Page 71 of Cautious Love

Shiloh weaves through people and takes my hand pulling me after her onto the dance floor. I don’t waste time pulling her into my arms, dropping my palm probably a little too low on her back, but last time I had my hand there she didn’t seem to mind.

She squeezes my hand and right as we get going the song changes to something far too slow to do anything, but pull her close.

Her lips part on a gasp and those hazel eyes throw me over the edge.

“I know you wanted to stay quiet about … us, but this isn’t staying quiet, Ledger,” she says so quietly I have to lean in to hear her.

I pull back and look down at her and don’t give her any warning squatting slightly and dipping her deeply. She doesn’t hesitate falling into the move and she holds tight as I pull her back up to standing, her cheeks pink and her hair swooshing behind her.

“This is Paxton, Shy, they already knew. We’re confirming it I suppose,” I say turning us and messing with the stone on her ring finger.

“They definitely do now,” she says.

I frown. “Do you want to be seen with me?” I ask her, not realizing it’s entirely possible that she doesn’t.

We keep getting our wires crossed because we aren’t being honest with each other, and Cooper’s words have remained at the forefront of my mind. It’s time we either lay it all out there or shut it down. I’m laying it out purely by doing this in public, and I’m aware of the repercussions, but I can’t find it in myself to care.

In fact, I’m sure my mother will be calling me tomorrow morning wondering what I’m doing with Shiloh Sullivan. Half of my family is here and I haven’t spared them a glance. I’m not going to bother thinking about the case either, it’s just me and her.

“No,” she says, and then shakes her head. “No that’s not what I meant, I mean I don’t care who sees me with you. Even if I should,” she whispers.

I scrutinize her as my hand slides up her back, and put a leg between both of hers, keeping her steady as I dip her at a different angle this time. She’s beautiful and wild and maybe a little crazy, but I kind of like her crazy. I wonder if she think’s about me the way I’ve been thinking about her.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” she whispers.

I chuckle. “I’m not worried about that,” I tell her.

“You should be,” she says.

“Shiloh, I know what I’m up against,” I say, giving her a knowing look.

She looks up at me, and it wouldn’t take much for me to stoop down, grab her face and inhale every bit of her. But I manage to keep our distance.

“I’m not sure you do, but I’m willing to find out if you are,” she whispers, and as the song ends, she leaves me standing on the dance floor shocked.

I want my wife, and it sounds like she wants me back.

Chapter 18

Shiloh

It’snearlytwointhe morning as I finish cleaning up for the night, and it can’t go fast enough because I want to go home. I can’t hold myself back anymore. After we danced, I realized I can’t force what I’ve felt for weeks to go back in a box. Am I a little guilty about not being totally honest with him? Yeah, but … maybe one day I can be. But the likelihood is that I won’t have to. This has an end date, and I’m ready to take the bull by the horns.

Grabbing my purse, and keys I wave to the guys and nearly run out the door, they’ll lock up when they leave.

I hurry down the steps and round the corner towards the back of the building, and if not for the light in the lot, I would be running back into the bar.

But I know that body anywhere. He’s leaning against my car, and I don’t have to see his face clearly to know my husband waited for me.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

He stands up and drops his hands, sliding them into his pockets. “I wanted to take my wife home after work.”

I smile walking up to him. “Why?”

He rubs the back of his neck and shrugs. “Felt like I should,” he says.

I don’t hold back and lean into him. “Are you going to follow me home?”