Page 54 of Fraud
We began dancing again, and he pulled me in close for a slow song.
“I don’t mind,” he replied. “What happened is the same thing that happens to so many other couples. We grew apart. What had brought us together in the beginning—that spark—it died. We didn’t nurture what we had, didn’t take care of it, you know? And, eventually, we looked around and realized, there was nothing left to save.”
“I’m so sorry, Brian.”
He shrugged, his thumb moving over my own. “It’s okay really. We’re still friends. We were able to part amicably, and at least we did so before we had any children involved.”
I nodded, unsure of what else to say.
“I’d like to take you out for dinner, if you’d let me?”
My breath caught in my lungs as I looked up at him. “What?”
“Dinner.” He laughed. “Just the two of us? It will give us a chance to catch up. Properly.”
My mouth opened to respond, but nothing came out.
What should I say?
I was on a date with another man. I was dating another man.
Since when did problems like this happen to me?
“May I cut in?”
As if my night could get any stranger, there was Killian.
On the dance floor, asking me to dance.
Is it a full moon?
Had I switched bodies with a hot model? Because men did not fight over Katelyn O’Malley. Ever.
I watched as the two men sized each other up. A lot of eye contact with nonverbal communication was going on. Whatever transpired, Killian obviously had the upper hand because Brian sidestepped, allowing him to take his place.
“I’ve got to get back to my table anyway. Kate, I’ll give you a call later.”
“Um, okay,” I replied, still slightly dazed as Killian’s arm wrapped around me.
He didn’t try any fancy twirls or spins. He stuck to the basic steps, moving from side to side, allowing me to feel the gentle sway of our bodies.
“You’re dancing,” I said, a hint of amusement in my tone.
“Yep. Better go take care of any unfinished business. The end of the world is coming,” he said drily, causing me to laugh instantly.
“You’re not that bad.”
“But I’m not that good either.”
“How much alcohol did it take to get you out here?” I asked, looking up at his handsome face.
My fingers wrapped around his broad shoulder as he held me tightly.
“A couple of shots of tequila,” he admitted. “And several minutes of watching that douche bag with his hands all over you.”
“He’s just a friend.”
“Does he know that?” Killian questioned as the music changed to something more upbeat.
