Page 83 of The Dating Dare

Right on cue, music flowed through the room. Seth gathered her to him, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. They swayed together, song after song. Tara could hardly believe all this was happening. That he did all of it for her. It certainly was a prom night to remember.

“Now I’m sort of glad I never went to prom,” she said quietly in his arms. “It never would’ve been this perfect with anyone else.”

Seth held her even closer to him in response, and she melted against him. She never wanted the night to end.

He held her for a minute or an hour. He couldn’t tell. Time didn’t matter. Being with her like this—creating memories with her—felt so right. Seth couldn’t let her go. He loved her. God, he loved her so much. If she couldn’t leave with him, he would stay with her.

The pressure suffocating him lifted off his chest, and he knew that was the right thing to do. He didn’t need to chase success. If it meant he could be with Tara, he would be happy opening a photography studio right here in Weldon. Fashion photography was a job he enjoyed, but it was only a job. Tara… she was everything.

He was confessing his love tonight. He couldn’t contain it any longer.

“This is the last song, baby,” he spoke into her hair, intoxicated by her scent.

“Mmm,” she responded, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

God, she was so lovely. He spread his hands on her back and held her tighter against him. When the song ended, he placed a lingering kiss on her sweet lips.

“Thank you for this dance,” he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers.

“You’re welcome,” she whispered.

He stepped back and got a firm hold of her hand, and didn’t let go as he turned off the lights and locked up the restaurant. He couldn’t bear to break the connection between them. Seth helped Tara into the limo and nodded at the chauffeur, who closed the door behind him.

Seth pulled her close and she laid her head against his shoulder. Playing absent-mindedly with his fingers, Tara stayed silent with her thoughts. Hopefully, she was basking in the warmth of a beautiful prom night. He certainly was. His body felt as though gravity didn’t have as strong a hold on him as usual. This might be what it felt like to walk on clouds.

“Happy?” he asked, kissing the top of her head.

“Very,” she said, lacing her fingers through his.

As the house came into view, Seth’s anxiety overshadowed his happiness. Confessing his love to her could change everything, but change was what he wanted. No more of this spring fling nonsense. He wanted forever with her.

The chauffeur parked the car in the driveway, and came around to open their door. “I hope you guys had a great night.”

“We did,” Seth said, discreetly palming him his tip. “Thank you.”

As the limo drove away, he opened the front door and led them inside the house. His blood pounded loudly in his ears as he headed for the kitchen.

“Do you want some coffee?” he asked, needing something to do.

“Sure.” Tara cocked her head to the side for a second, then followed him. “That sounds nice.”

Seth took out the French press and set the kettle on the stove. Hishands shook as he reached for the mugs. He hoped Tara didn’t notice. Just to be safe, he stuck them into his pockets once he set the coffee cups down on the counter.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, a slight frown marring her smooth forehead.

“Yeah. Of course,” he responded a bit took quickly. “I think I was more nervous about tonight than I realized. I’m so relieved everything went as planned.”

“It was perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing about tonight.” She came to him and hugged him around the waist, resting her cheek on his chest. Could she hear how hard it was beating? “Thank you, Seth.”

He sighed and held her close, hoping the rest of the night went as smoothly. She stepped away from him when the kettle began steaming, and allowed him to finish making their coffee. He carried two piping-hot mugs to the kitchen table and set them down.

Tara sat down and held her mug between her hands, blowing on the coffee. She still wore a dreamy expression. Seth allowed himself to feel a moment of pride for putting that look on her face. But the pride was soon overshadowed by good old-fashioned fear. Could he really do this? Confess his feelings to her? Convince her to be his?

It wasn’t the lingering shadow of his past relationship that made him afraid. He realized he was finally over that. It happened a long time ago, when he was just a kid. The love he felt for Tara couldn’t compare to what he thought was love back then. Perhaps that was what paralyzed him with fear. Even the thought of losing Tara overshadowed his heartbreak from college. But if he didn’t do this, he wouldn’t have a chance at keeping her.

Seth couldn’t make himself sit down, so he stood across from where she was sitting, gripping the back of a chair. She closed her eyes as she took a sip of the coffee, then smiled warmly at him.

“You make the best coffee. The only problem is, it makes me crave something sweet.”

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