Page 32 of The Charm of You

The fucking tool works at the bank his father owns. To put it lightly, Richie doesn’t have a lick of sense and doesn’t know his ass from his forehead. He’s a far cry from his father.

Caroline would pick him to dance with.

“You should cut in.” Addie nudges me. “In the name of giving her a chance and all.”

My ears ring as reluctance courses through my boiling blood. “As long as you dance with the buffoon.”

She scoffs. “He’ll know I’m up to something if I do that. I need to start with something smaller, like distracting him with a candy bar.”

With our ridiculous missions in place, we split off into different directions. While she trudges toward her enemy at a snail’s pace, I maneuver through the other couples slow dancing until I reach Caroline.

“May I?” I bore my gaze into Richie, and the sly glimmer in his eye quickly vanishes.

I effortlessly take his place and wrap my arm around Caroline’s waist until my fingers splay across her lower back. The tip of my thumb grazes the velvety material of her short skirt as we sway to the soft melody. The current karaoke singer actually has some real damn talent. It’s probably why so many people are out here dancing right now.

Caroline smooths her palms over my chest, reaching them higher until she clasps her fingers behind my head. Electricity hums through me as I share the same air as her.

We slowly spin a full circle before she speaks up, her breath hot against my skin. It does weird fucking things to me, and I nearly lose myself to this trance she naturally puts me in. How does she still manage to have this stupid hold on me?

“Why are you dancing with me?” she asks, her voice low.

I grunt. “Addie thinks I should be nicer to you.”

“This is just a favor to her, then?”

I pull her flush against me, which earns me a delicate gasp. If I weren’t this close to her, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of hearing it. “I never do things I don’t want to do.”

Her lips part as we move together.

“Besides, Richie’s an asshole. If you’re going to dance with an asshole tonight, it might as well be me.”

Caroline leans her head back to peer into my eyes. The light above us hits hers at all the right angles, making the pale blue colors of her irises skip in a hypnotizing dance all her own. “I’m glad you’re finally admitting you’re an ass.”

“My mama’s been going on about the manners she taught me. I suppose I should try them out.”

“Are you trying to tell me you’re sorry for giving me such a hard time this weekend?”

“Just enjoy the song, Homecoming Queen.”

She draws her bottom lip between her teeth like she’s fighting a smile, and I suppress a growl.

She shouldn’t fit so perfectly in my arms.

I shouldn’t enjoy it as much as I do.

And I curse myself for the effect she has on me.

chapter

nine

CAROLINE

Austin’s woodsy cologne is heavenly. It deliciously complements him.

As the karaoke star launches the final chorus, I take one, two, three more whiffs of this growly man like his smell is a treat I’m saving for later.

With the waning notes floating overhead, signaling that the end of this dance is near, I lift my eyes to meet his piercing gaze. “I guess your nice duties are almost over. You can go dance with someone else now. Perhaps the woman you were friendly with a second ago.”

---