Page 77 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

And I really didn't want it to end.

I sighed with contentment. The music changed into another slow song and I secretly thanked the universe for allowing me more dancing time with Clara. Her heart was beating against my lower chest. I felt it catch rhythm with mine and I soared, knowing that our bodies were syncing together.

But another rhythm caught me off guard—that of my phone buzzing ceaselessly in my pocket.

I ignored it. Surely, it was my boss, but he could wait a night if he needed something done. I was sure it was about the Canada trip—the one he wanted me to skip my sister's wedding for—but I didn't want to hear about it. I didn't want to deal with it.

I was having the time of my life. Work could wait. And it was the first I had ever had such a thought. It seemed like returning to Oklahoma had changed something inside of me. I wasn't sure what it was, but I wasn't complaining either.

Work was what initially broke Clara and I apart. If I answered now, she would see that I hadn't made any changes to my behavior. She would see that I was the same jerk who had chosen business over happiness, work over her.

And I wasn't about to do that again.

I reached into my pocket and silenced my phone.

“Wow,” she whispered. “Are you sure you're not going to answer that?”

“It's not important.”

“I've never heard you say that before.”

I shrugged. “People can change.”

“I'm surprised.”

“Well, get used to it.”

“Being surprised?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, there's plenty of that going around, right?”

“I can't wait to tell Jen that you ignored a phone call for me.”

“Hey, who said that was for you? You're keeping me warm on the dance floor. I didn't want to get cold by pulling away.”

“Yeah, sure. That makessomuch sense.”

I chuckled. “I'm all about being practical.”

“Yeah,practicallyannoying.”

I broke out into a hearty laugh and she joined me, shoving me playfully like she used to in the past. I took her hand and tugged her over to a table. When we sat down to rest, I let my hand linger in the center of the table near hers. She placed her hand over mine.

Just like before, I thought hopefully.And I hope it stays that way.

CHAPTER20

Clara

After Levonand I finished dancing, we broke away from each other to talk to other people. I was mingling with the bridesmaids for a while but kept stealing glances at him, wondering when he was going to return to my side.

“Who are you looking for?”

I stared blankly at Victoria who had asked me the question. After a minute, I blinked away my expression and shrugged. “Just wondering where the bride went.”

“I think she went to the bathroom with a few other girls.”

“Cool.”

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