Page 27 of Endurance

“I suppose you’re right,” he said.

“About what?”

“About us. It was rather presumptuous of me to kiss you like I did. Allow me to start over by properly introducing myself.” Taking my hand, he brought it to his mouth and brushed his lips softly over my knuckles. Warmth spread throughout my body. “My name is Sloan Atwood, the audacious asshole who ravaged you without permission on his doorstep.”

While his words were teasing, his gaze was intense. Energy crackled in the air, and I felt mesmerized by the sea-blue irises of his eyes. Unfortunately, the spell broke all too soon when the sound of a band began to play. I blinked to reclaim my focus, pulled my hand away, and looked up toward the street. A beachfront restaurant not far from the sushi place where we’d just had dinner had suddenly come to life. Twinkle lights crisscrossed above the patio like electric spaghetti, illuminating the guests circling on the dance floor. In the middle of the group there was no mistaking the white ball gown of a bride. She was in the arms of her groom, moving together to a smooth yet powerful stream of strumming guitar strings. A moment later, the lead singer began to sing a cover of “Marry Me” by Train.

“It’s their first dance,” I murmured.

Sloan followed my gaze. “That song is so cliché,” he said.

Turning away from the dancing couple, I looked quizzically at Sloan. “I like that song. How is it cliché?”

“Just listen to the lyrics. They are cheesy as all hell.”

I pressed my lips together and looked back at the couple. “I don’t think so. Those lyrics were born out of somebody’s experience. You can’t write words like that without having felt them. It’s about love and romance and dreams coming true.”

“Nah, I don’t buy it. Love songs are just a hoax designed to play on people’s fantasies. It’s all garbage. Romance and dreams are for fools.”

I shook my head at his statement, unable to look away from the couple as they danced.

“Dreams aren’t garbage—they define every one of our unforgettable moments. Everyone has them, and I’m sure you’ve had thousands. Those were all dreams that came true.”

Sloan stayed quiet, and I wondered what he was thinking. Turning to face him, I saw that he wasn’t watching the couple as I had been, but instead was looking out at the ocean.

“More often than not, my dreams turn into nightmares,” he said quietly. His tone was so hushed, and I wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or me. If Rylee hadn’t told me more about his past, I might not have understood the full implication of his statement—but I did, and my heart broke for him. Reaching out, I placed a gentle hand on his arm.

“Fate may have put you on a different path, but you owe it to yourself to forge ahead and make new extraordinary moments. Just look at where we are right now. The beach, the people, the sunset… this could be an unforgettable and extraordinary moment if you allow it to be.”

He looked down into my eyes, his gaze penetrating. “I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier in the restaurant, Kallie.”

I smiled. “It’s okay. I forgive you.”

Casting his gaze down to my extended arm, he raised a hand to run a finger over my shoulder, tracing the lines of my tattoo.

“What does this say?” he asked.

I automatically looked down at my exposed shoulder to where the tattooed stars and words swirled to disappear behind me. I angled my body so he could see the entire thing.

“It says, ‘Loving in the moment is something luminous.’ It’s a song lyric by Alice and the Glass Lake.”

“From what I know about you, it seems fitting. I… Kallie…” He hesitated and swiped a frustrated hand through his hair. He looked truly aggravated. For what reason, I had no idea. His eyes flashed with something unfamiliar before he turned my body until we were standing toe-to-toe. Heat clouded his expression, and my heart began to race. For a moment, I thought he was going to try to kiss me again, but then he spoke. “Ah, screw the rules and whatever you think about the level of appropriateness. Dance with me.”

That was the last thing I expected him to say, and I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled from my lips.

“What?”

“You heard me. I said dance with me.”

Without giving me a chance to respond, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him. Enveloped in his scent, I couldn’t think straight. Before I knew it, he coaxed me into a gentle sway.

The slow melody changed only a short moment later when the band kicked it up with a cover of “I Want You To Want Me” by Cheap Trick. However, Sloan didn’t increase his movements to match the tune. Instead, he continued to rock slowly, entirely out of sync with the music.

Then, to my astonishment, he began to sing.

It was quiet at first, almost a hum, until he began to form the words. I was completely enthralled—and not because of the quality of his voice. It was because of the way he said the actual words. It was as if he was trying to send me a message I knew I shouldn’t want to hear. I half wondered if I was making more out of this moment than what it really was—as if I were fantasizing about the idea of sharing uninhibited passion with this man rather than acknowledging my reality. And the fact of the matter was, I barely knew Sloan. I was solely here to do a job.

I understood passion and chemistry could be like living, breathing things. When two people were cosmically compatible, one’s existence could light up in life-altering ways. I believed destiny was written in the stars, and when the stars were perfectly aligned, things could seamlessly fall into place.

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