Page 23 of Sweet Surrender
9
ALEX
THREE WEEKS LATER
The movement of our bodies was so suggestive and sexy, but what was even sexier was the way Judah looked at me. The whiskey he had drunk impacted his heavy-lidded gaze that held me in a trance, and I found it hard to break my gaze away. My hand felt so tiny and delicate in his as he took one step forward and then one step back.
His movements were easy and graceful, and I was glad to see that he was a quick study. He spun me around, and when I turned back to face him, there was a longing in his gaze that snatched my breath away. But when he performed a quick turn and faced me again, it was gone. I almost wondered if I had imagined it.
We had been back home in Georgia from Cancun for the last week. My brother and his wife, Tyra, flew from Cancun to Buenos Aires for the official honeymoon.
Judah returned to his construction management company, and I resumed planning other people’s fantasy wedding. I had been so busy that I hadn’t had time to do too much other thanfall flat on my face at the end of the night. Spring was an extremely busy wedding season.
Last night, Judah called and invited me out on a date. He allowed me to choose our adventure, and I chose salsa dancing.
Whenever I went dancing, it was usually with a group of friends. I had yet to meet and date a man who was interested in dancing, but Judah welcomed the opportunity.
Throughout the last few weeks away from Judah, I thought about him often. I missed him more than I expected to, and I realized how much our time in Cancun had meant to me.
“Oooh! It’s hot in here.” I laughed and fanned myself after we finished.
“Let’s grab some drinks and get you a water,” he suggested.
“That sounds great.”
We returned to our table and placed our drink orders.
“So, how did you become involved in salsa dancing?”
“This is going to sound sooo corny.” I felt my face grow warm from embarrassment.
“This is a no-judgment zone.” He held his hands up.
“I was watchingDirty Dancing: Havana Nightswith my mama, and she was fangirling over Patrick Swayze. She talked about how good he was in the originalDirty Dancing, and she talked about how he should have been able to portray his same character.
“I kept watching the movie, and I got caught up in the sensuality of the dance, and I wanted to do it. I took several classes, and the rest is history.”
“That’s cool. I’ve always loved to dance, but I have never thought about this style of dancing with heavy Hispanic influences. It is a sexy, but romantic style of dancing.”
“I’m glad that you enjoyed it,” I commented as our waiter returned with our drinks. “What held your interest before you returned to Georgia?”
“Being on the water, jet skiing, going to concerts, running, and playing basketball.”
“No wonder you’re so fit for your age,” I teased.
He reached across the table and touched the backs of my fingers. “Alex, be honest with me.” His tone grew serious.
“Always.”
“Is that a problem for you?”
“No, Judah.”
“What is it that you want from me, Alex?”
I sighed because that was an easy and difficult question. It was easy because I wanted him. He made me feel seen and cared about, and he was the only one who could make me laugh, even when I didn’t feel like it.
The difficult part was that although I wanted to be with him, I wasn’t sure how that would go over with our families and friends. My identity was strongly tied to my family and to the approval of my parents. I longed for my mother’s approval, especially, and though I had done a lot to disappoint her in younger years, I tried to shy away from doing so now.
