Tell Me Something Good by Jamie Wesley

close he was, how distracting his body was. She concentrated on the music, letting it flow through her and moving her hips to the drum-heavy beat.
    “I thought you said you couldn’t dance.” Tate’s lips brushed her ear.
    “I said I don’t like to dance. At least not in public.”
    “In private?”
    “I crank up the music and drop it like it’s hot.”
    Noelle’s eyes flew open. Had she said that out loud?
    Tate had stopped moving and was staring at her like he’d never seen her before. A peal of laughter bubbled up in her chest. She’d surprised him. Good.
    The corners of his mouth tilted up. “I would pay good money to see that.”
    “I bet you would, and it would be worth every penny.”
    Tate’s eyes darkened with an emotion she didn’t want to put a name to. “Would it?”
    “Without a doubt,” she murmured.
    What was she doing? Why was she doing it? Instead of trying to find answers she was pretty sure she didn’t want, Noelle resumed dancing. Tate didn’t back away. No, he stood much too close for her sanity, his hot, inquisitive eyes focused squarely on her, his movements mirroring hers. Of course he could dance. Was there anything he couldn’t do? If he moved this well on the dance… Stop . No need to go down that road.
    She backed up a few inches, but he followed her, bringing his heat so close. Making her think things. Long for things. What if she let go of some of the rigid control she kept over her life?
    “Hey, everybody having a good time?” the DJ yelled into his microphone. The capacity crowd yelled out a collective “yes.”
    “Good. It’s never a bad time for some MJ, right?” he called out as the opening bars of “Billie Jean” played.
    A woman who’d obviously had too much to drink stumbled into Noelle, jolting her back to reality. What was she doing? It had been a long time since she’d acted without thinking and been selfish. Now wasn’t the time to alter her life path. Noelle made a move back to her table, but Tate’s hand landing on her arm stopped her.
    “Where are you going?” he asked.
    She blinked up at him. “The song’s over.”
    “Come on,” he said with a wry twist of his full lips. Lips she shouldn’t be noticing. “I don’t think that thirty seconds counted as a dance.”
    “I should go check on Shannon.”
    “She’s a big girl. She can survive without you for a few minutes. It’s okay if you relax for a while. Have some fun.” A raised eyebrow issued a challenge.
    Which she couldn’t resist. “Fine.”
    He grabbed her hand and twirled her around. She laughed at the formal move. Laughed harder when she spotted his wide grin. He was having a good time. And why wouldn’t he be? He lived life on his own terms and, unlike her, wasn’t worried about whether or not he deserved to be happy. She could use some of his confidence and unrestrained joy in her life. She blinked at the realization that she was enjoying the moment. The music. Tate.
    They danced until sweat pooled on her skin and her limbs were pleasantly heavy. He looked like he’d taken a leisurely stroll across the beach. Amazing how much nonstop energy he possessed. She stopped moving and pressed a hand against her heaving chest. “I need something to drink.”
    “I could use something, too.” He held out his hand. “Ladies first.”
    She nodded and headed off the dance floor. She tried not to concentrate on the fact that he’d placed a hand at her waist. For the second time that night. He’d only done it so they wouldn’t get separated in the crowded room. Knowing that didn’t prevent little tingles of pleasures from radiating from the spot he touched to every corner of her body. She breathed a silent sigh of relief when they reached the bar and he dropped his hand.
    “I’ve got it,” he said. “What do you want, a vodka tonic?”
    Her good mood evaporated in a flash, darkness settling over her soul. “I don’t drink.”
    “You don’t?”
    “I have my reasons.”