Page 10 of Curves of Steel

That earns me another bell-like laugh. “You and me both. In fact,” she tilts her head as if she’s thinking hard, “I’m not sure I was everinthe dating game to begin with.”

I chuckle. “I know exactly what you mean.”

That seems to soften her. She links her elbow through mine, bumping me with her shoulder. I inhale her scent and am delighted to discover she doesn’t smell much different from the wildflowers I brought — rich, wild, and just right.

“I think,” she says, her smile finally reaching her eyes, “we’re going to get along fine. Now,” she tugs me toward the field of the elementary school playground, “how about that movie?”

Digging in my back pocket, I come up with two tickets. “I’ve got admission for two right here.”

“Remind me what we’re seeing?” Michelle asks as I lead her to a place for her to unfurl the picnic blanket she said she’d bring.

I decide to go for it.

“No idea,” I answer with all the feeling I can muster. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re the main attraction.”

“Oh,” she says with a fluttering, surprised laugh. “That’s kind of you to say.”

I pause, drawing her to a halt with me so that she’s forced to look me in the eyes. “I’m not just saying it. I mean it. You’re exquisite, and interesting, and you seem smart as hell. I feel so damned lucky to be here, and to get to know you.”

Michelle blushes a deeper shade of pink. I curl my fingers into fists to stop myself from cradling her flushed cheek. Does she really not know how wonderful she is?

Maybe I can help make her see it.

“Come on,” she says at last, cheeks dark pink. “I see a spot we can camp for the movie.”

I nod. “Lead the way.”

I let Michelle tug me to a grassy spot in the middle of the field, but toward the back of the movie audience.

“This okay?” she asks.

I nod again, refraining from saying what I feel — I’d follow her just about anywhere.

Michelle

Dan Dorsay isn’t anything like what I expect — in a good way.

I thought he’d be full of himself, cocky as fuck, and making it obvious that he was only here as a favor to me, not because he really wanted to.

Is that a dismal expectation? Okay, yeah, probably.

But it’s what I’d come to expect from my ex-lover and ex-skating partner Donny. He was never excited about anything we did together, or anything I was interested in on my own.

In hindsight, I guess those were red flags.

But I was young and inexperienced. I know better now, I reassure my flaring fears as I unfurl my picnic blanket on the grass for me and Dan to share. I’m way better at telling when a guy is suspicious now.

Right?

God, I hope so.

Because Dan? I’m already finding him attractive.

Like,reallyattractive.

He’d seemed nice enough on Curve Connection. But I didn’t expect how I’d feel an almost visceral tug in my middle when I laid eyes on him for the first time, like there’s a physical cord pulling us together.

Like we’re meant to be together.

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