Page 78 of The Drummer's Heart

“Trust me, no one but Ronan is paying attention to my whereabouts. I’m happy to go back in, but I’m not going anywhere without you.”

I rubbed my arms. “It’s getting kind of chilly anyway.”

Atticus reached for my hand. “Let’s go inside.”

He led me up the stairs and back into the venue.

Rather than return to where the wedding party was seated, Atticus joined me at my assigned table of strangers. Thankfully, some of the tension had lifted, and we both enjoyed the food that had been served. We just ate it a bit late, thanks to me.

People were already dancing as we had our meal, and just as Atticus and I finished, the DJ played a slow song.

Atticus stood and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

Without overthinking it, I got up and let him lead me to the dance floor.

Atticus pulled me close as we began to sway to the music. As always, being in his arms felt all-consuming. With each second, the space between us narrowed until I fully surrendered and let myself relax into him. The heat of his body penetrated mine. His hands lowered to the small of my back as he brought us even closer, his breath caressing the back of my neck as he rested his head on my shoulder. A rush of warmth moved through my entire body.

After a few minutes, my heart stopped racing. Time slowed down, and even though I was vulnerable in his arms, being in them was like home to me. As we moved with the music, I wished we could stay in this safe place forever—locked here with no decisions to be made, nothing to forgive, just holding each other and dancing for all eternity.

When the song ended, the DJ transitioned to something faster, and Atticus led me to the edge of the dance floor. As we faced each other, his eyes fell to my neck. He reached out to touch the infinity charm he’d given me. I hadn’t taken it off since the day we’d left each other in New Jersey, not even to shower.

“You’re still wearing it…”

“Yeah, ever since you gave it to me.”

He let go of it. “It’s my wedding ring.”

“What?” My eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“I gave the jeweler my ring and asked if they could melt the gold and make it into that pendant.”

Wow.As we headed back to the table together, I was speechless.

CHAPTER 27

NICOLE

Atticus asked me if I’d go back to his suite after the reception, but I declined, instead practically fleeing to my own room before I could change my mind.

We’d planned to get together in the morning, though, for breakfast before I had to catch my flight.That seems safe enough, I told myself.

Yet despite successfully breaking away from him, every second since I’d returned to my room, I regretted not spending the night with him. He’d promised “not to try anything,” saying he just wanted to lie with me. And I would’ve been fine with that—but after today, I didn’t trustmyself. I didn’t want to sleep with him. I wanted tosleepwith him, and that was the problem. Taking that step with him wasn’t fair when there were still things about his current life I wasn’t sure I could ever accept.

As I lay on my hotel bed, staring at the ceiling, I realized I still had the two pieces of cake I’d wrapped in napkins and stuffed into my purse earlier. When they’d served it, neither Atticus nor I had an appetite for cake.

Something had kept me from getting out of my dress and taking a shower. Intuitively, I knew I wasn’t done for the day. It was the middle of the night now, but all I could think about were those two pieces of cake burning a hole in my purse—not because I was hungry, but because they were my excuse to see him again. Because as much as I’d already decided it was a bad idea, Atticus was all I could think about.

I didn’t want to leave California tomorrow, either. Didn’t want to leave him. And I couldn’t believe I was wasting this precious time alone in my room.

Reaching for my bag, I headed out the door. He’d given me his room number in case I changed my mind, and I hoped I remembered it correctly.

When I got to his door, I took a deep breath before knocking.

A few seconds later, Atticus opened, and his mouth curved into a smile. “Hi, beautiful. This is a surprise.” Though he didn’t seem that surprised at all.

I raised an eyebrow. “It almost seems like you were waiting for me.”

“I’m always waiting for you, baby. Always.”

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