Page 82 of Just Another Meet Cute
Moving my hands around, Ian repositioned them until my fingers hovered over the right keys. “And press down on these fingers first and then this.” He tried to move my hands again, but almost jabbed me in my face with his elbow. “Hold on.”
To my surprise, Ian got up and stood behind me. With his arms around me, he laid both of his hands on top of mine. They were so big that they dwarfedmy hands, but amazingly gentle and light as he helped me press down on the piano with each finger.
My breath got caught in my throat at the sudden feel of his warm hands on top of mine. That combined with the cool keys beneath my fingertips. Surely that was the reason goose bumps trailed up and down my arms. Not because his chest was pressed against my back, almost like he was cradling me. Or that I could feel his face hovering over my head.
Not over my head.
My shoulder.
Ian was barely inches away from my face. Especially when I turned my head to peek over at him. Our eyes locked as our fingers froze in place. His breath was on my lips like a light warm breeze, and it caused me to melt back against him a little bit, bringing us even closer. Something I thought wasn’t even possible.
The expression on his face changed as he glanced down at my lips for a split second. But a split second was enough to make the tingling rush up to my neck. Especially when his face got closer. His breath smelled like peppermint.
I closed my eyes and then … and then …
“Hey, are you all done with the steaks tonight?!”
The shout hit me like a bucket of water. Hit both of us as we jerked our heads back and stared at each other. For a few seconds, we didn’t move.
I knew that the moment was gone, but I was reluctant to move. Maybe Ian felt the same because he stayed hovered over me for the longest time. Half holding me in the position, like he was hiding me. Protecting me. My heartwas still beating in overdrive at our almost kiss, even as my stomach sunk in disappointment.
Damn. I wanted to kick the person who interrupted us. Or at least give him an evil glare once I was able to pry my eyes away from Ian’s face. His lips were tightened into that annoying line again. Just a minute ago, they looked so soft and inviting.
Ian let out a low shaking breath. “I think that maybe you should learn on YouTube instead. I can barely teach you when I don’t know how to play myself.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Finally, we both pulled away at the same time.
“That was … Nina …” His voice was even softer than a whisper. I wouldn’t have even heard him if I hadn’t been watching his mouth so closely. He slowly swallowed, and my eyes flickered down the line of his throat before going back up to his face.
“Yes?”
Ian stared at me for a long minute. His eyes were barely blinking, but I could see a rush of emotions flood his face before he turned away from me. “I think I should go home.”
And he did.
And for the first time that week, Ian didn’t text me that night.
The next morning, I was in the lobby trying to read, instead of obsessing over Ian and our almost kiss, when Dad found me. Not sure how, since I was pretty much tucked away in the corner armchair behind a giant plant.
Not that I was trying to hide from him or anything. At least not intentionally this time. I wanted to give my parents some privacy until the hotel moved us to two rooms with a connecting door. Mom was fine with me having my own room, but only if she was next door. She was worried that I would sneak in a boy or throw a raving party. This coming from the woman who kept an earth-shattering secret from her family—her own daughter—her entire life.
But I was overthatnow.
Mostly.
The first place I went to go be alone was the pool. The hotel boasted seven different pools in their facilities. All ranging from inside, outside, and kiddy to wave. One pool even ran from the insidetothe outside. Plus, they had these lounge chairs that swallowed you up like you were laying on a fluffy cloud.
I would have stayed out there, but the tanning butler kept coming over tooffer me sunscreen every five minutes. He couldn’t seem to understand that I didn’t need his services.
At first, I thought he was flirting with me or something, but he was in his forties. And then I saw him kiss the lifeguard on the other side of the pool. A really hot lifeguard, too, who could put the Hemsworth brothers to shame.
SoobviouslyI wasn’t his type, but way to go, Mr. Tanning Butler.
Not to mention, he seemed very sweet and was genuinely worried that I would burn. Or maybe that the hotel would get a bad review if I did. Either way, once he chased me inside, the only other place I knew in the hotel was the lobby. Or the pet spa. And I couldn’t stay there with my allergies. Plus, it would be super weird if I did, considering I didn’t have a pet with me.
A shadow loomed over my shoulder. “Do you mind if I sit down?” Dad asked.
