Page 69 of Dream with Me

I twist my body to face her.

“What a fucking idiot he must be. I’m guessing he only left because he was worried about keeping it together. Any man would have to be a fool not to want to have drinks with you.”

Her cheeks turn pink, and she looks at me through her long lashes. “Any man? Does that include you?”

“It especially includes me.” She bites her lower lip and, fuck, she’s sexy. I can’t take my eyes off her mouth. “What are you drinking tonight?”

“White wine would be great.” Her voice is alluring, and I can’t tell if it’s just that I miss her so damn much or that she’s trying to be hot. Either way, the woman has me riled up already.

I signal the bartender and order her wine.

She makes a very obvious show of glancing down at my left hand.

“I see you’re not wearing a wedding ring. Single then?”

Oh, she really wants to play. This is a risky game for us...

“Actually, I’m very muchnotsingle,” I whisper. I keep my eyes fixed on hers.

She stills. My heart starts pounding. I’ve gone too far, and I’ve creeped her out.

She takes a sip of her wine, then dips her head and stares at the bar top. “I’m sorry.” She’s so quiet I can barely hear her.

What? What am I missing?

I lean in and grab the sides of her barstool, then twist her until she’s facing me and our knees are touching. I dip a thumb under her chin and tilt her head back up until she’s looking at me.

“Hey, what’s happening here? Help me understand, chiclet.”

She hesitates.

“I’m embarrassed. I came down here because I want to speak to you about some things and then I saw you looking like that...”

“Damn, I knew these gray sweatpants and T-shirt would do the trick,” I tease.

A hint of a smile appears at the corners of her mouth. She shakes her head. “You really have no idea, do you?”

“Talk to me, please.” I’m desperate to see the confident, playful woman of a few moments ago. To wipe the frown from her face.

“I saw you, got caught up in feelings, and I forgot—or wanted to forget—that you’re... that you’re with someone.”

I’m speechless. I wrack my brain, trying to think where this is coming from. I come up with nothing.

“Shannon, what?—”

“I saw you,” she blurts out. “I saw you with her at lunchtime today. But so much has happened since then and my emotions have been high, and then I saw you in the towel.” She pauses and finally takes a breath but starts again as quickly as she stopped. “Then I came down here, and you’re in gray sweats, and I started acting—” She looks away from me.

“Stop.” I put my hands on her knees. “Look at me.” When she does, her eyes are misty, and it makes my heart ache. “Ask me again.”

“Huh?”

“Ask me if I’m single.” She rolls her eyes. “C’mon, humor me.” I slowly rub my thumbs in circles on her knees, trying to soothe her.

“Fine. Are you single?”

“No. Definitely not.” She tries to turn away from me, but I move my hands to her waist, and she stops. I move in closer to her. “I’m married. Full disclosure though, in a few days, she won’tlegallybe my wife anymore, but that changes nothing for me. In my heart, she’s it for me.” I watch as her eyes widen.

“But—”

---