Page 16 of The Sweetest Mistake

Ignoring him, she said, “I’m not hungry enough for an entire meal, but I’ll split something with you.”

“Cheeseburger and fries okay?”

“Sure.”

After the waitress took their order and left, Julia settled back in her chair and sipped her beer while she watched the band warm up.

“I always thought it’d be cool to play in a band,” Connor said.

“Do you have any musical talent?”

“Does singing in the shower count?”

“I think everyone does that.”

“Then no. Not one bit!”

She laughed. “I could see you up there with a guitar strapped across your chest, and your tat—” She halted when she saw the way he was looking at her, his eyes lit up with pleasure. Nothing like making it obvious that she’d checked him out.

“You’ve noticed my tattoo?”

Julia shrugged. “I just happened to notice the edge of it one day when you were working outside at the studio.” Great! Now he’s going to think I’ve been gawking at him out the window.

“Have you been watching me out your window?”

Julia raised her brows at him. “Don’t get cocky. I said I noticed it, that’s all.”

Thankfully, the lead singer of the band stepped up to the microphone, and they stopped talking as he introduced himself and the other band members before leading into their first song. Shortly after that, the waitress brought over their food, and Julia turned her attention to eating and listening to the music.

The band played several well-known country songs interspersed with some of their own music, and Julia got so into it that she’d started singing a familiar ballad aloud. The song was “Amazed” by Lonestar, and it was one of her personal favorites, so she knew all the words by heart. She hadn’t even realized she was singing until she glanced over at Connor and saw him staring. Clamping her mouth shut, she forced herself to stop singing and simply listened to the rest of the song.

When it was over, Connor leaned in and said, “Maybe you’re the one who should be in a band. You have a beautiful voice.”

Julia shook her head vehemently. “Oh. No. I’m like you. I mostly just sing in the shower.”

“Remind me to take a shower with you sometime—just so I can hear your pretty voice again,” he said with a wink.

Leave it to him to make it about sex. Although her lady parts didn’t seem to think it was such a bad idea. Plus, she’d get to see the rest of his tattoo.

They ordered another beer before the band began playing the second set, and soon a few enthusiastic listeners got up to dance on the small dance floor that faced the stage. Julia admired the dancers, who seemed to lose themselves in the music. Of course, maybe their courage had been alcohol induced. In any case, she was content to sit back, watch, and tap her feet to the rhythm beneath the table.

When the band started playing another ballad, Connor suddenly stood up. Holding his hand out to her across the table, he said, “Dance with me.”

He’d formed it as a statement instead of a question, but that didn’t change her answer. “No thanks,” she said and then took another slug of beer.

Standing firm, arm extended, he said, “Come on, Julia. Take a risk.”

She suppressed the urge to shout, “I already am! I’m here with you, aren’t I?” Instead, she said, “The dance floor’s too crowded.”

“We’ll find a space. Come on before the song’s over.”

She’d run out of excuses. Besides, the people on either side of them were watching and waiting to see what she would do. Feeling pressured from all sides, she shoved herself out of the chair and took his hand.

Looking pleased, Connor led her to the edge of the dance floor and settled his hands on her hips. There was an awkward moment where Julia wondered where to put her own hands. Not that she’d never danced with a man before, but this was different. She and Connor weren’t a couple, and they weren’t in love. They were acquaintances at best.

Seeming to sense her indecision, Connor took her hands and placed them on his chest. And then he pulled her a little closer, to where their hips were almost touching. Still feeling uncomfortable, she ventured a glance at him and saw amusement in his eyes. But this time, instead of feeling irritated with him, she saw the humor in it too. They were both feeling their way with each other. The only difference was that Connor was more of a risk taker than her. In fact, he’d been the brave one all along—asking her out repeatedly even when she’d discouraged him, and now asking her to dance even though he’d probably expected her to turn him down.

The least she could do was enjoy the dance. Moving a step closer, she slid her hands further up his chest until they rested on his shoulders. The man had to be almost six feet tall, so she was grateful for the few extra inches that her cowboy boots afforded her; otherwise, she would have looked ridiculous trying to dance with him.