Page 23 of Burn for You (Flirting with Forever 3)

I chuckle. “Thanks, Elena.” The girls walk away and my eyes stray to where Piper is talking to Sophia over in the corner. Maybe my sister has a point. I shake my head and run my hand over my jaw. Slowly, steadily, my feet begin their journey to the other side of the gym.

What my sister doesn’t realize is that I was already on my way over to Piper, but then Sophia had walked away with her, ushering her over to a corner to talk. I’ve got to say, that bit caught my attention. Had I done something wrong? I know she’s a little prickly toward me right now, but I didn’t think it would carry over to a school dance. Maybe I’m fooling myself, though. More and more, I’m getting the sense that this job is a big deal to her, but I can’t tell if it’s because it’s something that she wants, something her parents want, or a combination of the two. She’s a damn fine teacher, and I wish there were a way I could accept the job without it hurting her because I’m beginning to see that’s what’s happening. That’s why she’s so averse to every little kindness I show her right now. That’s why she’s shying away from me. At least I think so, anyway. I’d like to think I understand women pretty well.

Then again, my sisters may claim otherwise.

My gaze travels over the students on the dance floor to others on the sidelines eating cookies and still others who have gathered in groups, their laughter a good sign that the dance is a success. Because that’s what I’m supposed to be here for—to chaperone.

Too bad my mind has other ideas and keeps straying to Piper. I wish it didn’t have to be like this. She’ll probably be royally pissed off when she learns what I’d spoken with Jake about earlier today, so I may as well try to make nice right now. With a sigh, I head in Piper’s direction, only to stop short when I notice Elena stop to whisper something to her quickly before slinking off.

Oh, hell. What is my sister doing? She giggles as she walks away with Marcy at her side. I swear, the two of them are completely devious.

Sophia sees me coming and, for some reason, decides it’s time to rejoin her fiancé. At least there won’t be anyone to witness whatever is about to go down.

I put on my best game face as I approach. “Hey. What’s Elena up to now?”

Piper’s face is flushed, her cheeks almost a perfect match for her dress. “Oh, um …” She looks down at her clasped hands, biting her lip. Her eyes flick up to mine. “She said you’d mentioned that you were hoping to dance with me.”

My brows raise ever so slightly. I study the way the color on her cheeks deepens before I question, “Did she?”

Her teeth sink deeper into her plump lip, and my gaze is drawn there, lingering for a moment before meeting hers again. Emotion swirls in her eyes, but I can’t be certain what I’m seeing.

And then it hits me. It’s longing. Fuck me, I think it’s longing.

Without further thought, I reach for her hand, taking it in mine. As if it was meant to be, a slow song begins to play through the speaker system. And slowly, I pull her a little bit closer to me, my other hand landing on her hip as hers comes to rest on my shoulder. My fingers flex and bunch in the fluffy material of her dress at the same time my insides riot with the knowledge her body is so close to mine.

We begin to move together, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. At my age, I’ve done my fair share of dating, fair share of dancing, but I’ve never felt like this with a woman in my arms. Never. She’s like a hazy, beautiful daydream, and I want to live in it with her for as long as I can. My body practically vibrates with the need to sweep her closer, to press the length of her body to mine. But I can’t—not now. And it’s not just where we are. I’m certain if I did that, she’d run. There’s too much between us on the work end of things and—fuck. She quakes, a tremor rolling right through her. Both of my hands squeeze in reassurance, one at her hip, the other at her hand as my head dips down next to hers. With my lips near the shell of her ear, I rasp, “You are breathtaking.” She shifts, her face turning toward my neck. “I mean it. You’re flawless. I’m utterly stunned.” She’s warm and soft in all the right places, and she smells so goddamn good, I have to fight the urge to nip at her neck and see how her skin tastes.

But, no. We’re at school, maintaining a slightly less-than-appropriate distance from each other. In fact—

The song ends, and I ease away from her. She looks up at me, and my heart squeezes right in my chest at the tormented look in her eyes. I don’t—

“I’ve g

ot to get some air. I’ll be right back.” She hurries to one of the side doors, pushes it open, and races away from me.

Chapter 14

Damon

I don’t know how to take that. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I turn and look back toward the center of the gym. All appears to be well and in hand. Then I see Sophia shoo at me and nod toward the door Piper had exited through.

Making haste, I leave the building, carefully putting a doorstop in place before looking around outside. Piper hadn’t gone far, as the sidewalk isn’t very well shoveled. It’s damn near thirty degrees out tonight, yet she appears to be content to shiver in her strappy dress, arms wrapped around herself. I can’t tell if she even knows anyone else is out here with her. Quickly, I remove my suit coat before stepping up behind her. My voice is low so as to not startle her when I say, “Put this on.”

She glances back at me, eyes flaring wide. With a shake of her head, she silently announces her intention to let herself freeze.

“Don’t be silly, Pipe—”

Slam. Both of our heads whip around toward the sound. Behind us, the door has swung shut, locking us out here in the cold. Ah, hell. Just what we needed. I edge closer to Piper, lean in and whisper, “You will take my coat.” I arrange it over her shoulders before I turn back to the door and pound on it a few times. With my hands braced against it, I drop my head, shaking it briefly. Awesome. The music is loud enough inside that they can’t hear us, and “Cupid Shuffle” has just started. I can hear the damned instructions coming from inside to move right, move left, and kick, kick, kick, and, holy fuck, no one is going to be paying attention to us trapped out here.

I turn and push away from the door in time to see Piper full-on shaking from the cold. Surveying the area around us, I’m pretty sure the only way we’re going to get back into the building is to walk all the way around to the main door. Unfortunately, there’s about a foot of snow on the ground and because there’s no sidewalk that circles the building, there’s nothing to be done but trudge right through it. That, or we stand here and keep pounding on the door in hopes that someone hears us. Who the hell removes a doorstop? Doesn’t that mean someone put it there for a reason? The fuck? Seriously. I’m irritated, but know I need to take action. I beat my fists against the door one more time, but no one comes to open it.

“Nobody can hear that over the music.” Piper’s voice drifts to me from where she stands, her back to me again.

I chuckle, frustrated. “Yeah, I know. I was just hoping …” I walk back over to her, pluck my suit coat from her shoulders, and turn her around with gentle pressure from my hand. I know she’s bound to fight me on it because she doesn’t seem to want my help. I hold it out to her with a grim smile. “Put your arms in the sleeves.”

Her lips press together, and I can see her mentally weigh her options.

“Just put it on. Please?”

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