Page 89 of Nineteen Letters

“It has alcohol in it?”

“It does.”

“It tastes better than that awful wine Rachel had me drinking the other night.”

“Wine doesn’t exactly agree with you,” I tell her, chuckling. I don’t bother elaborating, because it will only embarrass her. I’ll save that story for another time.

The entrees come out, followed by the mains a while later. “Wow, what is that?” Jem whispers to me across the table when the waitress leaves.

“Lobster mornay. It’s your favourite dish.”

Her head lowers as she studies the shell of the lobster.

“You just eat the lobster meat and sauce inside it,” I reply as I observe her.

A playful smile tugs at her lips as her eyes move back to mine. “Did you seriously think I was going to eat the shell?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I grin as I pick up my beer and take a swig.

Music is playing softly in the background as we talk about everything and nothing, just like we always did. Though so much of our time was spent together, there was always so much to say.

“I feel like I need to go for a run now to burn off some of that food,” she says contentedly.

Running wasn’t the way we had burned off food before the accident, but I already know that’s not how this night will end. Instead, I ask her to dance. Not because I enjoy dancing, but there is nothing I love more than to hold Jemma in my arms.

Her face illuminates with a smile. “Okay.”

Removing the napkin from my lap, I stand and move around to her side of the table to pull out her chair. I can’t take my eyes off the bare skin on her back as I follow her onto the dance floor. It’s driving me crazy. This dress is almost my undoing; I’ve always loved her body.

There’s not a single part of her I don’t love.

Her eyes, her lips, her perfect little nose, her pretty face, her long legs, her dainty hands, her soft skin … I could go on forever. I remember all too well the feeling of her beneath the weight of my fingertips, and the sensation of our naked bodies meshed together, connected as one.

I yearn for that again.Every damn inch.

She comes to a stop in the middle of the dance floor and turns to face me. When I see a nervous smile tug at her lips, I don’t hesitate to pull her into my arms. Her breath hitches and I have to suppress the groan that bubbles in the back of my throat as my hands slide around her waist, coming to rest against her smooth skin.

Her arms encircle my neck, and her body instantly melts into mine. I close my eyes and savour this moment. She feels like home when she’s in my arms.

She begins to sway to the music, and my body can’t help but react to her. I find myself willing my erection to stay down, but I should know by now that I have no control over this. When it comes to her, I never have. I clench my eyes tighter, but it’s no use, there’s no sign of retreat.

Please don’t let her notice.

My eyes spring open when I hear her gasp a few seconds later.Shit, she noticed.

“I apologise,” I whisper burying my face in the crook of her neck. “It’s been so long since I’ve held you like this.”

She tilts her head back as her eyes lock with mine. The sadness I see on her face tugs at my heart. Asking her to dance was a mistake; she’s not ready. I’ve been selfish, but only because I’m desperate.

My arms drop by my side, but as I retreat a step, she reaches out and grabs my wrist, stopping me. “Don’t. It’s okay.” I feelmy body relax as she drags me back in. “Oh Braxton,” she says a moment later, burying her face in my chest.

When I hear her muffled giggle, I draw my face back and arch a brow. “Are you laughing at me?”

“No.” But then she loses it. I feel her body convulsing against mine as she no longer tries to hide her amusement. When she snorts, I laugh along with her. “Talk about an awkward first date,” she says, removing one of her arms from around my neck to wipe the tears from her eyes.

“Awkward doesn’t quite cover it,” I mumble.

This moment is like déjà vu, because the same thing happened to us the first time we danced together back in high school. I consider throwing in the Boy Scout torch excuse I used back then, but she won’t get it. I still cringe when I think about that night, but it’s also the moment that propelled our relationship out of the friend zone for good.