Page 72 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“You, too,” I said.

And with that, they disappeared into the crowd.

About five seconds later, Colton said, his tone full of disbelief, “Did you actually have a crush on that Ash guy?”

“I did,” I said.

“Why?”

“I was young. He was the cutest boy I’d ever seen.” I shrugged, turning to face him, never once forgetting his hand was still on my waist. “Our mothers were best friends, even gave birth at the same hospital. It seemed like fate.”

“Fate,” Colton scoffed. “Only good girl-hopeless romantics believe in stuff like that.” I narrowed my eyes as he went on. “And cute? More like cocky as hell.”

“Well, at least he can dance,” I said, testing out a theory.

Colton scoffed again. “What he was doing just now? You call that dancing?”

I tilted my head. “Unlike some guys, Ash knows how to move.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah,” I said. “And you sound a little jealous, Colton.”

Colton shook his head, a grin lifting his lips. “I’m not jealous, Sadie. I could dance circles around that guy.”

Hewasjealous. And of Ash of all people. The thought made me want to laugh out loud, but I forced my face to remain blank.

“Yeah?” I said, voice thick with sarcasm. “Prove it then.”

Colton’s eyes flashed as pulled me close. “Fine, I will.”

And boy did he.

Throughout the entire next song, Colton’s hands never left my body. They started out on my waist—which you might’ve thought was innocent enough. But it didn’t feel that way, not with Colton. Big Tim had been my dance partner forever. I couldn’t count the number of times his hands had been in exactly the same place as Colton’s were now.

But the way the boy in front of me gripped the curve of my waist…the way his fingers glided up and down my sides…the delicious pressure as his fingers clenched against my hips…it should’ve been illegal.

I tried not to react, tried to remain indifferent. But the weird thing was our bodies just immediately seemed to sync together. His hips swayed, and mine moved in counterpart. I’d take a step, and Colton was right there with me. Moving with him was as natural as breathing. Though I admit, as he leaned in brushing his cheek against mine, my breath was a bit on the short side.

The feeling of his breath on my neck gave me goosebumps.

And still we moved together like a dream.

“How you doing, Sadie?” he said into my ear as our bodies swayed in perfect harmony. “You’re breathing a little fast there.”

With a swallow, I said, “I thought you said you couldn’t dance.”

He chuckled, the air hitting my neck as he ducked his head.

When Colton leaned back, it was almost worse because now I could see his eyes, and they bore right into mine, seemingly cool and unaffected. I had no idea what mine revealed, but I hoped it wasn’t too much.

“I never said I couldn’t dance,” he said. “I said I don’t. Two completely different things.”

“Apparently,” I muttered.

It was chemistry.

Pure and simple.

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