have a couple of relationships… and they failed miserably. I couldn’t quit comparing them to you.”
“Is this too soon?” I asked, suddenly nervous.
“I don’t care if it is,” he said earnestly. “I just want to grab the opportunity and run with it. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance, and I’m not going to give up this time.”
I smiled. I felt the same way. “What about the logistics of you being in Wixby and me being here…”
He waved a hand in the air. “We’ll figure it out. I’m not sure how, but we will.”
I bit my lip. “I might know how.”
His eyebrows lifted. “What do you mean?”
And I told him. I told him that my time in Charleston was temporary and that I was looking around at other dance companies closer to home.
I told him what Kelisha had said about the Harts and how it had backed up everything he’d told me.
I explained what had happened between Monty, Livy, and me at the coffee shop that morning.
He listened, the look on his face growing more and more concerned the more I revealed.
“Monty just happened to be at the same coffee shop as you this morning? Does he often show up wherever you are?”
“You sound like Livy. Don’t worry; she gave me the drill about being careful around him. Though I still think he’s harmless. He’s just a socially awkward guy with a crush. That’s all.”
Edward looked skeptical. “I’d like to believe that’s true.”
“You can,” I said, reaching out and grabbing his hand.
“Though it is strange that his parents are fueling that crush by making him think I’m going to marry him.
I can’t believe they’re telling people that.
” I gave a little shudder. “Anyway, can we focus on the fact that I’ll be moving closer to home soon? ”
“My God. You don’t know how happy that makes me.
For purely selfish reasons, I love the idea of you being closer so that I can show you how much I want to be with you.
” He gave me a look. “And I know you think I’m half crazy, but I swear there’s something not quite right about that family. And it’s not just about Monty, either.”
“Yeah, I picked up on that,” I teased him. “I think they’re just used to getting their own way, and they behave badly when that doesn’t happen.” I lowered my voice and leaned in. “I mean, they’re the richest family in South Carolina. No one tells them no.”
Edward tipped his head in acknowledgement. “You might have a point. I will admit that by the light of day things seemed less… scary than they did last night.” He sipped his wine before changing the subject. “What dance companies have you applied to?”
“Oh, several. There are a couple in the Atlanta area, one in Chattanooga, and one in Savannah.”
He nodded, and I could see his brain working through the possibilities. “So, Atlanta or Chattanooga would be great. What are the chances you’ll get those?”
“I’m not sure. I think pretty good for the company in North Atlanta. It’s the one I want the most. It’s complicated, though. Not only do they have to like me and think I’m good for their company, they have to have a place for me, too.”
He nodded. “I didn’t think about that. And from there…”
I interrupted him. “I think I want to work for five more years. That’s all I think my body can take. To be honest, I’ll be lucky if I get that. Dance is hard on the body.” I sipped my wine and grinned. “Then I want to open my own studio in Wixby.”
“So, you plan to end up back home?” He looked so excited.
“Yes.”
“I think that’s wonderful. And you’ll be a great dance teacher. I remember seeing you during the summers when I’d wait for you to finish the classes you taught. You were so good with those children.”
I was surprised he remembered that. “Thanks. It’s always been my end goal to have my own studio. I heard that my former dance teacher is getting close to retirement age. I’d love to buy her out when she gets to that point.”
“That sounds perfect, and I can’t imagine she’d have anyone else she’d rather sell it to,” he assured me.
Then he looked nervous. “There’s only one more question I need answered then,” he said.
“And it might be the most important. Can you forgive me? Or will how things ended between us always hang over any relationship we have?”
Candlelight flickered over the table, casting his handsome face in interesting patterns of shadows and light. It made his cheekbones and jawline, freshly shaved now, stand out sharply. I drank in the sight of him and knew I’d hate myself if I didn’t give us another chance.
“Yes. But you have to promise to be truthful. If you want out of the relationship, you have to be straightforward with me. I couldn’t handle things ending like they did last time. With me being blindsided and wondering what I did wrong. I don’t want to go through that again.”
“I promise you, I would never, ever do anything like that again. It was completely and totally unlike me to do that when I did, and I’ll never stop being sorry for that.
I should have been honest with you, and I’ll always regret that.
” He squeezed my hand. “I never want to hurt you. Not ever again.”
“Okay, then. I guess we’re… starting over?” A little flurry of excitement rushed through me.
He shook his head. “That’s not possible. There’s too much between us to start over. Can we just try to pick up where we left off?”
“Let’s see how it goes.”
He seemed to accept that.
After that, we went back to talking and laughing over past events. I also had fun catching him up on everything that had gone on at the farm. With all my siblings and all the Whittaker kids, there was plenty to tell.
“It’s like a soap opera,” he said. “Lufton told me some of that, but he’s gone more than he’s home. What happened with Livy? I thought she wanted to be an FBI agent.”
I studied his face. “To be honest, we don’t know.
She won’t talk about it. She’s back home for now.
She got her bachelor’s and master’s at the University of Virginia.
We all thought she was on track for the career goals she’d always had.
” I pictured her interrogating a teddy bear while I’d been playing teacher with my dolls.
She’d always wanted to go into crime enforcement.
“I know my sister,” I shrugged. “If and when she’s ready to tell us what happened at the academy, she will. ”
He frowned, looking concerned. It warmed my heart to know he cared about Livy. She and I had always been a package deal.
We lingered over drinks a bit longer until I realized we were one of the last couples in the restaurant. Edward waved the waiter over to give him his card.
When the bill was paid and we’d lingered over our last glasses of wine, Edward’s eyes found mine. “Do you want to come upstairs with me, or do you want me to take you home?”
His intent was obvious. I smiled, a little taken aback by his directness, but it didn’t bother me. “I’d like to go upstairs,” I said softly.
He stared at me, his gaze intense. He wasn’t smiling. His eyes locked on mine, and heat shot straight to my core.
He came over to pull my chair out for me.
He helped me up, then held onto my hand as I grabbed my tote, stood, and we walked over to the elevators.
He guided me gently with his hand on the small of my back.
I could feel the heat of his touch through the silky material of my dress.
He pressed the button, and we waited. Little nervous flutters shot around my stomach.
It had been a while since I’d slept with someone.
What if Edward was disappointed in me? What if I’d built up our one, scorching hot encounter when we were eighteen into something that neither of us could live up to?
Finally, the elevator opened, revealing no one else inside.
We stepped in and waited for the doors to close.
As soon as they did, he was on me. He pushed me back against the elevator wall, kissing me with raw passion.
I gasped, opening my mouth for him, and his tongue delved deep, licking and tasting me.
This was nothing like the gentle kiss he’d given me earlier in the morning, but I loved it.
As he ended the kiss, I pulled his lower lip between my teeth, sucking it and nipping it.
He groaned and pushed himself against me until there was no space between us.
I could feel every hard muscle. I could feel the long, thick line of his erection against my stomach.