Page 33 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“Where have you performed?”

The questions came thick and fast.

Nathan leaned closer to her, making her skin tingle. “Told you so,” he whispered into her ear.

* * *

Three hours later and everyone had eaten. Jessica was stuffed full of king prawns, roasted vegetables and salad. The drinks had been flowing so well that people were now dancing. The group Jessica and Nathan had been part of had gradually gone to join the makeshift dance floor on the patio until only the two of them remained.

“Go and dance if you want to,” said Jessica. “I’ll be fine here by myself.”

The song finished, and another slower one started.

“Dance with me,” Nathan said.

Jessica stuck her plastered foot out to remind him of her predicament.

“You can just sway,” he said, offering her his hand.

Jessica found herself putting her hand in his. She stood up and Nathan swept her into his arms.

“Oh...” Her memory of him carrying her before had been right. It had been a very nice experience.

Nathan walked with her into the centre of the dance floor and placed Jessica down carefully.

“Wow.” Jessica gulped. “A girl could get used to this kind of treatment.”

Her eyes met his. His gaze was intense, his dark pupils dilated.

She reached up and put her hands around Nathan’s neck. She felt his hands on her waist and rested her head on his chest. Maybe she shouldn’t have had the couple of beers she’d been enjoying during the evening. Should she break away? She could say her foot was hurting. That would be the perfect excuse to stop whatever it was they were doing here.

They moved in silence together, their bodies as close as it was possible to get them.

Nathan bent his head down. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

This was her chance to break away without anyone’s feelings being hurt. They could just pretend nothing had happened. He knew she loved to dance, and had presumably thought she might like to try to join in with everyone else. It was a friendly thing to offer, but she could claim it had made her foot ache, and so had to be abandoned. No big deal.

Instead, Jessica nodded. She lifted her head and her eyes met Nathan’s again. And suddenly his lips were on hers. Achingly gentle, tentatively exploring. He tightened his hold as she gave into her desire for him and their kiss deepened.

Then the song stopped and Pink’s “Get the Party Started” began playing and their moment was over. Someone bumped into Jessica and apologised. Nathan steadied her.

Jessica reluctantly broke apart from him.

“I think I’d better sit this one out,” she said. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.

She half expected Nathan to pick her up again, but he didn’t, though he did offer her his arm to aid her in hobbling back to her chair.

What had she been thinking kissing Nathan? She was going back to New York in a week and a half, and she certainly didn’t want a relationship — she didn’t have time for a relationship for one thing, even if there wasn’t going to be an ocean separating them soon! And in front of all those people! That wasn’t like her at all. What had come over her? Was she drunk? No, she’d only had two small beers, though she did feel rather light-headed now.

She had to admit, it had been a lovely kiss. She’d never been kissed like that before, with that intensity, so she felt it throughout her whole body. But that didn’t matter. Nothing could come of it. And they would both get hurt if they started something there couldn’t possibly be any future in.

Thankfully, Nathan was called over to speak to someone on the other side of the garden, giving Jessica a chance to collect her thoughts.

She really valued her friendship with Nathan, and she didn’t want to ruin that.

She looked over at him talking to his friend. He laughed and glanced over at her. She managed to give him a little smile in return. He was so good to her, so kind and thoughtful. He’d be an amazing boyfriend, though not for her. Why on earth had she gone and spoilt everything?

Another man had joined in the conversation with Nathan and his friend. Seizing her opportunity, Jessica grabbed her crutches and put her cross-body bag over herself. As quickly and unobtrusively as possible, she snuck into the house. The kitchen was empty. Checking over her shoulder that Nathan hadn’t spotted her, she made her way along the hall and out of the front door onto the street.

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