Page 225 of By His Play

Shoving my cell into my purse, I push to my feet, for all the good it does. I still have to crane my neck to look Brax in the eyes.

Being barely five feet, I’m more than used to it, especially after having Kieran in my life for almost as long as I can remember.

I’ve always liked being small, but I’ve never loved it as much as when Kieran throws me around like I’m nothing more than a ragdoll. I love being at his mercy.

As we catch up, or should I say, as Brax probes me for information, the others fill the room along with our teacher, and all too soon, she’s inviting us to join her and start the class.

We run through our waltz before our teacher leads us through the steps for a tango.

It’s a seductive dance, and Brax and I spend the whole time giggling like school kids.

By the time we’re done, my cheeks ache from laughing so hard. Doing this class was the best decision I’ve made in a very long time.

Every time I dance, I feel Grams smiling down at me.

But that’s not the only reason. She might no longer be here, but I know she more than approves of the decision I’ve made to see where this thing goes with Kieran.

It’s what she always wanted.

I might be scared, but what if it’s worth it?

What if we don’t ruin everything between us? What if it only makes it better?

“Drink?” Brax asks as we step out of the building and into the warm summer evening air.

The sun is beginning to set, ducking behind the tall buildings surrounding us.

“I could be persuaded by a cocktail or two.”

“You really are in a good mood,” he teases.

“You know, for the first time in a really long time, I actually feel like things are looking up.”

“I’m glad. You deserve it,” he says, glancing over at me with a smile. “I got a lift here. You good to drive?”

“Nope,” I say, digging into my purse for my key. “But you can. Show me your game, number twenty-eight.”

He doesn’t drive as far as last time, but the restaurant he takes me to is just as incredible.

We’re seated in a window that looks out over the city. The view just adds to the vibe in the modern tapas restaurant.

Between us, there is a whole range of dishes that we’ve been working our way through for the last thirty minutes. I didn’t stop for lunch, seeing as I was going to disappear early, and after an hour of dancing and laughing, I was famished.

Brax teases me for more details about Kieran, but I hold my tongue. Until the two of us have properly talked, the rest of the world—including him—is going to have to wait.

We’ve already had too much exposure in the media.

I’ve tried to forget about all of that when making my decision about where we go next. Those articles, or more so the comments that came with them, are a huge part of my fear where a relationship with Kieran is concerned.

By the time I’ve finished my third cocktail of the night, my laughter comes even easier and the room around me is a little fuzzy.

“I think it’s time to call it a night,” Brax laughs before requesting the check.

I’m buzzing as we leave the restaurant and make our way down the street to my car.

“My lady,” he teases as he opens my passenger door for me.

“Why, thank you.” Reaching up on my toes, I give him a chaste kiss on the cheek before inelegantly falling onto the seat.

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