Page 17 of Every Move You Make

“Take a deep breath,” he orders, drawing in a long inhale and waiting for me to follow. Our eyes lock into each other as I obey. Wow. In the low early evening sunlight, his dark chocolate eyes have a halo of gold I’ve never noticed before.So pretty.

We exhale.

“You are not a clumsy person. You are an agile athlete and a beautiful woman andyouare going to do great tonight.”

“Okay,” I huff and give myself a little shake to reset.

“Are you hungry?”

“Always.”

“Good,” he smiles, then wraps his arm around my shoulderand leads me toward the restaurant doors.

“Oh god, it’s busy here.”

“I know,” he smiles, his thumb dragging back and forth across my bare upper back. He cuts through the waiting line of people and leads me to the hostess stand. “Reservation for Dell.”

“Like the computers?” the young woman asks.

“Yes,” he chuckles. “Also, a small valley.”

“A what?”

“A dell is a small valley,” he clarifies.

“No, Adele is a singer.”

“Yes, she is. But my name is Dell.”

“Do you know Adele?”

“No, but if I singRolling in the Deep, will you seat us at our table?”

The hostess finally looks at her tablet, then back at him with a glint of mischief. I can tell she doesn’t think he’ll do it. Her eyes narrow. “Yes.”

“We coulda had it—” he sings unabashedly before her eyes widen, and she scurries from around the podium with two menus.

“Okay! Okay! Excellent job. Right this way.”

“I can keep going.”

“Not necessary,” she trembles.

“Are you sure?” I ask as she sets our menus down at a table set for two near the windows. “I can perform backup vocals. I was in my high school’s musical rendition ofSilence of the Lambs.”

Dell pulls out my chair, and I sit. “Robyn here has many talents.”

“I’m sure,” the hostess stutters. “Your server will be right with you. Enjoy your meal.”

Dell laughs to himself as he sits in his chair. “She couldn’t get out of here fast enough.Silence of the Lambs, huh? How’d that go?”

“The review in our school newspaper read:Not everything can or should be a musical.”

“I’m going to need to see footage someday.”

“Nothing would make me more uncomfortable,” I wince.

“And how are you feeling now?”

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