Page 4 of Burning Escape

“So maybe you could help me out?” she asked him.

“Of course. How?” He looked so sincere.

“Like this.” She faced him and lightly looped her arms around his shoulders. They were nice shoulders. He wasn’t big and bulky, but he was definitely fit, maybe worked out, the way his biceps bulged in the dark-blue T-shirt and flannel he wore.

He cleared his throat and dropped his head, spoke in her ear. “I, uh, I…don’t really know how to dance.”

How refreshing to find a guy who could admit hecouldn’tdo something. His eyes were honest and true. And that slight flush to his cheeks only made the blue-green flecks stand out.

“That’s all right. Just follow my lead.” She placed his hands on her hips, where his light touch warmed her through.

“Yes, ma’am.” He swallowed, looked her in the eye, and gave her a bit of a shy smile.

Oh, she could fall for this one. Sweet and polite. And he did, in fact, follow her lead as they swayed to the crooning from the stage with a soulful fiddle accompaniment. The kind of song made for luring people to fall in love.

But it was only for tonight. So no danger of that.

She moved a little closer to him, the solidness and heat drawing her in, a hint of amber and sandalwood wrapping her in a sweet embrace. “You’re doing great, Montana. Who said you can’t dance?”

“No one. I haven’t done it before.”

“Shall we take it up a notch?”

His eyebrow quirked up in a question. “Are you flirting with me?”

She chuckled. His honest question and lack of guile was refreshing. “Wow, you really don’t get out much, do you?”

He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “That obvious, huh?”

“Here. Hold tight to my hand. I’m gonna spin out, and then you lightly pull me back in. Nothing to it.”

“I think I can handle that.”

And he did. She twirled out, her hair dancing on the cool breeze with his strong grip anchoring her. A slight tug and she spun back into his arms, rested her hand on his chest, her fingers hitting his well-defined pectorals.

He definitely worked out.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” she asked.

A slow, lazy grin emerged on his face. “Not at all.”

They danced to the next slow song, Tori tucking herself against him. The crisp spring breezes swirled through the crowd but didn’t cool the air between them. The song drew to a close, the last notes floating away into the soft light of Alaskan twilight. The lead singer announced the band was going to take a little break before coming back.

“Could I…buy you a drink? Or a meal if you like?” He looked at her directly, a hint of vulnerability there. Not weakness by any means, but a hope that—dang—she wanted to realize for him. Looking around, she saw her friends Evie and Lucy talking with a couple of guys they knew.

Well, shewashungry. And it was heronenight, so, “Sure, but why don’t we get a snack to go. There’s a great park by the river where we can eat.” And with plenty of tourists out and about, she didn’t have to worry about being too secluded.

She was rewarded with a handsome smile. They put in a to-go order for ribs and onion rings.

While waiting for their food, someone tapped Tori on the shoulder. She turned to find one of her regulars from work.

“Hey, Damian.” He looked different in jeans and a fitted shirt that showed off all his hard work at the gym. Tall and lean with dark-blond hair cut short and stylish, he had a cute brunette on his arm.

“Hey, Tori. This is my friend Amber. I was just telling her what a great trainer you are and that she should ask for you at the gym.”

“Aw, that’s sweet. I’m going to be gone for the summer though. But for sure come see me this fall when I’m back.”

“I’ll do that.” Amber smiled. Damian started to ask something else, but Montana was paying for their food. Tori quickly said goodbye and turned back to the bar.

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