Page 27 of The Bad Boy Prince in Love

“Don’t mind me,” she said, snapping back to reality.The present moment filled her with too many sentiments thanks to that lousy, sappy music, but at least she was over the heartbreak now.She could dance with Luke without letting those emotions drag her down.

He didn’t seem quite convinced.“I meant what I said earlier: I know how it feels to be pressured by your parents when they expect you to behave a certain way.”

“All right, let’s say I believe you,” she allowed.

“I’ve felt that pressure all my life,” he went on, “and it led me to do something stupid.Now, my family sent me to Texas to make up for my mistakes with some honest work.”

“And yet here you are, trying to find a way to get out of work?”she asked, looking up at him.

His shoulder rose in a shrug beneath her hand.“I’ve been rebelling against authority for so long, I don’t know how to do anything else.”

“Well, you could start by at least trying to be a good fake boyfriend.”

“Ha ha, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“I really don’t understand you, Luke.”

“I’m a mystery,” he agreed.“But what’s the point of trying to live up to impossible expectations?One day, I just decided I should do whatever I want.I’ll still be a disappointment, but at least I’ll have some fun.”

They danced to the languid, quivering sound of steel guitars, and Hallie tried not to be lost in her own thoughts again as she focused on the rich blue color of Luke’s jacket, the fresh scent of his aftershave, the warmth of his shoulder against her palm.

“I’m having fun right now,” he said, and she knew he was probably telling the truth.She was not leaning up against him like some couples were for this slow dance, but she felt connected to his body, moving with its usual flexible grace in perfect time to the music.

Hallie wanted to say she felt the same way, but she couldn’t trust him.He was bound to saunter away in the same instant and go chasing after some airhead or a nerdy church-going woman, it really didn’t seem to matter to him either way.

Hallie was not going to give him even the slightest hint that she found him attractive.Her confidence didn’t need to be destroyed even more than it had been.

But she didn’t back away when he wrapped both his arms around her, pulling her in even closer until their bodies were pressing against each other.She didn’t try to object as she also clung to him while swaying and circling on the dance floor amid the colored lights.

“I like the way it feels to hold you,” Luke said softly in her ear.

She was in the danger zone.Everything in her body was drawn towards him by a force stronger than gravity as if he was some kind of inescapable black hole.And if this dance went on much longer, she would be tempted to kiss him.

“You must feel it too,” he said, his lips even closer to her ear between her loose curls.

“Feel what?The air conditioning?It is a little chilly in here.”

He laughed, a deep rumble that echoed from his torso and bounced off her ribcage.“You can deny it all you want, but I’m not often wrong about these things.”

“I’m sure you’re not, being such a suave ladies’ man,” Hallie said sarcastically.

Thank goodness the slow song was over, and a more jaunty tune came over the speakers.

“Are we having fun tonight?”Perry shouted on the microphone.“Yeah!Let’s hear it!”

The crowd cheered, though Hallie didn’t feel like joining in the celebration.It took everything she had just to leave Luke’s embrace without making a fool of herself.

“There goes your sister,” Luke said, “Hey Terry, would you like to dance?”

Terry’s mouth dropped open as she spotted them.“There you are,” she came towards Hallie, looking surprised to see her on the dance floor.Hallie couldn’t blame her after all these years of having zero luck landing a date on the local scene.“I need to talk to you.”

Hallie hesitated a moment, not wanting to leave Luke alone.Her plan to distract him had been sort of working.

“Could Luke also come along?”she asked, despite her sister’s angry glare.

“No, it’s a private matter.”

Hallie saw she had little choice.“Okay, don’t get into trouble,” she said to her ‘date’.“I’ll be right back.”