Page 79 of Just One Chance

Her lips twitched as we moved through the couples already dancing and found a space in the middle. She looped her arms around my neck. "This is nice. Live music. Good brews. New friends."

I dipped my head, rubbing her neck with my nose. "It is nice."

She trembled in my arms. "You want to go home early?"

"Mmm. As soon as this song is over." There was something about dancing with her—the way her body pressed against mine and her hips moved in time with the beat, how I wanted to touch her but couldn't—that was driving me crazy. "We can wait a few more minutes."

She chuckled huskily. "I'm not so sure about that."

I leaned in and lowered my voice. "Well, I'm not fucking you in my brother's brewery, so we'll have to wait until I can get you home and alone."

She moved closer, pressing her tits against my chest, and I almost groaned out loud.

"Careful. My family's going to think that something's going on," I said into her ear.

She pulled back to get a good look at my face. "I'll tell them you're just being a good tour guide."

I raised a brow. "By giving you a tour of my bed?"

She laughed. "Yeah, that."

I figured that anyone who was watching us would think that we were having a good time, but they wouldn't necessarily think we were sleeping together. Although Cal had guessed. Was I that obvious? Because I still couldn't read Kennedy.

The notes to the song faded away, and the singer announced that they'd take a short break.

Kennedy raised a brow. "Want to get out of here?"

"I thought you'd never ask." She moved away from me, not holding my hand, which bothered me for some reason. Suddenly, I wanted everyone to know we were together.

A sharp pain pierced my chest. This was confusing. There was no point in telling everyone when it couldn't go anywhere, right?

The only thing that made sense was our time alone together. Whether it was in bed, or doing something mundane like eating dinner. Everything else was complex.

I met Callum's knowing gaze as I followed Kennedy to the door.

He nodded, and I looked away. I wouldn't acknowledge that he was right, or even that he could be. Everything was so messed up in my head. The situation felt insurmountable.

When we were outside, she reached for my hand. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring. I might be heartbroken when she left, but I'd enjoy every minute we had together now.

22

KENNEDY

Boone was different tonight, more inside his head. I wasn't sure what he was thinking about, and I didn't have much space to entertain it. Because I was so caught up in how my work was coming to an end.

I just had to meet with the Harts one more time to go over my final suggestions, and then I wouldn't have a reason to stay.

The anticipation of my impending departure was making me anxious. But there was nothing more to do. The job was over, and my home was in Miami.

I was getting more inquiries by the day, especially since news about the snow room had broken in the hotel community. Most wanted to talk to me about what I could do for them.

My life was wherever the job took me. It certainly wasn't here with Boone, no matter how much I wanted it to be.

He also hadn't mentioned feelings, and I was afraid to bring them up.

This was supposed to be temporary. Talking about feelings was outside the bounds of our relationship.

The cab of the truck was quiet on the short drive to Boone's place. I tried to imagine what it would look like with a cabin and everything else that Boone wanted. It was going to be perfect, but it hurt to even consider it. Would he meet someone else and start a family with her?