Page 22 of The Sweetheart Dance
“You guys are a wonderful couple!”
With that, the massage therapists leave us alone in the room trying to get the courage to get dressed. After what feels like an eternity, I get the courage to slip on my pants, then my bra, and then my shirt. Once I’m dressed, I turn to sneak a peek at Luke.
I notice he got dressed quickly while I was getting dressed.
My hand is hovering over the doorknob to leave the room when I feel his energy behind me. He places a hand on my hip then he squeezes my hip. It is a subtle move that most couples would do on a normal basis.
It just makes me fall a little deeper.
I need space.
“Thanks for coming with me to the couple’s massage,” I say casually while opening the door.
His hand is on my lower back leading me through the massage parlor. “Of course, princess. I enjoyed it.”
His term of endearment isn’t lost on me and the butterflies flying around in my stomach. If anything it made me more anxious.
“Don’t forget about the Sweetheart Dance!”
The reception clerk is sweet to remind us but how could I forget? That is the last night of Luke and I pretending to be a couple.
“Are you looking forward to the dance?” Luke asks me.
The cold air hits me in the face awakening me from any illusions I might have had about Luke and me being a couple. “Of course.”
We are quiet throughout our journey back to the cabin until we get to the door. “I think I want to ski. Do you want to come with me?”
Luke’s question is sweet and tempting. I’m not the best skier so this makes me very nervous. Against my better judgment, I agree to ski with him.
“Don’t make fun of me when I fall a hundred times!” I threaten.
He chuckles. “I will try not to. It has been a long time since I have been skiing, too. I could be falling next to you.”
Chapter Eighteen
Luke
I asked her to go skiing with me for us to have more time together. I want to know what it is like to date a normal woman and not one of those gold diggers who latch onto a ballplayer.
It has been so long since I have smiled this much. Raina and I are on the bunny hill with our skiing gear on and she looks funny with a penguin hat on her head. She looks absolutely sweet like this.
She starts to go down the bunny hill then falls suddenly on her back. Her laughter fills the cold air sounding like a music box. I kick off my skis then run over to her to make sure she’s okay.
“I’m fine!” Raina giggles. She’s laughing harder as her gloved hand wraps around my leg to pull me down.
I fall next to her more on purpose than her strength. We lay in the middle of the bunny hill for a few moments laughing at how silly we look.
“We are grown-ups who are skiing down the bunny hill!” Raina murmurs.
I reach out my hand across the snow separating us to grab her gloved hand. Our hands are in thick winter gloves making it difficult to feel the connection between us.
She stops giggling as she turns to look at me. Our eyes meet just as the snow begins to fall around us. It is the perfect moment to lean over and kiss her. I’m about to make my move when we hear a little kid above us.
“Ew! Get a room,” the girl cries out with disgust.
The room idea sounds like a great idea but I don’t want to rush anything with Raina.
Damn, I’m falling for her.
