Page 62 of Coming Up Roses
Flynn turns me away from Max and leads me to the dance floor, Olivia following close behind after she throws the man an evil look.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, as the music fades out andsomeone announces the line dancing will be starting in a moment. At least they can explain to me without having to shout over a driving bass.
“Max is …” Flynn starts.
“He’s a bastard,” Olivia cuts in, face stony. “I know we can’t actually tell you what to do or who you can spend your time with. But I beg you to please consider your choices when it comes to Max Sheridan.”
I shoot a look between the two of them. Clearly they’re taking this seriously. “Okay. I’ll keep it in mind.” I glance back to where Max was standing, but he’s disappeared.
“Good,” Flynn says and his hand squeezes my waist. How I didn’t realise his hand was still on me I don’t know, because now I know it’s there all of my senses have zeroed on in the touch. “You gonna dance with me, Rosie?”
I want to do something else with him, but I can’t exactly bring that up with Olivia standing right here. Flynn drops his hand from my waist and I suppress the whimper that threatens to escape at the loss of contact with him.
He lines up beside me while Olivia takes her place on my other side.
Someone stands on the small stage in the corner, walking us through the steps and after a couple of repetitions, the music kicks back up.
Thankfully I’m not the only one who can’t keep up. Olivia stumbles along beside me, giggling every time she flubs a step. Flynn however looks like he was born to line dance. After watching him with Olivia earlier, it’s not just line dancing he was born for. I’ll have to hit him up about it later.
I catch sight of Dallas through the crowd. He and Katie found a spot across the room and while Katie’s taken to the steps almost as well as Flynn, Dallas has not. Dancing has never been his thing. I was surprised when he so easily agreed to coming tonight, but as I watch him stumble along beside Katie, it makes perfect sense.
I’ve realised I’ve stopped dancing, too busy watching Dallas laughing, when Flynn’s hand lands on my waist again. He gives a little tug, and I follow him without question as he leads me off the dance floor, towards a spot in the back corner of the room.
The lighting is dim back here, the music quieter, though not by much.
“You okay?” Flynn leans in close so I can hear him. I feel the soft brush of his breath against my ear and I recklessly lean into his body. He stiffens for a moment, but after glancing around the room, the tension leaks out of him.
“I’m fine,” I say and he gives me a sceptical look. “I mean it. I’m good. Great actually.”
“You’re having fun?”
“Yes.” I place my hand on his forearm, smoothing my palm up his skin. He tracks the movement.
“You were looking a little … I don’t know exactly, but like you were maybe sad?”
I shake my head, sliding my fingers as far as possible under the rolled sleeve of his dress shirt and just managing to brush my fingertips across his bicep. “Not sad. I was watching Dallas.”
“Oh.” Flynn straightens, extending the distance between us.
“He’s so happy. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him likethis. I love that he’s made such an incredible life for him and Sadie. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
“Oh,” Flynn says again. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted another shot with him. It would have put me in a really awkward position.”
“Because Katie’s your best friend?” It makes sense. Not that I’d ever want to come between them. They’re perfect for each other. A blind man could see it.
Flynn shrugs. “Well, there’s that, but mostly because I want you for myself.” His voice is a little breathless, tinged with hope, and the same feeling is clear in his eyes.
I dig my fingertips into the taut muscle of his forearm. “Suddenly all this noise is giving me a headache,” I say, then reach up on my tiptoes to speak directly into Flynn’s ear. “Would you be able to walk me home?”
I pull back just in time to see the request register and Flynn’s expression goes from concerned and confused to salacious in one second.
He slips his hand into mine and tugs me along as he weaves through the crowd. He finds Olivia, taps on her shoulder to get her attention and leans in to speak to her.
I can’t hear what he’s saying, but her eyes flick to me, and down my arm to where my hand is still linked with Flynn’s. She nods, then says something back to Flynn. He presses a kiss to her cheek, then turns back to me.
“Let’s go.”
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