Page 34 of Wish You Were Mine

He let me go and jogged over to one of Toby’s friends, who was controlling the music. A new song began to play with a distinctly Latin beat. Blair returned and tugged me toward the other dancers. He demonstrated the first few steps and then repeated them with me.

“You’re really good at this,” I said.

He looked bashful. “It’s a musician thing. We have to have a good sense of rhythm.”

“That doesn’t make it less impressive.”

He pivoted me around and I caught sight of Toby, near the fire pit, mooning over a pretty blonde woman in a short, tight dress. I had to admire her strength. I’d be frozen if I were wearing that outfit.

“Have you seen Toby?” I asked Blair. “He seems to be smitten.”

He pivoted me around again and made a sound of agreement. “New winter fling?”

“I think so.” I sighed. “It seems like he falls in and out of love every other week.”

Blair’s hand grazed my lower back as he prompted me to turn. “Meanwhile you’ve been hung up on the same guy for…how long exactly?”

“Most of my life,” I admitted.

I sought out Asher. He was sitting near the fire pit, with Liam on one side and Zane on the other, but his dark eyes were locked on me. I tore my gaze away, my cheeks blazing.

I noticed Blair looking the same way, and at first, I thought he was studying Asher too, but then he asked, “Does Zane still have a boyfriend.”

I threw my head back and laughed. “You sly guy. No, he’s single. This song is about to end, and Zane loves to dance. Why don’t you ask him for the next one?”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, but then nodded. “You’ll be fine on your own?”

I swatted his arm. “I’m not helpless. I’ll find Bailey, and we can dance together.”

“Okay, then.”

As the music tapered out, Blair and I separated, and he headed toward the fire pit. I scanned my surroundings, looking for the best place to sit for a few minutes until I could locate Bailey. I started moving forward but stopped abruptly when the most gorgeous man alive appeared like a vision in front of me.

Asher’s expression was unreadable, but he held his hand toward me. “Dance with me?”

16

ASHER

My mouth turned dry as I waited for Summer’s response. A muscle in my abdomen quivered and I smoothed my hands down the front of my tidy, black jeans.

Summer tilted her head, her mossy green gaze sharp, and I wondered briefly if she might shoot me down—again. At least this time I wasn’t drunk. But then she placed her delicate hand in mine.

“I’d love to dance with you,” she said softly.

Her eyes searched mine, presumably as she tried to figure out why I was doing this. She wouldn’t find an answer because I didn’t know myself. I’d seen her dancing, looking sexy and sinful in a gold dress that molded to her curves, and before I’d been able to think anything through, I’d found myself by her side, asking for a dance.

I couldn’t look away from her as I drew her closer and began to sway. My free hand skimmed down her back and curved around to rest on the slight swell of her hips.

I wasn’t a bad dancer. I may not know the fancy moves that Blair did, but I could hold my own. As we moved together, all I could think was how much I loved having Summer in my arms. Contentment warmed my insides. She belonged here, and there was no denying I wanted her.

Still, that didn’t mean I could have her.

I was a mess. Overly tired most days, and barely functioning some of the time. Riddled with anxiety—not that I let anybody see it—and driven to cycle myself into exhaustion for the sake of a decent sleep.Completely the opposite of the calm, collected, and responsible man she deserved.

“What brought this on?” Summer asked as the song changed to a slower one.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “You looked beautiful tonight, and I couldn’t stay away.”

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