No, this feeling was different. It felt like adrenaline, but not that kind. This was very different.
Neither one of us said a word as I effortlessly moved us around the dance floor. When the song ended, it moved right into another slow song, and I drew back to look down at her. Willa’s eyes searched my face as if she was trying to read me.
“I love this song,” she finally said.
“What’s the name of it?” I asked.
She smiled. “‘Maybe We Will,’ by Noah something.”
I drew her closer to me. Her small body fit against mine perfectly. I wasn’t as tall as Hunter, Kylie, or Bishop. They all stood over six feet, with Adam just at six. I was the shortest of the bunch, five-eleven, but I could take down any of my friends faster than they could blink.
Something about the way Willa looked at me made me feel like I was going to lose control if she kept it up. She must have sensed it, because she broke her gaze and glanced around the dance floor.
“You know, I don’t think we’ve ever danced together,” she said after a few moments of silence.
I shook my head and laughed. “We have danced together. I’m hurt you don’t remember.”
Willa jerked her body back some and stared up at me as she tried to think of when we’d danced before.
“You were eleven, and I guess I was fourteen or fifteen. It was at your cousin Mick’s wedding. You begged me to dance with you, and I let you stand on my feet.”
I could tell the moment the memory came back to her. “How in the world could I forget that? I think that was when I had my first real crush on a boy!”
With her confession, I tossed my head back and laughed. “You had a crush on me then?”
She chuckled. “Yes, of course I did. It was a Frank Sinatra song, wasn’t it?”
A warm feeling of happiness spread through me, and for a moment I was caught off guard. “Yeah, it was ‘Witchcraft.’”
“That’s right! You certainly bewitched me with that dance. None of Hunter’s friends would dare dance with me, but you did. Why?”
She was penetrating me once again with those baby blue eyes of hers, so I placed my hand on her lower back and guided her body back to mine without answering. We danced in silence until the song was over. I knew she wanted an answer, but I didn’t want to tell her I only danced with her to win brownie points with a girl I thought was cute. I would never hurt Willa that way.
Stepping away from her, I cleared my throat. “I’m getting a drink, want anything?”
“A water.”
With a wink, I took her hand in mine, and we made our way over to the bar. I motioned for the bartender and ordered another beer and whiskey for me and a water for Willa. When the whiskey was placed in front of me, I downed it in one drink. The warmth of the liquid went right through my body and instantly cleared my head of the guilt I had felt only seconds ago.
I motioned with my head to make our way back over to the table. Willa gave me a soft smile and turned to walk that way. As we got closer, I saw no one was there.
“Where did they all go?” I asked over the music.
Willa glanced back over at the dance floor. “Seems like everyone coupled up.”
The idea of taking her somewhere and having my way with her hit me like a jolt. My jaw twitched with how hard I had it clenched down to keep myself in check.
Willa sighed and faced me once more. “I know everyone came out to celebrate D-day, but honestly, I think I want to leave.”
I frowned. “You do?”
She nodded, looked down at the beer in my hand, and then back up at me. “Did you drive here?”
“No, I don’t drink if I’m driving. I rode with Hunter.”
A look of relief passed over her face before she glanced around. “There’s Hunter and Bree. I’m going to go tell them I have a headache. Will you wait here?”
“Um, sure,” I said as I felt my brows pull in with confusion.
“Be right back.”
I took a drink of my beer as I watched Willa walk up to Hunter and Bree. Hunter looked over at me and then back at Willa. He frowned, then nodded and said something. Willa lifted her hands and placed one on his chest and responded. Reaching up, she kissed him on the cheek, then turned to Bree.
Before Willa walked away, Bree reached for her hand, and I could tell she put something in it as she leaned down and said something for only Willa to hear. When Willa opened her hand, she snatched it shut again, then pushed the item back into Brighton’s hand, shaking her head. She turned to walk toward me, and I couldn’t help but smile as her cheeks turned red when she glanced back at Bree who was wearing a shit-eating grin.
Swallowing hard, I watched Willa’s luscious body sway as she made her way over to me.
“I have a huge favor to ask you,” she shouted over the music.
“What’s that?”
“I sort of volunteered to drive you home since you wanted to leave as well…otherwise Hunter was going to walk me out to my car.”
A smile slowly spread over my face. “Well, if I wanted to stay, I could always walk you to your car and then come back in.”
Her mouth opened and then promptly shut again. She pressed her lips tightly together. “Yes. Of course, if you want to come back in. Sorry, I…I don’t know why I…”
Willa’s voice trailed off, and she looked embarrassed. She was so fucking adorable I could hardly stand it.
“I don’t want to stay, Willa. Are you sure you want to leave? This was a celebration for you.”
She dug her teeth into her lip for a second before she said, “Honestly, I never was the bar scene kind of girl. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good night out, just not tonight.”
I gave her a nod. “Fair enough.”
A smile broke out over her face. “Good. Shall we leave then?”
Motioning for her to lead the way, I took one last drink of my beer, set it on the table, and then looked over at Hunter. His expression said one thing: Don’t even think about hurting her.
I gave him a nod and then turned and followed Willa out of the bar.
Willa had scored a parking spot in front of Brew’s Place, so we were in her car within a few seconds. She backed up and drove down Main Street as I took it all in, this time not lost in thought like I had been when I rode into town with Hunter.
Each side of the street was lined with buildings more than two-hundred years old. Most of which had been built by an ancestor of mine or, most likely, Willa’s. Boggy Creek had been founded in 1775 and was the type of town people came to if they wanted to take a step into the past. It had been voted one of America’s best small towns and best main streets on more than one occasion. Of course, the fact that you walked over the Pemigewasset River on an old covered bridge in the center of town helped add to the charm.
Main Street was lit up with lampposts that had been placed every ten feet and boasted hanging plants overflowing with flowers. Willa drove slowly as we passed Millie’s Candy and Chocolate store. I felt myself smile at memories of standing with my friends at the long counter, dreaming of eating everything in there. Millie always gave each of us one free piece of chocolate per day and never an ounce more.
“Does Millie still own the candy shop?” I asked.