The Dating Dare - Jayci Lee Page 0,4

his body reacted as though he’d touched a live wire. His smile faltered and was replaced by slack-jawed shock. Every hair on his arms and the back of his neck stood at attention, and the shiver running through his body felt hot and cold at once. He’d never felt desire so instantaneous and powerful before. What the hell was happening?

Tara stared back at him with eyes filled with alarm. She must’ve felt it, too, and was as startled as he was by the electricity humming through them. He wanted to reassure her … let her know this was something new for him, too.

“Wow,” he said, taking a small step back. “I … will you catch me if I swoon? My knees feel like Jell-O.”

Tara huffed a husky laugh, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Each person to their own.”

He returned her smile and waited a moment before he pulled her close again. He shivered and she nestled her cheek in the crook of his neck, tightening her hold on him. Probably just in case I swoon. Her scent intoxicated him—citrus, cream, and aged oak. It was an unexpected but sexy-as-hell combination, and he couldn’t get enough of it. He couldn’t get enough of her. But he intended to respect the line she drew. For tonight.

Seth was moving to Paris in a little over a month. He was rearing to start the next chapter of his life as an esteemed photographer in the world’s fashion capital. It was the opportunity of a lifetime that he had every intention of exploiting. He already had most of his belongings packed and a lease on a condo in Paris.

But he couldn’t leave their wild attraction unexplored. He and Tara wouldn’t have much time, but there was enough for a bit of fun. He just needed to come up with a plan to win Tara over for a sweet spring fling.

The music came to an end much too soon, and he held her for an extra beat. Then Seth cleared his throat and asked, “Do you want to get a drink?”

She hesitated, staring hard in the vicinity of his bow tie. After a moment, she met his eyes. “Sure. I could use some company.”

“I make great company,” he assured her.

Tara hid a small smile. He was surprised by her change of heart, but she seemed more comfortable around him. And less suspicious about his intentions. Whatever the cause, he was glad he could spend more time with her. But when he searched for the closest bar, the bartender was busily closing shop. Seth’s dismayed eyes sought out the other bars, but they were already closed.

“It looks like the bartenders are wrapping up for the night,” she murmured with something akin to disappointment. She worried her bottom lip for a second then asked, “Do you … want to take a field trip?”

“I’m game,” he said with a bit too much enthusiasm. He didn’t want the night to end, yet. “Where to?”

“I want to drown my sorrows in my beer barrels.” She didn’t quite succeed in making it sound like a joke.

“What sorrows?” His eyebrows drew together in concern.

“A corner of my heart feels hollow,” she whispered after a brief hesitation.

“Is it because of the wedding?” Instinct told him it was.

“More or less. I’m happy for Aubrey and Landon. More than words can say. But Aubrey is my best friend and her life is changing … she’s moving on. I can’t help but feel left behind. Stuck in the present.”

He wasn’t sure what to say. Landon was his older brother, and he always seemed to walk a few steps ahead of him. This was just another instance where Landon stepped forward first. But Seth was about to take his own step forward—not toward marriage, but toward professional success and personal growth—by moving to Paris. But if he weren’t, would he feel left behind? Yes. Like a lone tree trunk rooted to the floor of a river.

“She might be moving on, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck,” he said hesitantly. “It just means that you’ll have to figure out your own way forward.”

“You’re probably right.” She paused as though searching for the right words. “But my best friend grew a mini-human in her stomach, and got married to her soul mate. I’m going to miss daydreaming about the future with Aubrey, because her future is already here.” She tilted her head and met his eyes, seeking reassurance. “It’s normal to feel a little melancholy, right?”

“Without a doubt. And