Page 100 of Never Quiet

“I’d like to dance with Hayden first if that’s alright.”

“An excellent suggestion.”

She led them through double doors and Amanda was smitten with the place. Clearly what was once the grand ballroom had been converted into a classy club that played excellent music.

Gently tugging a man toward the dance floor who stared at her in a mixture of desire and confusion, Amanda didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around his shoulders. He held her gently.

“I love being in old places like this. It makes me wonder about everyone who walked, danced, and talked here before us. This building is more than a hundred years old. Imagine the history, the pain, the love these walls have seen.”

“The way you think, it thrills me, Amanda.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Raking her fingers through his hair, she smiled as he moved her around the room. “You’re an excellent dancer.”

“As are you.”

“I never wanted to learn until Chaz told me it was a good skill to have.”

“You’re close to the Hardings. It’s unusual since they tend to insulate themselves from others.”

She let her palm drift over his shoulder and down his arm before returning to wrap around his neck. “I was terrified when I arrived. My family knew pain and loss but…I’d never known it. They gave me a beautiful, sheltered life, and I never take it for granted. The Hardings took me in, eased the stress, and kept me safe. I’m close to Dakota and Gunner but Chaz and Shawn feel like a second home.”

“You prefer gay men around you.”

She laughed. “I do. They don’t make shit weird.” She sighed and pressed herself against him during a turn. “I’ve always had Caroline and Noel in my life. How they look is normal, average even, to me.” Meeting his eyes, she said, “I didn’t know it could be like this.”

“It shouldn’t be, Amanda.”

“Enough about me.” Leaning close, she said softly, “Tell me what hijinks you’ve been up to in the computer realm. I love your search and destroy missions on enemy systems. It always makes me laugh to think of them running around screaming about losing all their data.”

Laughing, they talked for half an hour and she asked rapid questions. Some made his eyes widen.

“I forget how adept you are with tech. I always think of you in your lab running chemical analysis.”

“I like puzzles. Sometimes, I hope I don’t solve them too fast because the process makes me happy.” Trailing her fingertips over his brow and through his hair, she said, “Tell me more.”

“Amanda…”

“Hmm?”

“Talking like this turns you on.”

She smiled. “There are so few people on my level, Hayden.” His hand moved to her lower back, his fingertips brushing the top of her ass. “The way you are…stimulates me.”

“I feel the same way about you, Amanda.”

Staring at his lips, she raised her gaze and murmured, “I realize there’s no one here to photograph us but…”

He lowered his mouth to hers. They stopped in the middle of the dance floor and their arms tightened around each other.

Their second kiss held a lot more heat.

Someone cleared their throat behind them and Hayden growled against her lips. Pulling back slightly, he stared into her eyes and asked sharply, “What do you want, Harper?”

“Hayden! Are you kissing Amanda Lang?”

He started to turn but Amanda applied gentle pressure to make him wait, planted kisses on Hayden’s cheeks and mouth, and then looked over his shoulder.

His older brother stood sternly behind them, his hands crossed at his back. Elijah wore a look of stunned fascination.

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