Page 32 of Fix You

“And what exactly do you call what they’ve been doing during the other songs?”

“Some are called jigs while others are reels.”

“Do you hop around?”

With an unattractive snort, I countered, “You mean jig?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Aye, I do.”

Rafe’s dark eyes lit up. “I’d love to see you.”

Mortification filled my cheeks. “No you wouldn’t.”

“Yes, I would,” he implored.

Ducking my head, I argued, “I’m not a good dancer.”

“I doubt that.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Let’s make a deal?”

My eyes bulged. “Y-You want to make a deal? With me?”

He laughed. “It’s nothing indecent, so don’t look so alarmed.”

With a nervous giggle, I replied, “Um, okay.”

“If you will dance a jig for me, I’ll let you try to teach me.”

His request sent my heartbeat thrumming wildly in my chest. “You want to see me dance that much?”

“I do.”

Feeling sassy, I countered, “And the only reward for my efforts is to see you make a fool out of yourself?”

He grinned. “Isn’t that enough?”

Inwardly, I shook my head. A truly outrageous idea was gaining momentum in my mind. Before I left for Boston, I’d voiced to Dr. Leighton how much I wanted to let my guard down and take some risks while I was on the trip. By risks, I meantsexualones. I felt that I could never leave my rape fully in the past until I was able to be with a man.

At first, I’d felt something was morally wrong with me to even think of such a thing. But Dr. Leighton had assured me my feelings were perfectly normal. “Your assault was yours and yours alone, which means your path to healing is yours and yours alone.”

Of course, she’d also cautioned me with the usual warnings women are given like having an exit strategy and meeting in a public place. At the moment, I couldn’t imagine a more public place than the one I currently found myself in. Not to mention, I had all the protection I could possibly need should Rafe prove truly ungentlemanly.

“What if I wanted to change the wager?”

He shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Maeve. Are you really going to ask this man for a kiss?Drawing my shoulders back, I thought,You’re damn right I am.

“I want a kiss.”

Rafe’s jovial expression instantly sobered. “Excuse me?”

“I think you heard me.”

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