Page 22 of Bad Habit
“You’ve already thanked me a hundred times, Faith. Just enjoy yourself. This night’s for you.” He winked. “And I’ve got another surprise later.”
“I think I need to…” I glanced around the room.
Mac stood and then pulled out my chair as I rose. “Ladies’ room is in the corner.”
He’d guessed what I needed, which was a little embarrassing, and my head felt fuzzy. I swayed.
“You okay?” He put a hand lightly on my hip, barely touching. “Can I walk you over?”
“I’m okay. I just rose too quickly.” I stepped out and he gave way, moving back just enough to give me room, but close enough that he could catch me if I fell.
Mac was such a gentleman, except that I was no longer sure I wanted him to be a gentleman. What if he didn’t even kiss me at the end of the night? Would I then go my whole life without ever being kissed?
“You sure you’re okay to walk? Those mai tais were strong.” He helped me to the two steps that separated our area of the dining room from the rest, then stepped down and held out his hand to guide me.
I looked into his kind green eyes, now closer to level with mine, hoping he’d see what I wanted. That I wanted him to kiss me. I’d asked him to ask me out. Maybe I should ask him to kiss me?
“Ready to tackle the stairs?” He took my hand lightly.
Cheeks flaming, I nodded, and then he helped me down the stairs. He was still standing at the base of the stairs, his gaze on me, when I turned into the short hallway.
Walking drunk was easier than I’d expected, and I felt like I was floating, my whole body buzzing and warm from the mai tais, or the company, or both.
After using the facilities, I stared at my face in the mirror and touched my lips. I barely recognized myself. The pale pink lipstick Sister Henry had insisted I wear was long gone, but my lips seemed cherry red against the pale skin around them and matched the flushed skin higher on my cheeks. My eyelashes were a million times more visible than normal, dark black instead of their normal blond, and it made my eyes seem even bluer. Or maybe that was the dress. The mascara had smeared a bit under my lower lashes, but I didn’t attempt to fix it. I liked how it looked. It made me look wild.
And speaking of wild, it was so unusual to see my hair—down and loose. The only time my hair was ever down was when I brushed it. I didn’t even sleep with it down. Mother said that was the road to tangles. With Mother, most things were on the road to something bad, but she was right about the tangles.
I ran my fingers over my hair, and it was like I was feeling it for the very first time. So soft.
I used to long for curls, or at least waves, but envy is a sin, and at that moment I realized that my straight, fine hair had its virtues. But… admiring my hair was a sin, too.
Smiling at my reflection, I shook my head and wagged my finger. Tonight was not the night to count up my sins. I’d deal with confessions and atonements tomorrow. Tonight was about having fun.
Feeling wicked, I made my way back to the table. Mac jumped up and helped me up the stairs, holding my hand lightly in his, and then he pulled out my chair.
My coconut was gone. Even though it had been empty, I missed it. Was it rude to ask for another?
“Would you like dessert?” Mac asked. “They do a great rum cake.”
“I’m so full.” I pressed my hand to my stomach. “But… does a mai tai have rum?”
He chuckled. “As a matter of fact, it does, but how about we dance before getting another drink?”
“Oh, I don’t know how to dance.” I glanced over my shoulder to the dance floor, where couples had been gyrating and moving in ways I couldn’t even imagine my body performing.
He stood and crossed to my chair. “I’m no dancer, either, but it’s a slow song, and I think dancing is a mandatory part of a standard date. Let’s muddle through it together?”
I smiled up at him, marveling at how comfortable he made me feel in situations where I should feel uncomfortable. He pulled out my chair, and then with his hand softly on my back, he shepherded me to the dance floor.
Once we arrived, he guided my hands to his shoulders and then set his lightly at my waist. “This okay?” he asked, looking down at me, and I nodded.
Not sure where to look, I glanced at the other couples. Even the elderly ones were in tighter embraces than Mac and me. And then there were the younger ones… The young couple to our left pressed their midsections together, arching into each other, and I now understand why Mother said dancing was a sin. I could see how it might lead to—to other things. Things I was feeling very curious about at the moment.
The positions of the couple was so indecent, bodies touching, rubbing together, that I had to look away, focusing instead on Mac’s throat where the top two buttons of his pale gray shirt sat open.
My whole body was flushed, and a stab of lust tightened the place between my legs.
“Having fun?”
