Free Date in the Dark by Jami Wagner Page B

than when we are at work.
Hopefully the idea of being with me outside work will change her
mind.
    Slow music starts to play in the background
and I hear people start to talk. Fewer people feel the need to
whisper tonight. Just when I’m about to suggest we start dancing,
someone bumps into me, causing me to bump into someone else.
    “Oh…” Allie’s voice is so close to my ear I
can feel her breath. I take advantage of knowing where she is and
wrap my arms around her. My hand grazes her butt and I move it
higher, pulling her into me.
    My arm close around her small waist easily
and I have to take a deep breath at what her warm body next to mine
does to me. Her hair falls close to my face, smelling of the same
spiced vanilla she wears each day. I smile at how perfectly the
scent fits her. I’ll never think of another woman when I smell
vanilla. Only Allie. And now that I have her in my arms, I don’t
want to let her go.
    “Would you dance with me?” I whisper in her
ear when I’ve got one hand at her hip and one holding her small
soft hand.
    She lets out a breath before answering. “Yes,
I would love to.”
    We make our way onto the middle, I
think , of the dance floor, bumping into only two couples on our
way. Not once did we let go of the other.
    “What happened to Miles?” she asks
softly.
    “I made a deal with him.”
    “A deal? What kind of deal?”
    “I told him I’d set him up with your friend
Kelly.”
    Allie laughs in my ear. “And how do you plan
to do that?”
    “I’m not sure yet.”
    The music switches to another slow song and
I’m surprised to hear they have a live band. They’re playing a song
that I don’t recognize, but I can’t complain that it lets me hold
Allie for a few minutes longer. We start to dance, moving our
bodies together. Allie laughing every now and then when she steps
on my feet, and it makes me happy. If I could hear that sound all
day, she can step on anything she wants.
     
    Allie
     
    How unbelievable is it that being this close
to Parker feels so right? I take back everything I said about this
date-in-the-dark idea. Or about Parker for that matter.
    His hold around me is firm, and I feel
protected. I was never afraid of being in the dark, but if I was,
his presence near me would have faded that fear. It would’ve been
weird had his brother shown up. I mean, I was going to ask Miles
about Parker anyway, but this works out in my favor. I no longer
have to pretend my date is Parker. My date really is Parker.
    I have one hand on his shoulder and one in
his hand. They’re like most men’s hands are, rough and firm, but
when he strokes his thumb across my hand, the tenderness that comes
from it isn’t what I expected. I like it. Each time he touches me,
my body reacts in a way I’ve only felt once before—with Parker.
    Our small steps move gracefully with the
music. Parker is an amazing dancer, and he makes me look good. If
only the other couples could see how amazing he is. I wish I could
see his face, his eyes. To feel the way he’s looking at me. I
have it bad for this one.
    “Alright everyone, one more song, and we’re
off to dinner.”
    It’s already been an hour?
    Parker’s body freezes at the announcement and
then he pulls me in closer—I didn’t think it was possible. His
woodsy scent surrounds me, shooting a flutter into the pit of
stomach.
    “I could dance with you all night,” he
whispers in my ear, and my heart beat picks up speed.
    “Yes, it’s nice,” I say calmly.
    “You’re shaking. Am I making you
uncomfortable?” His voice rises and he starts to pull away.
    “No,” I say louder than necessary and tighten
my grip before he can let go of my hand. “A little
nervous…yes.”
    The next song begins to play and before I can
let myself enjoy the delicate rhythm, Parkers words stun me.
    “I’m nervous too.”
    I feel his breath next to my cheek as he
speaks and if Kelly could see us, she’d be applauding my behavior.
I turn my head