Page 72 of The Love Dare
“Somewhere else in Europe,” Harper says, still scanning the room. She curls her lip in a silent sneer, like a human guard dog, and turns to them with her full attention. “That’s where they usually go, right?”
“Last year, they went to England, France, and Italy, those lucky bitches,” Cynthia adds with a laugh. “But hey, who am I to talk? Getting to Iceland is even more than I ever expected. I’m happy anywhere.”
“Maybe we’ll go to…” Harper trails off, thinking. “I don’t know, Greece?”
“Ooh, or maybe Germany?” Charlotte’s curls bounce. “I’ve been dying to go to one of those Christmas shops. They always pop up on my Instagram feed.”
“Char.” Cynthia turns on her with a look. “It’s the middle of summer.”
Charlotte shrugs. “Haven’t you ever heard of Christmas in July?”
“Hey.” Harper nudges Winnie’s hip, as if sensing she’s stuck in her own head. “Maybe we’ll go to Romania.”
Winnie smiles, trying to snap out of it. “If we do, I’m forcing you guys to try some papanasi. They’re these Romanian doughnuts covered in sour cream and jam. So freaking tasty. My mom makes them at home, but even hers aren’t as good as the ones the locals make.”
“You have family there, right?” Charlotte asks.
Winnie nods. “My whole extended family still lives there.”
“Do you visit a lot?” The longing in Cynthia’s tone is clear. She’s mentioned before that all her relatives are pretty much in her same small town.
“We used to go every summer, and I still try to go once a year if I can, but?—”
Winnie breaks off as all the air sucks out of the room. Everyone’s head turns at once, because that’s just the sort of presence Tyler has, whether he realizes it or not. And he clearly doesn’t, as he charges hurriedly through the door, oblivious to the numerous sets of eyes studying his every move. He only cares about one, it seems. His gaze fastens steadily on her. Winnie swallows as he approaches. Tyler lifts his muscular, suit-clad arm and sweeps his blond hair off his forehead. He clenches his strong jaw, offering her a look so heated thighs all across the room must clench too, hers included. Her friends subtly back away to give them space. His blue eyes pin her to the spot. She doesn’t even realize what he’s holding until he’s standing directly in front of her, his hand open in offering.
A golden puzzle piece sits in the center of his palm.
“Tyler, what?”
“I couldn’t stand the thought of you spending this whole party wondering, so can you just turn around and let me put this on so everyone in this fucking place will know exactly how I feel?”
Before she can respond, Nina cuts in from the doorway. “We need that again—without the language this time, Tyler. We’re on cable. Remember?”
His nostrils flare.
A smile pulls at Winnie’s cheeks.
He takes a deep breath, straightens his shoulders, and says, in a much less grumpy tone, “Winnie, will you accept this puzzle piece?”
It’s a struggle to keep the laugh out of her voice. “Of course.”
Her hair is already swept up in a styled bun thanks to Harper’s skills, so she just turns around and offers him her neck. He reaches around her and arranges the pendant over her collarbone before securing the clasp. His fingertips rest against her skin for a moment too long, eliciting a shiver. As if he can’t help it, he traces the movement, trailing a path down her spine, his touch molten through the rose-gold silk of her gown. Soft lips find the sensitive spot where her neck meets her shoulder, pressing once, then twice, his kisses like a promise of things to come. Jealous stares slice at her from all sides, so she spins in search of a more friendly view—him.
“Just so you know,” she murmurs, fingering the puzzle piece nestled over her heart, “I wouldn’t have spent the whole party wondering.”
The left corner of his lips lifts in a half-grin. “Maybe I just wanted an excuse to touch you.”
“You don’t need one of those either.”
He settles his hands on her hips and steps closer, brushing his thumbs across the silk. “You look unbelievable.”
Thank you, Sam, she thinks, remembering how her roommate shoved this dress into her arms at the last minute. It’s a little bolder than her usual style, a curve-hugging slip dress, nearly nude with just a hint of metallic pink, leaving no room tohide. These days, though, it’s becoming harder to find a reason to shy away.
Just as Winnie is about to lift her arms around his neck to finish the embrace, Nina interrupts. “Tyler!”
“What?” he asks, not bothering to turn his face.
“It’s time for the welcome speech.”
