Page 107 of One Bad Idea

The question had barely left my lips when the music suddenly changed tempo, and I heard the first telltale strums of – oh, shit – classic country.

I gave a little gasp.Damn it.He'd actually done it.

The jackass had called my bluff.

Chapter 40

I gave the dance floor another long worried look. It was still packed, but now, no one was dancing. Mostly, they were exchanging confused looks with their partners or staring straight at the D.J., who announced in an overly hearty tone, "And this one's by special request."

When I looked back to Jaden, he flashed me a wicked grin. The way it looked, he was actually enjoying this.

The bastard.

Still grinning, he reached for my hand. "C'mon, they're playing our song."

I didn't move. The song was "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline. It was at least fifty years old, and yet, I'd heard it probably a thousand times while growing up.

Still, I'd never heard it likethis, in a crowded club where the dance floor was emptying faster than a movie theatre during the closing credits. I paused. No,notthe closing credits – a freaking bomb threat, because let's face it, some of the people looked just a little bit terrified.

I knew the feeling. But unlike them, I stood completely still, even when Jaden gave a light tug on my hand.

In a voice filled with mischief, he said, "You're not gonna back out on me, are you?"

I looked from him to the dance floor and back again. Maybe hewantedme to back out. Maybe that had been the plan all along. Maybe all he'dreallywanted was the pleasure of saying,"Hey, I tried, but you were a giant chicken."

I felt my gaze narrow. If he thoughtthat, he was in for a rude surprise.

With a wicked smile of my own, I replied, "I wouldn't dream of it." And then, I let him lead me toward the dance floor, even as I wondered just how far he'd take this.

Maybe he'd stop before we reached it. And thenI'dhave the pleasure of callinghima chicken.

No such luck.

With his hand still in mine, he led us straight to the center of the empty dance floor and pulled me slowly into his arms.

Damn it.He was officially calling my bluff.

Or maybe I was calling his.

Either way, there we were – one lone couple in a space so big, it could've held a hundred couples just like us. If Jaden was embarrassed, he didn't show it. Instead, he acted like all of this was perfectly normal – the empty dance floor, the music that didn't quite fit, and the fact that for once, we weren't arguing.

The song was slow but not sultry, at least not in the modern way. Rather, it was something else, something deeper than sex and more meaningful than the quick couplings that featured so prominently in newer music.

I loved the song. And, to my infinite annoyance, I also loved the way Jaden felt.

He was a lot taller than I was, and my body was stretched tight against his hard physique as we moved in time with the music. Evenmoreannoying, I liked the way he moved, smooth and easy, as if thisweren'tso incredibly awkward.

By now, surely everyone knew who exactly had requested this song. After all, Jaden and I were the only ones dancing, even now.

He was a good dancer and held me just the way I liked, not too firm and not too loose. Or rather itwould'vebeen just the way I liked, if only a tiny part of me weren't secretly wishing that he'd hold me just a little bit tighter.

Damn it.

All of this was so unfair. Even when he was doing things right, it made me feel all wrong. Desperate for a distraction, I suddenly recalled that he'd promised to tell me something if I accepted the dance.

But what was it?

Finally, through the muddled haze of my disjointed thoughts, I remembered. I pulled back and gave him a challenging look. "So….you said you'd tell me why."