Page 54 of Pick Me This Time

“Well, I suppose you were late,” I said, handing over the cleaning equipment.

“I couldn’t have been late. I never said I’d come.”

Pulling out a chair, I sat down and watched him as he started mopping the floor. I never thought I’d see him do anything like this, but I definitely appreciated the view. The strong muscles in his forearms rippled under his rolled-up sleeves, and his body moved gracefully from side to side as he made quick work of the mess.

It sure didn’t look like that when I mopped.

“Why did you come?” I asked, repeating my earlier question. “Don’t tell me it was to dance with me.”

“Okay,” he agreed easily. Too easily. “I won’t tell you that, but it does happen to be true, so if you don’t want me to tell you that, you’re going to have to tell me what you do want me to say.”

My brows pinched, my heartrate kicking into a higher gear. “You really came here to dance with me?”

“Primarily, I came here to apologize, but yes. I was hoping I would get to dance with you as well.” Finishing with the mop, he stowed it back in the bucket and snapped his jacket up from the chair. “If your ride has left, can I take you home?”

“I still need to lock up. You can go ahead.” I could definitely use the time alone to clear my head, but instead of leaving, he stayed with me.

As we strolled out into the cool night air, he glanced at me, another slow, charming smile on his lips. “How about that ride home now?”

“I prefer to walk,” I said.

Sterling didn’t hesitate for a second, holding his hand out in my direction. “Sounds good. Let’s do it. I’ll walk with you.”