Free The Dating Tutor: Alec's Story by Melissa Frost

Instead, she moved closer and slipped her arms around his neck. Her body pressed the length of his, and then she lowered her head to rest on his shoulder. “This is more comfortable,” she informed him, thankfully letting his comment slide.
    He was frozen for a moment before his arms slid around her waist. He held her close, his nose inches from the top of her head. He could smell her shampoo, and it seemed to seep into his very being.
    In the background, he heard the strains of a familiar country song. Matt’s mother always listened to country music in the car, so he’d started to recognize a few. This one was a popular Toby Keith song about two friends falling in love on a dance floor. It was so much like the circumstance between himself and Ellie that it was like a punch to the gut. It was like a personal message, or perhaps it was a warning.
    Whatever it was, it summed up their evening for him with heartbreaking accuracy. Resting his chin on the top of her head, he swayed her gently to the music, the words coming softly from his lips as he did.
    He sang along as he rocked in time with the music. His eyes closed, and he inhaled the soft feminine scent of her hair that was so familiar to him. He could get lost out on this dance floor. He could get lost in her. Continuing to sing along with the song, he whispered the words softly in her ear.
    Ellie pulled back to look at him, and Alec realized he was in trouble. If they didn’t leave, he was going to do something he might regret in the morning. “We should go,” he said softly. “I promised I wouldn’t have you home too late.” With that, he slipped out of her arms, though he did keep her hand in his as he led her back over to their table. As she lifted her jacket off the back of her seat, he prayed this dating tutor stuff ended soon. He wasn’t sure his heart could survive much more.
    * * * *
    Alec walked Ellie to her front door with his arm held out so she could keep hers tucked into it. She was strolling along perfectly at ease, as if she had no idea just how much this little date of theirs had thrown him.
    “This actually was a really fun night,” she proclaimed, sounding almost reluctant to admit that. “I had my doubts, but date Alec is actually an okay guy.”
    “You had doubts?” He kept his tone light and playful as he led her up the front walk. “You should have known I’m quite the catch way before now. I don’t know why it took you so long to figure it out.”
    She shrugged a shoulder. “Oh, I don’t know. Could it be the usual behavior I see from you?” She poked him accusingly in the ribs. “Spraying me with your garden hose, burping, leaving your dirty gym shorts on your bedroom floor for weeks on end, and the many other boy faux pas you commit.”
    He was suddenly regretting all those boyish traits he’d allowed her to witness. He’d never thought he would regard her in a romantic fashion. She’d been like one of the guys. Now it was costing him. He doubted Jake had ever let a girl hear him burp before. In fact, he wondered if Jake ever had burped before at all. “Dating Alec and hanging out at home Alec are like two different men.” He winked, trying to make light of it. “You’re one of the rare people who has ever gotten to see both sides of the coin. In fact, you might be the only one.”
    She nodded with an affectionate smile. “No one knows you like I do.”
    “No one,” he agreed. That statement was his undoing. Her words rang entirely true. No one knew him like she did, and he doubted anyone ever would. Not some hockey groupie. Not girls like Shannon.
    He might not have the nerve to tell her how he felt, but he would give her reason to pause. He would give her reasonable doubt about Jake if he could. He would make her realize what she was missing. As she reached the first step of the porch, Alec tugged her hand to pull her to a stop.
    Her mouth opened as if to ask what he was doing, but he didn’t give her the chance