Tidal Falls (Wounded Hearts Book 1) (7 page)

Their server reappeared, and after placing their orders, Ty stood and held his hand out to her. “Dance with me, Sara?”

She placed her hand in his and as he led her out onto the dance floor “Home” by her favorite artist, Michael Buble, began to play. As they twirled around the room, she had to admit Ty knew what he was doing in the romance department. This should have been the perfect date. If only she could get a certain blue-eyed devil off her mind. Why had he shown up at her door tonight? She’d heard nothing from him for two surprisingly long days. Not that she cared where he’d been—or with whom.

Sure, you don’t.

Ty's voice near her ear startled her. “Are you having a good time?”

Flushing,
Sara answered with more enthusiasm than the question warranted. “Oh yes, I am. It's been a long time since I've been out dancing; you’re very good by the way.”

“Sisters, remember? They always dragged me a
long to dance classes with them. Guess I picked it up there. I do a mean two-step too,” he joked, pretending to dip her.

“Oh no
, Mr. Garrett, this is my limit.” She giggled, enjoying herself more than she’d expected.

“Okay.” He laughed.
“But you’re missing out on some serious fun.”

They’d gone a couple more trips around the small area, weaving between the other couples when she noticed something had caught his attention behind her. “What’s wrong? Someone you know?”

“Are you sure there's nothing between you and that Nick guy?”

“Of course I'm sure. Why do you ask?”

“Because he's here, and if looks could kill I'd be a pile of ash by now,” he said as he twirled her around for a look.

Her heart gave a kick in her chest, and she forgot to breathe as she searched the room for him. “Why in the world would he have followed us here?”

“Oh, I think I can guess,” Ty said dryly. “He’s the big ugly one, over by the bar.”

Sure enough, it was Nick all right. And he wasn’t even pretending he was there for any other reason. Full of attitude, arms resting behind him on the bar, he was staring straight at her. Looking at his grim visage Sara should probably have be
en worried. Instead, excitement coursed through her veins. He’d followed her.

Did it mean he was jealous? She dropped a hand to her fluttering tummy, uncomfortably aware of how close Ty held her.

He sighed against her warm cheek, before releasing her and stepping away. “You know it's kind of providential he’s here. I was going to have to cut this short anyway. I’d forgotten about an important appointment I have to keep. Unavoidable, I’m afraid. Maybe if I asked, he could give you a lift home?”

Distressed that he thought
he needed to make excuses, she refused. “No, Ty, if you need to leave, I'll go with you. It’s fine.”

“Really
, I insist. Stay and enjoy the meal. It's the least I can do for standing you up.” He led her back to their table, and bending down, kissed her full on the mouth. “I had a good time tonight, Sara.” He gave her a smile laced with regret before ambling across the dance floor to Nick.

Leaving her wondering what had just happened.

***

Nick was more than ready for pretty boy as he made his way across the dance floor after taking Sara bac
k to their secluded little tete-a-tete table. It had been all he could do to remain in his seat as the asshole dipped and dallied with her out on the floor.

Garrett fired the first word as he came into range. “Listen, I don't know what you’re doing here, but if you ever hurt that lady over there, you'll answer to me, got
it? I must be out of my fricken mind, but I’m going to leave now. So the door’s open. Do. Not. Screw. It. Up.” Sketching a quick salute across the dining room, Ty turned and left the restaurant.

A little stunned that he was getting another chance, and calling himself all kinds of a jerk, Nick made his wa
y over to the woman who had him tied up in knots. He had no excuse. He’d been compelled to follow them. Seeing them on the dance floor, the perfect couple, had about killed him, but he couldn’t have stayed home tonight. Whether Sara wanted to admit it or not, there was something special between them, something he wasn’t willing to walk away from.

The moron was lucky he’d been able to walk out of the building after ki
ssing her like that. Nick had been ready to bust some kneecaps for a few minutes there. Seating himself awkwardly at their cozy little table, he was still working out how to explain breaking up their date when Sara beat him to it.

“Nic
k, what are you doing here?”

Yeah, Nick, what
are
you doing here?

He needed his head examined. He had no business showing up here tonight and ruining her date.
He’d tried to go home after they left together in that POS, make himself supper and find something to watch on the boob tube. Nothing worked, she stayed front and center in his mind. Finally he’d given up and decided to take a little drive, blow off some steam. Yeah sure, that worked well. Next thing he knew he was parked in the La Lune parking lot, watching fancy dressed couples making their way inside.

S
ince he was here anyway, he might as well go in for a beer, right? The place was nice, he had to admit. Dining patrons encircled a gleaming hardwood dance floor. Soft lighting highlighted an elderly couple drifting to an old time melody. No sign of Sara yet, so he made his way over to a polished mahogany bar, found a seat, and ordered up a drink from a cute little barmaid. Turning to face the room, he rested his arms on the counter and scanned the room until he found them.

Scowling, he noticed studdly
had reserved them a private little table for two with candlelight and wine. He grabbed his beer and took a long pull, annoyed with the little green monster riding his last nerve. The feeling intensified tenfold when the guy got up and invited her to dance.

They looked go
od together. She moved with grace, head tipped up smiling at her partner. The soft lighting caught in her hair, turning it to burnished gold. Beautiful. He watched as the bastard dipped her and she came up laughing like a schoolgirl, and something twisted inside, his jaw clenching on the pain.

“You okay there
, buddy?”

The bartender.
Shit. He needed to get out of here.

“Yeah, I’m good. Be out of your way in a minute.”

“No problem. Take your time.”

That’s what got him into this mess in the first place. He’
d been so busy trying to deny what he felt that he’d missed what was right before his eyes. Fuck.

