Page 70

He walked back to his place at the edge of the dance floor, his vantage point finally cleared enough that he could see Hannah and the young Marine dancing. He fumed, playing over their date in his mind. He’d held her hand, for fuck’s sake! Didn’t girls know what that meant?

I told her I didn’t want to start anything with her. Maybe she thought it was just two friends running errands.

She threw her head back, laughing, and he could hear the husky sound in his head.

Maybe she hadn’t seen him or needed rescuing.

The Marine dipped her and spun her around, that beautiful smile he loved glued to her lips.

Or maybe she got tired of waiting on me.

HANNAH LAUGHED AT herself as she did the moves for “YMCA” with Nicki, her dance partner, Eric, and Caleb. When Caleb had first come up behind her and slipped his arm around her waist, her heart had lodged in her throat. She’d imagined turning and finding Blake behind her, but when he’d whispered, “I’m Caleb, and you’re beautiful,” she’d been both excited and disappointed.

Now, however, she had been dancing for an hour with him and thoroughly enjoying herself. Caleb was a twenty-five-year-old Marine with blue eyes and brown hair cut close to his head. He was sweet and funny, and she was having a great time.

Still, she couldn’t stop her gaze from wandering occasionally, hoping to catch a glimpse of Blake.

She was still angry with him, but she’d secretly hoped that he’d be waiting for her tonight, ready to sweep her out on the dance floor and tell her he only wanted to be with her.

When the song ended, Caleb took her hand and leaned in. “You wanna get a drink?”

“Yes, please.” She turned to Nicki and asked, “Want to get a drink with us?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Nicki said, wrapping her arms around Eric’s shoulders.

Hannah let Caleb lead her out of the crowd toward one of the bars, taking careful steps so her ankle didn’t roll in her new heels. She’d practiced in the shoes all week, even dancing in them around her apartment, but she still wasn’t completely used to wedges.

“What will you have?” Caleb asked as they stood in line.

“A water and one of those pink drinks with the heart-shaped watermelon slice.” She’d had one earlier, and it had been to die for. She reached for her little clutch and her second drink ticket, but he waved her off.

“It’s my treat.”

“Thank you.”

Caleb smiled warmly at her and wrapped his arm around her waist in a too-familiar way that made Hannah a little uncomfortable, especially since she could feel his hand resting on the top of her bottom through the dress. He wasn’t acting gross about it, so maybe he didn’t think anything of it.

As casually as she could, she reached around and moved Caleb’s hand up a bit.

“Sorry, did I cross a line?”

He looked worried, and she wanted to reassure him. “It’s fine, your hand just traveled a little below the equator.”

It was their turn to order, and when Caleb didn’t tip their bartender, she reached into her clutch and gave him a couple of bucks.

Caleb gave her a disgruntled look. “I told you it was on me.”

“It’s okay, I’ve got the tip.”

He seemed irritated for a moment and shrugged. She picked up her drink and followed him over to a table.

“So, what do you do, Hannah?” he asked.

“I work as a waitress in the morning and teach kindergarten in the afternoon.”

“That’s hot. I wish I’d had a teacher that looked like you when I was in school.”

Hannah shifted her feet and frowned a little. She didn’t like Caleb’s overly familiar touch or his suggestive comments.