“You want to knock out that list, right?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“No time like the present.” He grinned. “What do you say? Wanna see how many we can check off in one night?”
With a smile that lit up her eyes, she nodded. “Let’s do it.”
And they did.
First, they hit the karaoke bar. After three drinks and a lot of prodding on Garrett’s part, Avery got up the nerve to put her name on the list. And when they called her up to the small stage, she fucking nailed it.
Would she hit it big or win a Grammy? Probably not. But when she’d loosened up and let herself go, she was good.Betterthan good.
And most importantly, she’d had fun.
Grabbing the list from her purse, she’d crossed off both the karaoke lineandthe thing that terrified her. She’d told him getting on that stage had been one of the scariest things she’d ever done, so it could count as both, and he’d agreed.
After that, they went to a piano bar. It had nothing to do with the list, but they’d enjoyed listening to the live, impromptu music anyway.
Later, as they left that bar to head to another part of the ship, they heard more music coming from up ahead.
He glanced over at Avery. “Want to check it out?”
“Sure.”
Taking a chance, Garett reached for her hand. His heart sang as she looked up at him and smiled before linking her fingers with his.
They found the source of the music near one of the ship’s three spiral staircases. Neon green lights glittered the entire open area, which consisted of a small bar attached to the staircase. Above that was a second-level balcony overlooking a tiled dance floor, and opposite that was a set of glass elevators that seemed to go on forever.
Right on cue, the fast-paced song that had been playing, slowed to a romantic ballad he recognized.
Without a word, Garrett led Avery onto the dance floor. Weaving in and out of the crowd, he found a spot that would give them enough room to move without making her feel as though she were suffocating.
“I like this song.” She moved in closer as he put a hand around her waist.
Keeping one of her hands in his, Garrett began swaying to the music’s soft, gentle beat. “Me, too.”
The longer the song played, the more relaxed Avery seemed to become. She rested her head on his shoulder, pressing a hand against his lower back.
Closing his eyes, Garrett gently laid his cheek against the top of her head as he soaked in the moment…and this woman. The delicate perfume he’d been smelling all night filled his senses in the most incredible way.
Hints of vanilla and berries combined with a sweetness he could only describe as Avery. The intoxicating fragrance burning a permanent place in his memory as his new favorite scent.
Of their own accord, his arms pulled her closer to him. There was no way she could miss the hard bulge pushing against the crotch of his dress pants. But if it bothered her, she didn’t show it.
It wasn’t like he could control it. His body knew what it wanted, and the woman in his arms was it.
Lifting his head, Garrett looked down at her. She looked up at him. Time stopped, and everyone around them vanished as he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
Avery lifted on her tiptoes as they worked together to deepen the kiss. Her lower body meeting with his, igniting a spark of need that raced through every nerve ending.
They were moving fast. He knew this, yet he couldn’t make himself stop.
I never want to stop.
Praying he hadn’t misread the signals she’d been sending all night, Garrett pulled away just enough to ask, “You wanna get out of here?”
He held his breath as he waited for her answer.