Page 19 of One Hotlanta Night
“Michael, why are you shouting at me?” She paused. “Are you—aren’t you at home?”
“Not tonight, sis. I’m with Adam and the guys.” Her teasing oohs in the background made me hope that maybe this wasn’t an emergency after all. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I was calling to make sure you’re coming up for Paquita’s birthday in a few weeks. I thought we could celebrate both of you.”
“Yes, I wouldn’t miss it, you know that. Hey, is Mom okay?”
“She’s fine, Michael. Everyone’s fine.”
I blew out a breath and my shoulders relaxed. My sister’s been the one to keep me updated since I moved, which is why I always answer her calls. We haven’t had anything urgent in a while, but you know what they say about the other shoe dropping.
“So tell me where you’re at tonight?” The longing in her voice was evident. My sister hasn’t gotten to go out as much as a young woman should, and I felt a pang at leaving her to manage the family without me. Even though they supported my decision to move, it still felt like I left them in the lurch.
“A Latin club, actually. This place is pretty cool. I think you’d like it. When you’re old enough to drink, that is,” I teased.
Her huff was almost as loud as the DJ. “Ha ha ha,” she said. “Not too much longer and then I can hang out with you guys atallthe bars.”
“Like hell you will,” I’d retorted. There’s no way I wanted her hanging out with the crew I’d left behind in Charlotte; she didn’t need that kind of drama in her life. And no way did any of those guys deserve a chance with my baby sis.
“You don’t think I can handle it?”
“We arenotgetting into this now,” I told her, as my eyes stayed fixed on the dance floor, even more crowded than before. I couldn’t see my lady or Matt, and that bothered me more than I wanted to admit. If there wasn’t anything major going on at home, I needed to wrap this up so I could get back to her.Now.
“Okay, okay,” she conceded. “But one more thing. Are you going to bring anyone ‘special’ to the party?”
My eyes were still searching through the crowd, and I didn’t catch her emphasis onspecial. “Maybe,” I said absentmindedly. Her high-pitched squeal almost made me drop my phone. “Damn, Isabella,” I cursed as I switched ears and rubbed the one she’d nearly blown out.
“Oooh, big brother! That is so exciting! I can’t wait to meet her!”
“Yeah, me too,” I muttered. Before she could ask, I quickly cut her off with a promise to call everyone tomorrow for a Sunday family chat. I couldn’t see my woman anywhere, and my stomach was twisting up inside.
Sliding my phone into my back pocket, I surveyed the dance floor once more. I’m a tech guy; there has to be a process. How did the lifeguards do it again? Scan up one row and down the other? Before I could locate her, I heard Adam’s voice calling out to me through the din, Matt right beside him as they waved me over. Might as well look for my woman in the company of friends.
As I started to push my way through the crowd, trying to keep from any accidental boob touches, I found myself in a crush of frat boys jostling around. Assholes with no common decency to look where they were going. I started to roughly elbow my way through in between the dudes…
And then a hand slid against my chest. And grabbed my hand.
It was her.
She touched mefirst.
Any doubt left in my mind vanished. This was real, and it was happening.
My woman. My wife. My destiny.
She’sfinallyin my arms. And now my future can begin.
The music switches over to “La Morena” by Oro Solido, and I reluctantly draw back an inch so I can finally look into her eyes. I’d thought they were brown when I was watching her across the dance floor, but up close I can see they’re swirled with green and sparks of gold. Mesmerizing. Every bit of her is tantalizing.
She stares right back at me, never breaking connection, but her body tenses as the people around us begin to move in time to the catchy tune. My hips start to twitch, the fast merengue beat infectious, as it becomes clear that she’s unsure of what to do. She’s caught on quickly to the different rhythms, but I’ve been watching long enough to tell this is new for her. This couldn’t be a more perfect song though; a song about a woman who loves to dance and have fun. Does she know what it means?
“Here, let me.” I take her hands in mine and widen the space between us. I miss our close contact immediately, but dancing will allow her to get used to the idea of me. Of how our bodies can move together. Her hands are soft but strong, not as calloused as mine, but far from dainty. It makes me wonder what she does for work. How she spends her time.
But as good as her hands feel clasped in mine, it’s her eyes that hold my rapt attention. That swirl of hazel, appearing green in the light and brown in shadow. Her gaze matches mine, fierce and unrelenting. Curious, confident. That’s what drew me to her at the start. Well, that, and the other thing…
My lady drops her hips in time with ease but doesn’t know what to do with her arms. Rubbing my thumbs over her hands, I take a chance by lacing my fingers through hers as I guide us along to the quickfire beats. Her breath catches at the intimatecontact even though it’s only our hands linking us, her breasts straining against the silver fabric. I swallow down my groan as I drag my eyes back to her face. She doesn’t mind getting closer to me.She didn’t mind curling into my chest either…
“Latin music fan?” I ask as she attempts to follow my lead.
