Page 15 of Serve and Protect
I realize I’m still staring at his hand.
He gives me a gentle smile. “Come on. It’s not right that the prettiest girl in the place is sitting this one out.”
I think about all those dances he asked me to when we were in school. All the times I told himno. But, I never told anyone elseyes. Instead, I stayed home and watched TV with my grandparents. I didn’t say no to him because I didn’t want him. I was trying to protect him from all the bullying that came my way.
I rarely dance, so why is he asking me now?
He squeezes my hand gently. “There’s nothing wrong with friends dancing, is there? Look at Maya and Travis.”
I’m too old to have butterflies in my belly just because a cute boy asks me to dance, so I ignore them and chalk the sensation up to the little bit of alcohol I’ve had tonight. I nod and try to sound nonchalant. “Sure, okay.”
The next minute, I’m on my feet, and he’s leading me to the dance floor.
It’s a Friday night, so of course the tavern is crowded with both locals and tourists, like Aria and her friend. That means the dance floor is packed. Chris pulls me close and settles one hand on my waist. His other hand holds mine. Not knowing where to place my other hand, I end up resting it on his broad shoulder. That seems like the safest option. Around his neck would feel too intimate.
We’re standing only inches apart when he starts to move.
“It’s busy tonight,” he says as he scans the dance floor.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
We sway easily to the slow song, Chris moving us effortlessly. I feel his shoulder muscles flex as we change direction. He’s taller than I am, so I end up staring at the strong column of his throat. His skin is tanned from exposure, and I see a hint of dark chest hair.
His Adam’s apple moves as he talks. “I heard the big news.”
“What?” I force myself to focus on what he’s saying.
“Maggie and Owen, expecting again. Owen is thrilled. It’s all he can talk about tonight. He wants Claire to have a sibling close to her own age. Maggie’s boys love her, but they’re practically adults, and Claire’s still a baby.”
I nod. “Maggie’s happy, too. I think she’s genuinely surprised she was able to conceive.”
“I don’t think forty-three is that old to be having a baby, is it?”
I’m not sure how to answer. I really wouldn’t know. My mom was just twenty when she got pregnant with me.
I glance at Chris and find him watching me, and suddenly I’m hyper aware of the fact his arm is around me. We’re standing close enough that I can feel the heat of his body and smell his scent—a mix of man, faint cologne, and fresh laundry. My belly quivers in response, and I want so much more.
The hair tucked behind my ear falls forward into my face, and Chris reaches out to fix it. Automatically, I flinch and pull away, out of his reach.
He frowns, obviously confused. “Jennie? What’s wrong?”
Embarrassed by my knee-jerk reaction, I freeze. It’s beenyears. Surely, I’d stop reacting to every little thing.
My heart lodges in my throat. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing.” But I feel stupid. I thought I was past this. But sometimes the memories return unexpectedly, and like a tsunami, they are wild and beyond my control.
“Excuse me. I need to—” I take a few steps back until I reach the edge of the dance floor before I turn and head for the ladies room so I can hide my shame in private.
Even after all these years, David still impacts my life like a malignant shadow that won’t go away.
Chapter 6 – Chris
I stand rooted to the spot as I watch Jennie disappear down the back hallway. It leads to the restrooms, as well as out the back door. I have no idea what just happened. All I did was reach out to tuck her hair behind her ear, and she flinched like she thought I was going to hit her.
What in the hell? I know a fucking red flag when I see one.
I move quickly, heading down the hall hoping to catch her, but the hallway is empty. She’s either in the women’s restroom, or she actually made it out the back door into the dark of night. I certainly hope it’s not the latter. It’s not safe for a woman to walk home alone in the dark.
My pulse starts pounding at the idea of Jennie being outside on her own, especially in the frame of mind she’s in right now.
