Page 83 of Saltwater Memories
He pulled her in closer. “I don’t regret any of it.”
His cheek grazed hers as he pulled her closer before spinning her out.
Amanda laughed. She couldn’t help it – she was dressed like she was going to dig oysters out of the mud, with holes in her jeans and an ugly sweater. Will looked like he had stepped out of a magazine.
“I wish I’d known the dress code before I came here,” she said.
“You look lovely,” he replied, bringing her back in. “And unlike the last ball, there’s no one here to leer at you. Except me.”
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t really leer. That was your boss.”
“Good thing I left the company, then.”
“Is it?” The song ended and she stepped away from him. “If I’d never gone to the ball, maybe you wouldn’t have lost your job. Or almost died. I don’t know how to apologize to you, Will. It’s my fault that you went to look at Lenny’s properties. It’s my fault that he tried to kill you. I feel awful, it’s – ”
“It’s all about how you look at it,” he said, stepping toward her. “And I don’t see it that way at all.”
She scoffed. “Then you’re delusional.”
“Maybe I am.” The music picked up and he reached for her hands, playfully swinging from side to side. “The way I see it, you saved me from blindly going down a very dark career path. And I think you might’ve found me another job!”
She couldn’t resist his dancing – he looked so goofy. “Oh, did you get an interview?”
“Yep. Already had the phone interview. Charmed the pants off of them,” Will said, sticking his arm up in the air and trying to twirl himself.
She laughed as they rejoined. He was too much. “I’m glad. I’m looking for a new job, too.”
“Good. Your boss doesn’t deserve you. I don’t think anyone does.”
He attempted something too complicated – crossing their arms over their heads and spinning. Amanda released her grip. “I don’t think I can do that.”
He shook his head. “Of course you can. You don’t have to hide that you’re a trained assassin anymore.”
“I’m not,” she said with a laugh. “It was just that one time with the pepper spray. And the taser.”
“The taser? I didn’t hear about that.”
She swayed with him, glad that he couldn’t see the redness in her cheeks. “Lenny broke into my stepmom’s house a few months ago. I happened to be there, and I happen to be really good with a taser.”
He laughed. “That is wild. You have to forgive mybriefmoment where I wondered if you were in the mafia.”
She sputtered out a laugh. “Really?”
“I was confused,” he said, shrugging. “You’re so mysterious.”
“There’s nothing mysterious about it. My dad – ”
“I know, he’s a super protective scary cop.” He stopped moving and looked at her. “You’re good at protecting yourself. In every way. I get it. But you should know that you’ve made it hard for me.”
“How so?”
“Because despite all those walls of yours, I was pulled into your web from the moment I met you.”
“My web!” She laughed. “That’s an odd way to put it.”
He paused. “The truth is, I don’t care if you’re in the mob. Or if you’re an undercover assassin, or whatever. I just like you, Amanda. Whoever you are.”
She pulled her hands away. Did Will really know what she was like? Was he making an informed decision?