He
almost growled when the asshole led her back to their table and kissed her. Slugging back the rest of his beer he set it on the counter, when he wanted nothing more than to wing it across the room. Throwing some cash down, he was about to leave when he saw Garrett cutting across the dance floor, headed his way.

And n
ow here he was, sitting like a tongue-tied idiot while the woman of his dreams waited for an explanation. “I was restless, thought I’d come check out what all the hype was about.”

“Really?
You thought you needed to see how popular La Lune is? Tonight?” Sarcasm laced the words.

Well, at least she hadn’t thrown her glass of wine in his face as soon as h
e sat down. That was promising. “You’re right, I followed you. I guess I just wanted to make sure your ‘date’ behaved himself.” No way was he admitting how lost he’d felt when she’d driven away with the guy.

“He was the pe
rfect gentleman, you didn’t need to worry,” she said, gazing across at him with undeserved warmth, her eyes reflecting the candle’s glow. “Besides, I can take care of myself, Nick. I have for a long time now.”

“I know you can, but maybe you shouldn’t have to.” He decided to switch topics before he totally ruined the night for her. “What were you planning if he tried anything, stepping on his foot with those killer shoes you
’re wearing?” He smiled to show her he was teasing.

“T
hat's not what I meant and you know it.” The sound of her laughter popped in his chest like bubbles of champagne. “But thank you for watching my back, I appreciate it.”

“My
pleasure, and your welcome. Now what's for dinner?” He sat back and savored the moment. The music, candlelight, wine, and the beautiful woman sitting across from him.

Sara chuckled, her eyes
still sparkling with mirth. “Your incorrigible. I feel terrible. Ty went to a lot of trouble for tonight.”

He loved her laugh. Whole-hearted and husky, it slid its way down his spine like warm syrup. The candlelight highlighted her lovely heart-s
haped face and those honey-colored eyes. Her hair was twisted up in some kind of complicated knot. A few loose tendrils had fallen out and were caressing the side of her neck. Giving in to the temptation, he stretched out and gently tucked the silky strands behind her ear, his pulse rioting when she leaned in to his touch like a purring cat.

“What are we doing
, Nick?” The soft yearning in her voice made his chest tighten even as his thighs hardened in reaction. Good question, what
were
they doing?

He tugged
the bottom of her ear before reluctantly letting go, satisfied as a visible shudder coursed through her. He sat back and contemplated whether to give the easy answer or an honest one. “I suppose we're here to enjoy this fabulous meal.”

Easy
, it is.

T
he server arrived with impeccable timing. “Brought together by the powers that be, I think a toast to good old Ty is in order, don’t you.”

She gazed wordlessly at him for a lon
g moment. Disappointment turned her mouth down at the corners and wiped some of the sparkle from her eyes. He was about to throw caution to the wind and admit how much he wanted to be there with her when she straightened her spine and tossed her head before replying, “You’re right. A toast then, to a perfect meal.”

She lifted her glass to touch his with a faint ting before taking a sip of the fruity tasting wine. “This is nice.
A relaxing evening with a friend, no expectations.”

Which one of them was she trying to convince? She could call what they had together friendship all she wanted, but it wasn’t going to change a damn thing. Nick wanted her, and he was prett
y sure she wanted him back.

He wanted
to tell her about his past. He just didn’t want to bring it up right now. Not with her looking like a dream come true in the softly flickering light. Tomorrow. He’d tell her tomorrow, for sure.

“Nick, tell me something about you I don't know.”

Startled at how close their thoughts coincided, he kept it light, wanting to see that sparkle again, “Well let’s see now…I shave in the shower. Kill two birds with one stone right? And I abhor broccoli, actually anything green. If we were meant to eat green shit, we would be walking on four legs, that's my theory.”

“Nick!” She
chuckled, her lips tilting up so that her cheeks rounded out like two plump apples, and her eyes crinkled at the corners. “Don’t tell Jess that, vegetables are very good for you. Makes a body strong, you know.” Then, as her gaze wandered over him just long enough to make him sweat, “Okay, maybe not everyone needs them.” She admitted, admiration glinting from her glorious eyes. “And what you do in the shower is your business. I was talking about something from your past. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Are your parents still alive? Have you ever been in love?”

It was easy to think they were two people out on a date, enjoying each other’s company with no obstacles between them. He only
wished that were true. “You should be a reporter. Okay seriously, I thought I was in love—once. It never worked out.” His hands fidgeted with the wine glass. “No brothers or sisters. My old man ran off years ago, no loss there. And my mom lives in a senior’s condo in Florida. She loves it; they have weekly Bingo nights, craft nights, singles nights. She never has time to get bored, it's good for her.”

W
anting a chance to hold her close, he stood. “I'm not nearly as smooth as Romeo there was, but give me a chance and I'll try not to step on your toes?” He hadn’t danced in years, and hoped like hell the music would be slow.

Hesitating only long enough to stop
his heart, she smiled, and grabbing onto his hand, pulled him out to the floor as a great old song his mom loved, “Till We Meet Again”, by Doris Day began to play.

S
he settled his arm securely around her waist and holding his other hand close between them, rocked from side to side, doing interesting things to his equilibrium.

“Listen for a minute.
Do you hear that?” She hummed along with the melody, her sweet voice stroking him from the inside out. “That’s what we’re going to move to.” She nodded towards an older couple he’d noticed her watching earlier. “Like them.”

After a
somewhat rough start, Nick began to focus on more important things than where to set his feet. Her body tucked up close to his, so close he could smell the citrusy fragrance of her shampoo as her hair tickled his chin, a couple of strands catching in his stubble. Her bare back, soft and silky as he ran his fingers up and down the gentle curvature of her spine. His other hand resting in heaven, enveloped between the pillowy softness of her breasts. It was all he could do to concentrate on where his feet were supposed to be. Wow, if he’d known dancing could be like this, he might have taken it up sooner.