Page 93 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

Mesmerized, I felt my head bob up and down. “Yes, please.”

“So polite,” he said, dipping his head a bit. “May I confess something, Roxy?” He watched intently as I nodded again and took several shallow breaths while forcing my feet to keep moving. “My thoughts right now aren’t so polite,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I swallowed hard as I felt him tug me closer, ever so slowly. “Well, that’s … I guess that’s OK.”

He chuckled softly. “So it won’t surprise you if I kiss you at midnight?”

I stared up at this man, shock coursing through me along with … something else. My field of vision had narrowed to him. Him alone. “Yes,” I heard myself say in a breathy tone that sounded nothing like me. “I mean, no. It won’t surprise me.”

His eyes were nearly as dark as his suit now as he smiled briefly and looked down at my mouth. “Or how about now?”

“Now? In front of—people?” I had a fleeting thought about Danny arriving and seeing me with Jeff.But he was running late anyway, I reminded myself as my heart pounded in my chest.

Jeff’s shoulders lifted as he smiled faintly. “It’s only me and you. Let the rest fall away.”

All thought suspended, I felt my mouth form a smile. “I already have—” I started to whisper. And then he was leaning forward, and I forgot whatever I wanted to say.

His lips lightly brushed my forehead first and then my temple before descending to my lips. His mouth moved over mine, feather-light at first. The flutter gave way to a soft, warm pressure that I hoped would never end.

It was probably half a minute at most, but it felt like half a lifetime.I wasmeantto kiss this man,I thought hazily.

But far too quickly, he pulled back, his hands slowly falling away from my cheeks and landing on my shoulders for a moment before resuming their former position as his feet started sweeping the floor again.

I hadn’t even realized we’d stopped dancing.

As he whirled me around the room again, I realized the song was no longer a slow one, but we still danced close, taking slow steps around the other dancers.

Still buzzing with sensation from head to toe, I murmured, “That was … I don’t even have words.”

He flashed a wide smile that looked so odd on him but also soright. Our eyes remained locked. “I like you too, Roxy.”

I swallowed and struggled to regain my senses. “I—I always thought you hated me. But lately, everything I thought I knew …” I shook my head. “Whoareyou?”

The lingering smile faded, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. “It’s the opposite of hate, Roxy.” And then he pulled me close and whispered into my ear, “I’m already half in love with you, Mindy.”

My heart raced at his words. The kind of words I never thought I’d hear from a man. The words I never thought a man wouldwantto say to me. I held my breath, studying his earnest face.

Wait.

I froze, the room suddenly starting to spin.

Had he called meMindy?

I retreated and looked up, searching his face for answers. I might have imagined it. I must have. “Wha–what did you call me, Jeff?”

His eyes were unreadable but never veered from mine. “Mindy,” he said softly.

My body was immobile except for my hands falling away from his shoulders. My mouth moved but refused to produce any words as my pulse jumped and breathing became more difficult.

I knew the answer already.

Iknew.

But I heard myself asking, “Why—why are youcalling me that?”

He breathed deeply, still staring into my eyes but not smiling. “Mindy, it’s me.”

“Danny?” I whispered so softly he couldn’t have heard me, but he could read it on my lips.

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