Heat flared briefly in her eyes, and I wondered if she was remembering our dance at Blue Nyx. I hadn’t forgotten a second of it, and I had every intention of getting just as close to her tonight.
The DJ must have read my mind because the music changed to a slower tempo as I led Beth to the dance floor. I tugged her gently to me until our bodies touched, and I heard her soft intake of breath when I ran my hands down her arms and lifted them, placing them around my neck. I put my hands on her hips and locked my gaze with hers as we moved with the music.
“Are…you having fun?” she asked a little breathlessly.
“I am now. I was disappointed we didn’t have our dinner, but this more than makes up for it.”
She gave me a coy smile, and it took an enormous effort not to kiss her. I cast about for something to say that would keep me from thinking about her soft lips.
“Jordan was right earlier when she said you have wicked aim with a knife. You also have great reflexes. That was a perfect kill shot tonight.”
I felt her body relax as she beamed at me.
“Thanks.”
“I haven’t seen you sparring yet, but Nikolas tells me you’re one of the best young warriors he’s seen in hand-to-hand.”
Her lips parted in surprise, and she flushed with pleasure. “He said that?”
“Yes, and he doesn’t throw out compliments often.”
She bit her bottom lip as if she was trying to contain her excitement. “I’ve learned a lot from him since I came here, although I’m not brave enough to spar with him yet.”
I laughed. “Few people are.”
“You are.”
“I’m a sucker for punishment.”
“No,” she said earnestly. “You’re an amazing fighter.”
Pleasure rippled through me. I’d been complimented many times on my fighting, but hearing it from her made my chest swell.
“Everything you taught me helped me excel in training. I finished at the top of my class.”
I smiled, and she averted her eyes. It was the first time she’d spoken about the past without anger. It felt like we’d moved past an important hurdle and she was one step closer to forgiving me.
“We can start practicing together again if you want to. Mason, too,” I added quickly before she balked, thinking it was an excuse to spend time with her. It was, but I also wanted to teach her everything I knew. As a warrior, she was going to face dangers no matter how much I hated it. The best way I knew to keep her safe and my sanity intact was to make sure she was prepared for anything.
Her gaze met mine again. “Okay.”
“Good. We’ll start tomorrow…if you’re up for it.”
Her eyes narrowed at my challenge, and I saw the competitive spirit that had put her at the head of her class. I held back a grin. This was going to be fun.
Talk of training had put her at ease, and she relaxed in my arms. When someone nudged her from behind, pushing her closer to me, she didn’t stiffen and pull away like she would have a few days ago. I could have stayed there with her like that all night.
The music switched to a faster song and I reluctantly released Beth, but I didn’t let her leave the dance floor. Jordan joined us, and Sara even managed to drag Nikolas out onto the floor. Beth spent more time dancing with the other girls than with me, but I didn’t mind. She was having fun, and I loved watching her lithe body move with the music. I was already anticipating the next slow song when I could hold her against me again.
Four songs later, Beth declared she needed water and we headed for the bar. As soon as we left the crowded dance floor, I heard someone calling my name. I turned to see an attractive blonde woman, who squealed and launched herself into my arms.
“Chris! It is you,” she gushed, hugging me tightly. “I can’t believe it.”
“Hey,” I said, acutely aware of Beth, who stood beside me looking on.
The woman stepped back, smiling, and I suddenly remembered where I knew her from. A pit opened in my gut as my past collided head-on with my present.
“What are the odds of running into you here?” she said. “And wow, you haven’t changed a bit. How long has it been?”
She snapped her fingers before I could reply. “Four years.”
“That long?” I asked lamely, feeling like a deer in headlights.
“Oh, yeah.” Her smile turned sultry. “Best July Fourth weekend ever.”
Beth’s gasp was almost inaudible, but there was no mistaking the faint wave of pain that flowed into me through our bond. I reached for her hand, but she jerked it away from me. I caught the wounded look in her eyes before she spun and disappeared into the crowd.
“Excuse me,” I said to the woman as I turned to go after Beth.
I caught up to her outside the restrooms. “Beth, wait.”
“Don’t touch me.” She shrugged off the hand I laid on her shoulder as if it repulsed her and went into the ladies room.
“Fuck.”
I paced outside the restroom, trying to figure out how to fix this mess. God, the timing for that little reunion could not have been worse. Things had been going so well, better than I’d hoped, and this was going to undo all the progress we’d made tonight. Worse than that, Beth was hurting and it was my fault.
Beth
Stupid! I’m so stupid.
I swiped angrily at the tear that trailed down my cheek, ignoring the curious glances from the three other women in the restroom. What were they staring at anyway? I wasn’t the first girl to cry over a man who didn’t deserve her tears, and I wouldn’t be the last.
My chest tightened painfully as my mind replayed the beautiful blonde woman in Chris’s arms, the recognition in his eyes, the way she’d smiled and looked at him with the familiarity of a former lover.
Best July Fourth weekend ever.
A fresh wave of tears threatened as old heartaches pushed their way to the surface. In the mirror, I saw the sixteen-year-old me who had been crushed by the same man I’d unwittingly let back into my heart.
One of the women grabbed several tissues from a box on the vanity and carried them over to me. She was my height with inky black hair, dark skin, and the face and body of a runway model.
“He’s not worth it.”
I sniffled and blotted away the wetness on my face. “How do you know?”
Her smile was understanding as she met my eyes in the mirror. “Honey, any man who would make you cry when you look that gorgeous is not good enough for you.”
“Amen,” said a petite redhead as she retouched her lipstick. “Too many great guys out there to waste your time crying over one.”
The door opened, and Sara entered the restroom, her eyes immediately finding me. Her brow furrowed in concern as she walked over to me.
“What happened? Chris looks miserable, and you’re in here crying. I thought you two were having a great time together.”
“We were.”
“So, what went wrong? Did he say something to upset you?”
No, he said all the right things. And I fell for them.
I wiped away a few smears of mascara below my eyes and straightened to face her. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have here in front of an audience.
“Can we talk about it later? I just want to get out of here.”
“Sure.” She glanced at the closed door. “He’s outside, waiting for you.”
I knew exactly where Chris was, thanks to the bond between us, the bond I should have broken days ago if I hadn’t been so weak. God, I was such a fool.
Steeling myself, I went to the door and opened it. The first person I saw was Chris, standing a few feet away, his expression one of worry. And guilt.
“Beth,” he said as I walked up to him.
“I can’t do this,” I managed to say as my throat tightened, almost cutting off my air. I moved to go around him, and he took my wrist in a loose grip.
“Let’s talk about this,” he pleaded softly. “We’ll go home and –”
I pulled out of his grasp. “There’s nothing to talk about. Please, just leave me alone.”
Sara spoke to Chris as I walked away, but I was too focused on putting distance between us to hear what she said. I thought about looking for Jordan to tell her I was leaving and abandoned the idea when my gaze landed on the woman from Chris’s past. Pain flared in my chest again, and something ugly burned in my stomach at the knowledge of exactly what she had been to him.