by A M Heath
“Say, I don’t know if I can see well enough to get you out.”
“How about–” we both started together at the same time. We stopped and chuckled.
“Get out of the sweater?” I finished.
Neil nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”
I ducked my head, now aware of a particularly sharp branch jabbing my scalp.
Neil reached behind me and held it back while I slipped my arms free. Once released, we both moved away from the bush, letting my sweater hang there by itself.
“I’ll come back for it in the morning,” he offered.
“Don’t bother. I can get it later.”
He gave a nod but said nothing else for a long moment. I half expected him to bring up the waltzing award, but he surprised me with, “Since you’re already here, do you want to join me?”
I eyed him, then his truck, the misty blue of it looking all the more gray in the moonlight. I wanted to be alone. It’s why I came. But, for a reason I couldn’t explain, Neil’s company didn’t drain me as much as being around other people did. I shrugged. “Maybe for a minute or two.” We walked in silence to the truck.
He ambled into the back-bed of the truck, then extended a hand for me to take.
I slipped my hand in his, and he hoisted me up. We took turns gazing up at the moon through his telescope, then sat on the edge of the tailgate, looking out at the water. Weariness set in, and I leaned back, using my arms as a pillow.
“I love it out here,” I whispered, almost forgetting I had company. This had been my place of solace for so long, I hardly knew how to share it.
Neil remained sitting up, one leg dangling off the edge and the other knee he used to prop his arm on. “It’s peaceful.” He turned his head to me. “I figured you would have been out celebrating your two wins.”
I snorted. My two wins, not my four wins. I knew what he was driving at. Normally, I would have goaded him back, but I was too tired to bother. I let my snort stand as it was. Besides, he was right. He had beaten me twice today, just as I had beaten him twice. This dance of ours was nothing new. It didn’t matter who we partnered with, we always came out neck and neck.
Neil didn’t say anything more, and, for a second, I let my heavy eyelids fall shut and listened to the sound of the crickets. “Look,” I said, peeling my eyelids open. “I oughta get back.” If I grew any more relaxed out here, I was liable to fall asleep. The rumor mills would really be having a field day then.
“Sure.”
He hopped off and gave me a hand down. Neil tilted his head in the direction of my home. “I’ll walk you back.”
“No need. I walk alone all the time.”
“I know. But I’m here now, and I’ll walk you back.”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest and studied him. “This isn’t a date, you know.”
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Never said it was. But since when did Miss Arleen Thatcher turn down a date?”
I cut my eyes to him but started for the path anyway. “Come on, if you’re coming.” I didn’t have to tell him. He already was. I slowed so he’d catch up. I don’t know why I bothered, seeing as how I never wanted him there in the first place, but it seemed awkward walking with someone when they really walked behind you.
“Here,” he said, handing me his coat. “I grabbed it out of the truck for you. Sorry, I didn’t think of it sooner.”
Before I could protest–because he likely knew that I would–he slung the coat over my shoulders, and I was engulfed in Neil’s particular musky scent.
“You’re quite the gentlemen for this non-date.”
He chuckled but didn’t say anything.
I felt another coiled muscle relax. “That’s the one thing I actually like about you, Neil.”
He stopped.
I did the same and turned to face him.
“What’s that?”
“You don’t flirt with me.”
He eyed me for a moment, then smirked. “Good thing for you, I never intend to.”
I lifted my brow in a challenge. I liked that he didn’t flirt with me, but it still took me aback. I mean, it wasn’t my normal experience.
“I like my dolls less crowded.”
I laughed outright. And I always had a crowd.
We stopped in my backyard. One quick glance told me that Daddy didn’t make it home, just as I suspected. I slipped his coat off my shoulders and handed it back to him.
Neil took it without comment. He started to back away from me but stopped. “Congratulations on your wins today.”
I smiled. “You too.” And I meant it. The look on his face told me that he knew as much.
I hope you enjoyed the preview of Dance With Me. It releases April 8, 2019. You can pre-order your copy today.
Dance With Me
Copyright © 2019 A.M. Heath
All rights reserved.
