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They walked for a little while longer in companionable silence when she stopped. “I think it’s time to turn back for dinner.”
“Wait.” He didn’t want to put this off any longer. “You don’t have to hold it in, you know.”
She wrinkled her nose, her confusion obvious. “Hold what in?”
He huffed out his frustration, knowing he was going to have to spell it out for her. “Even if you’re relieved about your wedding not happening, you must have strong feelings about what Jeremy did to you. Holding them in or pretending you aren’t feeling them isn’t healthy. Now, I may not be one of your girlfriends, but I have a big shoulder you can lean on.”
She stared at him, her eyes filling. “I hate him,” she said in a shaky voice. “I hate him for manipulating me and my emotions. I resent him for using me, and I’m furious with myself for not seeing him for who he really was. It’s not like my family and friends didn’t try and tell me.”
She attempted to stop the tears with one finger placed in the corner of her eye. “I will not cry over that man.”
Though he admired her strength, he hated that she was blaming herself for the asshole’s behavior, even if her reaction made perfect sense. “How about turning that anger into something productive?”
She sniffed. “How? And don’t make me cry. I don’t want to have to redo my makeup.”
He swiped a tear that had escaped. “You’re gorgeous with or without makeup. I was just going to suggest some planning ahead. What will you do when you have to go back to the office?”
“You mean how will I face Jeremy? That’s simple. With my shoulders back and my head held high. I do have fifty-one percent of the business and I want his personal assistant, aka his mistress, gone. I’d love to buy him out, too. I don’t want to see his face ever again, but something tells me I’m going to have a fight on my hands.”
He clasped both of her hands in his. “Something tells me, you can handle it and him.”
“Well, I appreciate your faith in me. And I’m okay. I just want to go out tonight and forget about everything because…” She drew a deep breath. “Tomorrow, I think it’s time to go home.”
Disappointment filled him but despite all the reasons to keep his distance from this intriguing woman, he was glad he’d come. But she was right. Given how well thought out her ideas were, she was ready to leave paradise, so he might as well enjoy the fun-filled night she’d planned.
Their dinner on the veranda was romantic, though neither acted on the intimate atmosphere. Instead, they savored Maggie’s blackened grouper, grilled asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes, while watching the sun set in a blaze of blues, gold, and pink hues.
Samantha told him about her job, the PR accounts she’d won for Dare & Rollins, the company whose name she’d already changed to Dare PR, at least in her mind. She’d obviously put her heart and soul into the business and he knew she’d fight Jeremy to the bitter end to keep the career she’d built.
After the delicious meal, Dex drove them into town and found a parking space on the street, maneuvering the vehicle easily despite being on the opposite side of the road from what he was used to.
There was one club in town and tonight’s theme offered a futuristic neon party. Together, they walked into the bar and techno music filled the room. Bright colors flashed around him, altering quickly enough to give him a splitting headache. If Dex needed proof his barhopping days were behind him, this setting was it.
Samantha, on the other hand, was having the time of her life. While he refrained from drinking, she’d gone all in. Coming off the bottle of wine they’d shared at dinner, she was enjoying a fruity cocktail. He’d made sure to watch the bartender mix her drink each time she ordered another.
He found a small table close to the dance floor. They started out watching the other patrons but eventually, she made her way into the crowd, immediately meeting a bunch of women her age celebrating a bachelorette party, and they took her into their group. He, on the other hand, remained at a table near the parquet dance floor, attempting to keep an eye on her through the flashing fluorescent lights and the movement around her. Watching her sway to the music wasn’t a hardship and he leaned back, nursing a beer.
After a while, Samantha sashayed over to him and braced her hands on his shoulders. “Come dance with me,” she said loudly, asking for the umpteenth time.
“I’ll tell you what.” He, too, raised his voice to be heard over the music. He clasped his hands on her waist and reminded himself she was drunk and he was a gentleman.
“What?” Her pretty navy eyes sparkled with amusement.
“I will dance…” he began.
“Oooh good!” She clapped her hands, reminding him of her intoxicated state.
“But not until they play slow music and stop flashing those damned distracting lights.” Which meant, he wouldn’t be getting on the dance floor this evening. No matter how much he wanted to feel her curvy body against his, the beat, the lights, and the atmosphere weren’t his thing.
She bent low, giving him a perfect view down her cleavage inside her top. Soft mounds of tanned flesh teased him and he groaned, aware nobody would hear him over the music.
Forcing himself to look up, he met her gaze, those heavy-lidded eyes locking on his lips. His dick reacted, thickening in his pants with one goal in mind. Not happening, he reminded himself.
“I bet I can convince you,” Samantha said, her mouth way too close.
Before he could react, soft and eager lips met his. This woman had starred in his dreams since their first kiss. It had been easier to tell himself he’d put their interlude behind him when there was no chance of them being together. Now, he grasped onto this one kiss because one was all it could be. She was too drunk to know what she really wanted and on the rebound from her jerk ex.
But a kiss she’d remember in the morning? That, he could give her. Swiping his tongue over her lips, he caught a tangy hint of cranberry along with the vodka in her spritzer but he got a bigger taste of Samantha.
