Page 40 of Rules in Love
“If Scarlett won’t dance with you, I will.” Enter Victoria with the most words I had ever heard her string together. Of course she chose to use them to cut my fucking grass.
Well, not on my watch, lady!
“Actually, I think I will be fine to dance. Let’s go, Finn.”
I snatched that boy’s hand so fast I was a blur. Seeming relieved, Finn tucked my arm into the crook of his elbow and helped me to my feet, then flashed a cheeky grin. “Up, up, and away…. God, that was so corny.”
I’d seen Finn dance before—I should say, attempt to dance. A small office party was held a day or two after he’d arrived, and a pitiful dance floor sprung up in the rear courtyard, right beneath my tree. He had no rhythm or coordination but made up for it all in enthusiasm. So yes, he couldn’t dance….when alone. But as I quickly discovered, you put a woman in a slinky costume in front of him, and he was transformed. Finn knew how to move alright. He just needed a partner…the right partner.
His body moved with mine. His hands cradled the small of my back. His hips rolled in time to the deep, pounding bass. Our eyes, once locked, remained so for the entirety of the song. When the next began, he smiled, sighed in recognition, and held me closer. His hand dropped lower to lay on the rise of my shiny satin ass, and he leaned in, sending shivers up and down my spine.
I basked in the warmth of his breath against the rose of my cheek as he whispered in my ear, “You, to me, are everything. I love this song. My mum and dad used to dance to it in the kitchen. They were so in love, Red.” He hummed to the music and then sang each word in his deep, rich, sexy voice that took my breath away.
I think a glass smashed in the background, or maybe a car drove through the window, taking out several of my innocent co-workers. There was no way to be sure because I refused to look away from the blue eyes that had captured my heart. This dance, him singing, shattered the last of my ideologies. It wasn’t just his body—though, that didn’t hurt. It was all of him. His heart, his humor, his thoughtfulness, his compassion. The way his eyes seemed to shine whenever he spoke of his family and how slowly, piece by piece, he was sharing his beloved memories of them with me. The way I felt desired and safe when I was with him.
If Finn wanted me, he had me.
Voices murmured, people shuffled around us, and I didn’t give a fuck. All I cared about was him firmly gripping my ass.
I brushed my cheek against his and whispered, “Finn.”
“Scarlett.”
“You are very close to me right now.”
“I am.”
“And your hand is on my bum.”
“It is.”
“I like it.”
“Ahem. Excuse me. Can I cut in? I’d love to dance with THE Superman.”
“What? Oh, Victoria.” Of course.
For weeks, that asshole had laid dormant, but she chose that moment to erupt and saturate me in her fucking hot lava. And she was hot. She was gorgeous, in fact, and was making goo-goo eyes at my Finn. But then I remembered. He wasn’t mine, and I had no reason to say no. I also couldn’t scratch out her eyes and drag her outside by the hair like I wanted to.
“Sure, of course.” God, how I hated her.
Finn made a gruff, grunty noise as I moved away that almost sounded like, “Fuck no,” but he let me go all the same. For a beat or two, I stood immobile on the edge of the dance floor. I watched them. I watched her pull him closer, and I watched her lay her head on his chest, and I watched him sigh.
Suddenly, it was really stinking hot in there. Sweat ran between my boobs and would soon begin to drip on the floor. I had to get out.
I left them together, swaying in time to Billy Ocean’s “Love Really Hurts Without You.”
Damn straight, Billy.
Behind the dance floor and restaurant, Asher had set up a small, curtained-off area with a few funky ottomans and beanbags. It smelled of incense and broken hearts and seemed perfect for the moment. I wanted to sit and sulk but wasn’t entirely sure that if I sat in either option, I would be able to get back up. So, I just stood there alone, ridiculous tears filling my eyes, my hands wrapped around my waist, imagining they were his, swaying to the music as though he still held me. I was so wholly gone for this guy.
“Your lasso is slipping.”
“What?” I spun to face my hero, standing before me with a massive smile on his face. His arms were crossed over his chest, his fists sitting under his biceps, pushing the bulging muscle further. He took one look at me, and that smile faded.
“Scarlett. Are… Are you crying?”
“No. No, I just have, um… I ate too much food, had too many Jell-O shots, and have a tummy ache.”What in the holy shit did I say?
