Page 66 of Final Chance At Love (Chance At Love Duet 2)

“Whoa,” I laughed. His son whistled in encouragement and we both laughed. I waved my hand at him to stop laughing.

“Can I cut in?” Rick stepped in just as the song ended. I glanced over at Betty and she had a wide smile on her face giving me two thumbs up. I nodded at him and Jonathan gave way.

Daughtry’s song “September” came on, and I smiled at Rick. “This is not exactly a dance song.”

“That’s ok,” he told me, putting his arms around me. “We can just slow dance.”

We moved slow, our bodies in sync. I think back to the nightclub and the dance I shared with Kristoff. A combination of memory and the words in Daughtry’s song was just detrimental to my heart and I found myself choking up.

Damn hormones made me tear up and I sniffled trying to contain the sadness that came over me.

“You alright?” Rick asked quietly.

“Yes,” I mumbled. “It’s just my hormones playing tricks on me.”

“Are you sure it’s the hormones, Gem?” He was the only one that called me that, ever. I leaned my forehead against his chest.

“No,” I shook my head against his chest. “I feel like I’m dying on the inside.”

There was a moment of silence between us.

“Finally,” he mumbled, his lips against my hair. “Finally admitting everything is not peachy. Now tell me, what do you want?”

“I want him,” I admitted for the first time out loud. “I want him and need him so much it hurts. I liked it better when I felt nothing… when I didn’t want anyone. Just the girls and me!”

“I know it’s scary,” he commented. “The girls will grow up; they can’t be your only purpose. You have nothing to lose by going after what you want, but you have everything to gain. ”

I looked up from his chest and locked eyes with him. “Except my pride,” I muttered. “And did you just quote Daughtry?”

He smiled sheepishly. “It seemed appropriate,” he admitted. We both laughed and as he took my face in both of his hands and kissed me on the forehead, he added, “You are one of the strongest women I know. It doesn’t make you weaker admitting you need him.”

“Maybe,” I replied a bit bitterly. “But he sure as hell doesn’t need me.”

We continued slow dancing, a breeze every so often swept through the terrace, clinging my dress against my body and my hair into my face.

“Listen, Gem,” Rick took his most serious voice. “After Jack and what he did, I know you are worried. I truly think Kristoff is nothing like Jack. He punched me out of jealousy. Jack never went after men he was jealous of. He took it out on you. That is a big difference.”

I considered those words pensively wondering if I got this all wrong. Rick glanced over my head and a look of shock was on his face.

“What?” I asked him and I turned my head around to see what got him so stunned. I followed his gaze and stopped dead in my tracks and in Rick’s arms.

Kristoff!

Both Rick and I stood there like two statues staring at the man I just announced out loud I wanted and needed. My heart went from heartache to racing in just a matter of a few seconds, and I felt like I might pass out from the sudden adrenaline rush in my veins.

“Genevieve.” Kristoff’s deep voice reached me.“What a surprise to see you here.” He didn’t seem surprised at all. His green gaze was locked on me, and it was as if we were the only two on the terrace. I remained still next to Rick, refusing to move, refusing to get any closer to him.

The moment was broken by Saoirse who gave a delighted screech and ran to Kristoff and threw herself at him. He caught her and kneeled down greeting her. Sierra followed right behind and he did the same with her. His gaze returned to me and I looked away. Next to him was a gorgeous redhead.

I glanced over at Rick and whispered so only he could hear me. “Did you tell him?” He shook his head in denial. “Scratch everything I just said!”

Fucking asshole!I was thinking to myself.Does he need to have hot women with him all the time?

I plastered a smile on my face, and with Rick at my side, we walked over to Kristoff. From my peripheral, I noticed shock on Betty’s and Deila’s face. Betty must have filled her in.

“Hello, Kristoff.” My voice came out lower than I intended it to.

“Gemma.”God, I forgot how sexy his voice is.

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