Page 29 of Between Now and Forever

A bark of surprised laughter bursts from her lips. Her eyes come to mine, but then she looks away again as soon as our gazes lock. She looks back at them.

Her brow knits together and she purses her lips.

“That’sexactlyhow I feel.” Her voice is hollow and I get a knot of apprehension in my gut.

“Did something happen?”

Her expression is at once amused and anguished.

“Do you ever get a feeling that you were born in the wrong place?” she asks softly.

It’s a startlingly personal question. It's so on target it's scary, considering my thoughts earlier about playing the piano.

Her eyes are clear and intent on mine and full of expectation. Like she expects me to be just as candid with her.

Intimacy with perfect strangers, no matter how compelling isn’t something I can manage. Unless of course, I’m playing the piano for them – there’s nothing more intimate than that for me.

I take stock of the woman in front of me and make a quick assessment. She’s clearly having a shitty night. Maybe she just wants someone to listen and I’ve been there. And as long as she does most of the talking, I’ll be fine.

So, I answer her question, but not as honestly as she asked it.

“I’ve felt that way before. But, right now, I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.” I meant it to sound like a pickup line, but as it leaves my lips, it feels like the honest-to-God truth.

She cocks her head, her expression confused.

“Are you…flirting with me?”

I nod, amused by the look of surprise on her face. I’m sure she’s been hit on all night. “Although, if you have to ask, I’m clearly doing it wrong.” I grin deprecatingly.

She doesn’t smile back.

“Why?” She folds her arms across her chest, her bright blue eyes are full of wariness.

It’s my turn to look confused. “Is there more than one reason a guy flirts with a girl?”

“No one put you up to coming over here?” she demands, biting her lip and glancing over at her friends again.

What the fuck?

“No. I saw you dancing, and I walked over here because you’ve got a hot body and an epically pretty face. I asked you to dance because I wanted a reason to touch you without having to ask.”

Her pink lips part in surprise, but there’s curiosity and a glint of innocence that can’t be real. Not on a girl who looks like that…but it’s charming as fuck.

God, I could look at her all night.

She swallows audibly and licks her lips. Oh, there’s nothing confusing about that. I knowexactlywhat that means.

I take a step toward her.

"Why did you want to touch me?” She asks, her eyes wide and gleaming in the firelight.

Nope. No confusion at all.

“I wanted to know if your skin is as soft as it looks.”

I reach out and trail a finger down her bare shoulder.

“Oh yeah, even softer.”

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