Page 23 of When We Break

“I guess not. Those look great, and I’m sure she’ll love them.”

“I hope they do the trick.” She wraps them up in pretty paper with a green bow and rings me up. Once I’ve paid, I make my way out of the store and walk the couple of blocks over to Skyla’s studio.

The door’s unlocked, so I step inside and pet Riley’s head when he perks up, but I don’t make any noise because…the woman is dancing, and all of the air has been stolen from my lungs.

She’s fuckingspectacular.

I don’t know how her body can do what she’s doing. Up on tiptoes, jumping effortlessly into the air, her legs so high above her head.

I’ve never seen anything like it. She’s graceful and confident. So goddamn strong. Her muscles flex, and it’s clear that she works hard to be in such good shape with that much flexibility. So talented.

Skyla is exquisite. I’ve never been one to fantasize about what the perfect woman would be, especially not for me. In the back of my mind, I figured I’d be with someone who loves the land, who loves small-town life. Someone strong, both physically and mentally. Because let’s face it, I don’t want or need a doormat. Never have. But Skyla Gallagher has somehow crushed through those thoughts and has completely captivated me.She’s like a dream come true even though I’ve never dreamed of her.

When the music fades away, Skyla stops in place, breathing hard and in a pose that would probably put my back out and send me to the hospital. I’m so moved by what I just saw that I don’t want to break the spell.

I don’t want to ruin it.

“Alexa, stop music,” she says, and the room goes silent, except for Skyla’s gasping breath. She opens her eyes and sees me standing behind her in the mirror and shrieks before covering her chest with her hand. “Bloody shit, you scared me.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want to interrupt because I think I just witnessed the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Her face softens, and she licks her lips. Noticing her water bottle on a table near me, I fetch it and take it to her, and she accepts. She’s breathing fast as she drinks, her bright eyes on me.

“Thanks,” she says.

“These are for you.” I offer her the flowers, and she smiles softly. “Summer helped me, and I think she did a good job.”

“They’re beautiful. I love ranunculus.” She accepts them and leans in to fuss over a bloom. “You shouldn’t have.”

“No, I really should have.” With my hands empty, I shove them into my pockets and rock back on my heels. “I feel like I interrupted something personal, but I’m not sorry because watching you dance is breathtaking, Skyla.”

She frowns down into the flowers before answering. “Thank you. It is personal, always. But I don’t mind sharing it. I performed on a stage for far too long not to enjoy an audience.”

I want to ask so many questions. Ineedto know everything there is to know about this woman.

“Are you going to ask for my number again, Mr. Blackwell?”

I could try to turn on the charm or be funny, but something tells me that isn’t what this woman wants or needs.

So I go with flat-out honesty.

“Yeah, Ms. Gallagher. I am.”

Her brows pull into a frown, and I want to reach out and smooth the pad of my thumb over the lines between them, but I keep my hands in my pockets.

“Am I so out of practice, having spent far too long with only cows and chickens, that I’m fucking this up so bad?”

She simply raises an eyebrow, her chest still heaving from her dance.

“Cows. Bessy’s pretty, but she doesn’t respond to adult conversation all that well.”

That earns me a smile, and a wrinkle of the nose that is fuckingadorable.

I’m already obsessed with this woman.

“One date, Skyla. Let me take you to dinner, converse, and be near you for one evening, and if you decide that I’m a complete idiot, I won’t ask again.”

Those mossy eyes watch me for a moment as if she’s trying to solve a puzzle.

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