by Katie Reus
“I don’t speak for Amelia.” Iker’s voice was butter smooth.
Now Nathan turned that laserlike focus on her again. “Will you dance with me?”
A soft Cuban beat filled the air as the lights dimmed a fraction. “Ah . . .” She glanced at Iker. She didn’t want to be rude, and they’d both already danced with other people earlier in the evening. Still, it felt as if it might be impolite to say yes, but she really wanted to talk to Nathan—or Miguel—and ask why he was using another name and why he was in Miami. For a brief moment she wondered if he was in some sort of criminal business, but almost immediately she discarded that idea. The Nathan she’d known had seen the world in black and white. He’d been so damn honorable about everything. Since she wasn’t going to find out by guessing, she let her curiosity win. “Do you mind?”
Iker’s expression was soft as he shook his head. “No, but save the next one for me.” Surprising her, he kissed her forehead in a sweet gesture.
Before she could react or think, Nathan took her hand and she found herself in his arms. She was glad she’d worn heels, so she was better matched for him, height-wise. He was right at six feet tall, the same as Iker. But Nathan’s presence was somehow bigger, more intense. Of course that was probably just to her, not the entire room.
As one of his big hands landed on her hip, more of those stupid memories pushed up, including the one of her at his school’s prom. It had been so damn cliché, but they’d lost their virginity to each other after the prom. It was a sweet memory, one she’d always cherished. Despite the surreal quality of the situation, she wanted to lean into him, to soak up all of him. It had been so long since she’d seen him, since she’d ended things with him in the worst way possible, and it was difficult to believe he was here.
“The beard’s new,” she murmured as they swayed with what could have been a practiced rhythm. It seemed that years of separation didn’t affect that. Their movements might as well have been choreographed.
To her surprise, a hint of a smile played across those full lips. “How long have you been with Iker Mercado?”
“I don’t answer your questions, Miguel, until you tell me why you’re calling yourself—”
The grip on her hip tightened, a clear indication for silence, before he gently spun her in time with the steady beat. She was incredibly grateful for the simple three-step dance pattern. Unlike some of the complicated dances from earlier in the evening, this one she could do without thinking. Which was good because way too many questions invaded her mind. He was obviously being secretive for a reason and she wanted to know why. Her mind circled back to the criminal angle, but she couldn’t make that work in her head. It didn’t fit. Still, twelve years had passed. People changed.
They were silent as they danced, and though she figured she should probably wonder or care if Iker was watching them, she had eyes only for Nathan. But as she looked into his dark eyes it was a reminder of all she’d lost. Pain she thought she’d locked up bubbled to the surface, clawing at her insides. If she thought too hard or long about everything that had gone down between them, she’d slip into a funk and not be able to get out of it for a day or so. She couldn’t do that now.
Still moving in time with the music, she looked at his chest instead of at his face. It made it easier to breathe.
“Are you going to say anything to him?” Nathan finally murmured.
She figured she understood what he meant. Would she tell Iker that his name was Nathan? She didn’t even have to think about it. “No, but you will give me answers.”
“Not here,” he said simply. Since he hadn’t said no, she understood he meant to tell her later. Which just piqued her curiosity even more. “You look beautiful,” he continued, his grip possessive.
Slight irritation popped inside her at the way he held her. “Thank you. You look good too.”
His lips quirked up almost playfully. “Just good?”
Seeing him almost smile did something strange to her insides. She should be pushing him for more answers, but found herself giving him a half smile. “Would ‘handsome’ make your ego feel better? Or maybe . . . ‘pretty.’” She snickered at the dark look he gave her. When they’d been together he’d gotten grief from plenty of the boys in her neighborhood for being a “pretty boy.” Until he’d kicked the ass of more than one of them.
“Are you and Mercado serious?” Nathan’s gaze grew even darker, all traces of amusement fading.
She shouldn’t tell him a damn thing. He wasn’t even using his real name. Still, she couldn’t seem to stop the truth from coming out. “It’s our first date.”
Though it was marginal, his grip on her relaxed. “Good.” There was a wealth of meaning in that one word.
“When do you plan on answering my questions?” Because she had plenty.
“Meet up with me after the auction.” He wasn’t even bothering to ask her, just ordering.
It pissed her off. Despite her curiosity, she pursed her lips and met his gaze dead-on. “If I’d ever had a mother who cared about me, I’m sure she would have told me not to meet up with strangers. And you, Miguel, are a stranger.” A stranger who’d seen every inch of her naked.
His jaw tightened in annoyance. “I’ll answer your questions. I swear.”
There was no real way she was just walking away after missing him and wondering about him for twelve damn years. She couldn’t even pretend not to be rabidly curious. “Can you remember my phone number if I tell it to you?”
He nodded, so she quickly rattled off her number. It was slight but she felt him relax a fraction. As the song ended, she stepped away from him, surprised at the feeling of loss as his arms fell from her. She quickly turned, making her way back to her date.
Iker was talking to two men, but frowned over her head, likely at Nathan, as she made her way to him. She pasted on a smile for Iker when he met her gaze though, hoping it looked real.
Unfortunately, all her thoughts were on the man she’d left on the dance floor and the answers she’d soon be getting from him.
FIND YOUR HEART’S DESIRE. . .
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