Page 14 of Close Encounters of the Hot Kind

AILEEN

The limo glides to a stop in front of McFly's. A line snakes around the block, but Charles guides me straight to the entrance. The bouncer's eyes widen at the sight of him.

"Mr. Varakian, welcome." The velvet rope drops.

My heart skips. I've never skipped a line in my life. The envious stares from the crowd make me stand a little straighter, especially in these amazing tights.

The doors swing open and my jaw drops. It's like stepping through a time portal. Mirror balls scatter rainbow light across the dance floor. The air thrums with the beat of "Stayin' Alive." Platform shoes and bell bottoms everywhere I look.

"This is incredible!" I bounce on my toes, drinking in the atmosphere.

Charles's fingers lace through mine. He tugs me toward the packed dance floor where bodies move in perfect sync.

My stomach drops. "No, no. I'm a lousy dancer, I can't."

"Trust me." His golden eyes capture mine. His thumb traces circles on my palm, sending tingles up my arm. "Everything will be fine."

Something in his gaze melts my resistance. The warmth of his hand, the way he looks at me like I'm the only person in the room...

I squeeze his fingers and let him lead me onto the dance floor.

The moment we start moving, something clicks. My body syncs with his as if we've danced together a thousand times before. His movements guide mine with an effortless grace I didn't know I possessed.

"See? Perfect." His smile lights up brighter than the disco ball above.

The beat pulses through my veins. I spin under his arm, my dress flaring. When I return to face him, I bite my lip and throw him a playful wink. His eyes spark with delight.

"Where did you learn to move like this?"

"Natural talent, obviously." I shimmy closer, gaining confidence with each step.

The music shifts, the familiar opening notes of "How Deep Is Your Love" floating through the air. Charles pulls me in, one hand settling on my waist. The other clasps mine against his chest.

His heartbeat thrums steady beneath my palm. The scent of his cologne wraps around me like a warm blanket. We sway together, and the rest of the club fades away.

"This is nice." The words slip out on their own.

"Very nice." His thumb brushes across my knuckles.

I rest my cheek against his chest, closing my eyes. Something about this feels right in a way I can't explain. Like puzzle pieces clicking into place.

Warning bells should be ringing. I barely know him. He wants to buy my family's restaurant. But here in his arms, none of that seems to matter.

"Aileen." The way he says my name just does it for me.

I tilt my face up to meet his gaze, and my breath catches. The look in his eyes... no one has ever looked at me quite like that before.

The last notes of the Bee Gees fade away. Charles cups my face in his hands and his lips find mine. The kiss steals my breath away - hot and electric and perfect. My knees go weak, and his arm slides around my waist to steady me.

I reach up to touch his cheek, and pause. The texture under my fingertips feels... odd. Not quite smooth, almost like... I can't place it. Different patterns, geometric almost, beneath the surface.

But then his tongue traces my bottom lip and coherent thought vanishes. My fingers curl against his jaw as the kiss deepens. Whatever I felt doesn't matter - maybe he just needs a shave. His mouth moving against mine sets my blood on fire, makes my head spin in the best possible way.

When we finally break apart, I'm panting. My lips tingle. Heat floods my cheeks as I realize we're still on the dance floor, surrounded by other couples.

Charles's eyes have gone dark, intense. Without a word, he takes my hand and leads me through the crowd. My pulse races as we weave between dancers, his fingers intertwined with mine.

The cool night air hits my flushed skin as we step outside. The limo idles at the curb, door already open. Charles guides me inside with a gentle hand at the small of my back.

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