Page 19 of The Kiss Countdown

He places a light hand to my back as we come across one couple taking selfies. They’re putting a lot of trust in the metal fence that encompasses the rooftop as they lean against it, trying to get a shot with the building behind them lit up in red and green lights.

“I would think you’d be more excited about being your own boss,” Vincent says.

“I am. It’s just that it’s a very new business. And even though I have all this experience, I can’t find any clients.” I shrug. “I guess that’s what happens when you’re one of the city’s most talented-turned-notorious planners. It’s a long fall from grace and an even longer climb back up.”

Vincent moves from my side, stopping right in front of me.

“What do you mean, ‘fall from grace’?” he says.

I’m surprised to find that I’m not fully annoyed by his questions. It’s hard to be when he watches me so intently and curiously. As if he really cares what I have to say. It makes me want to spill all my secrets to him.

“My mom was hospitalized earlier this year. It wasn’t the first time, but it was the closest I’ve come to losing her.” He watches me with complete understanding. The kind of understanding that says I’m not at fault for not being able to pick up the pieces of my life after it was tossed in a whirlwind. “I was actually set to oversee a wedding the morningI got the call that my mom was about to be rushed for surgery to have her spleen removed. Once I hung up, all that mattered was getting to her. Not bridal parties or venues or checking in with florists—just my mom. I ended up being a no-call, no-show.”

“Your company didn’t have backup plans for emergencies?”

“Typically, they did. But this happened on Valentine’s Day. Everyone had an event they were working, so I had no one to cover for me. The wedding that should have been my bride’s dream come true was a catastrophe. We’re talking bridesmaids missing their cues, the DJ playing the wrong songs, kids getting to the cupcakes. You name it.”

Vincent frowns. “Was it really your fault if the kids got into the cupcakes?”

“It’s not just about averting disaster, but also knowing how to recover quickly. I wasn’t there to do that. The whole event became a PR nightmare for my company, with clients canceling left and right for months. My old bosses at least waited for my mom to be in stable condition at the hospital before they fired me. I used to have a whole team I could count on, but now it’s just me. Trying to make something out of nothing.”

“It really takes someone brave to start a business from the ground up with no guarantee of success.”

“Brave, or bad at making good choices.”

Vincent shakes his head. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

“Well, let’s see. I managed to get myself fired with no backup plan. I’m trying to hang on to an industry that wants nothing to do with me anymore. And, oh yeah, the whole morning of bad choices that landed us here.” I spread out my arms to encompass the rooftop.

Vincent tilts his head and regards me with speculative eyes. “You know what you need?”

“What?” I’m breathing like I’ve been running, but it feels good getting everything off my chest. I thought I needed this night to forget my problems, but maybe what I needed instead was an opportunity to yell about it all.

“You need to dance.”

His suggestion is so unexpected, all I do is blink for a few seconds. “Dance? Where?”

We’re standing in the middle of the pathway, with nothing around us but trees and another one of those huge floor lights.

Vincent takes three steps back until he’s standing over the light. His whole body glows like a star fallen down to Earth. “Yes, dance. Right here, right now.”

I stare at his outstretched hand. His inviting, almost daring smile—it’s a call to adventure. It’s a challenge to grab hold of something new and exciting. And though I’ve never been one for grand escapades, I step forward and take his hand while notes of a ’90s slow jam float to us.

Vincent rests his hands on my waist as I take hold of his broad shoulders, and we begin moving with the beat. “You are brave, Amerie. It sounds like life has thrown a lot of curveballs your way, but you haven’t given up. Don’t discredit the courage needed to keep standing.”

“You know, Vincent, you’re actually pretty sweet.”

“First heroic, now sweet. I could get used to all these compliments.” I snort and he smiles down at me. “Better now?”

Yes, but I don’t let him know that. Instead, I lay my head against his chest.

He runs a hand along the small of my back. “I’ll take that as yes.”

“I’m almost having a good time. Don’t ruin the moment with your talking,” I say, and his chest vibrates with a chuckle against my ear.

He’s silent once again, and I realize I’ve misjudged Vincent. He isn’t all annoying. He’s actually pleasant to be around. Right now I can’t bring myself to be upset that his sister overheard us at Moon Bean.

Speaking of his sister, that reminds me. I lift my head from his chest. “I almost forgot to mention, your sister told me she had ulterior motives for getting you here tonight. It was all a ploy to convince you to go to your mom’s birthday celebration. She thought I might be able to do a better job than she could.”

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