Page 69 of The Rival (Looking to Score 2)
“Ask her to get a drink?”
“Negative, cowboy. No one wants to wait in that line. Go ask her to dance. She’s practically standing on the dance floor, and she’s polite, so she won’t be able to say no.”
That might actually work. “Good plan.”
He grins. “I know. Go get her, tiger.”
It’s only when I approach Aspen that I realize she’s standing with Holt and Eden at the edge of the dance floor.
“Good evening,” I say, tipping my chin at them.
“Hey, Alex,” Eden says, smiling at me, and Holt shakes my hand.
Aspen looks nervous, but so fucking gorgeous that I almost forget how to breathe.
“Aspen, you look absolutely breathtaking.”
She dips her chin, then lifts her eyes to mine. “Thank you.”
“Care to dance?”
“Um . . .” She hesitates for half a second before Eden gives her a little shove toward me.
“You should. People never dance at these things.”
“Okay,” Aspen says, meeting my eyes again.
I offer her my hand and lead her to the center of the dance floor. The band is playing some slow-tempo thing that’s perfect, because with all the confusing thoughts and emotions swirling through my head, I doubt I’ll be able to do a little more than shuffle my feet.
The familiarity of her in my arms is disorienting. I’ve dreamed about her and imagined this a hundred times. But now that she’s standing here, her palm on my bicep, my hand at her waist, her lovely scent intoxicating me . . . I’m careful to keep a respectful distance between us before I completely lose my head.
“I’m just going to say something here,” I say, my voice a little uncertain. “I had an amazing time with you this summer. And this past month has been really hard.”
Aspen’s gaze lifts to mine. “I guess I shouldn’t have just left like that. I had an amazing time too. I probably owed you a good-bye.”
Nerves suddenly kick in, and I swallow. “Yeah, maybe, but here’s the thing. I’ve been trying to respect the idea that you wanted a rebound fling, but I don’t want to let you just walk away.”
She stiffens in my arms. “Are you saying you didn’t want things to end?”
“I should have told you how I felt about you this summer. I messed everything up, letting you just walk away. Will you let me fix this?”
“How?”
I take a deep breath. “I don’t know. But I want to be with you. Will you let me try?”
She meets my eyes with a cautious expression. “It’s not going to be like it was this summer, you know? We were isolated from everything and everyone. We got to just exist in this perfect bubble where reality didn’t seem to exist. Real life is hard.”
I nod and touch her cheek with my thumb. “I know. I know it’s not going to be easy all the time. I know that I travel a lot during the season, and that’s not really fair to you. But I want you in my life. I need you in my life.”
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Will you say something? Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Aspen lifts on her toes and presses her sweet mouth to mine. The kiss almost knocks me off my feet. It was the last thing I expected.
“Yes,” she murmurs when she pulls back. She wipes her lipstick from my upper lip.
I laugh and pull her into my arms. “Yes?”
“Yes, I’ll be with you.”
“Thank fucking God.” Emotion rocks through me. It’s the best fucking news in the world.
When her lips touch mine again, I abandon the idea of dancing altogether. Before I realize what’s happening, I’m leading her someplace far, far away from all the people and the crowds. Someplace private where I can kiss her properly like I’ve ached to do for so many weeks.
With my hands full of Aspen, I duck around a corner, pleased when I see a sign for a door that reads HOSPITALITY SUITE. I’m just about to let us inside when a hand on my shoulder stops me.
It’s Tate, the rookie, and he’s wearing a knowing smile. “Where are you two sneaking off to?”
“Just cover for us, okay?” I give him a pointed look.
Tate’s mouth lifts in a grin, and he rubs one hand over the stubble on his jaw. I’ve always liked the guy, but if he gives me a hard time about this . . .
“Wait.” Aspen’s eyes widen.
This hallway is deserted, but the sound of the band and low voices from beyond remind us that we are far from alone. But when I run my hand from her upper arm and into her hair, turning her face to mine for another kiss, her protests turn to soft whimpers.
“Just for a minute. I need to kiss you.”
She nods, her hazy eyes locked on mine.
“Tate, guard the door,” I bite out, and then lead Aspen inside.
