Page 95 of Sweet Madness
“Likewise, princess.” I say feeling vulnerable as fuck yet sure of what I was saying. I’ve never felt this happy… this free.
“One more dance?” She holds me closer and smiles.
Right then, I would give her all my dances for the rest of my life if she only asked.
As the words got stuck in my throat, I simply nodded, a half-smile playing on my lips. I don’t need to say anything to her because somehow she always reads my mind. My mind and my heart.
As we held each other, the band started to play the next song. And as I held the lovely heiress in my arms while the sky shone down on us and the crowd of dancers faded into the background, I know this moment I would never forget.
Space Note
“Around 275 million stars are born everyday. You were one of them.” — S
Chapter
Twenty-Five
SUMMER NIGHTS
Shaw
“You are the reason for all my smiles.” — S
While Ella and I danced for the second time at the rodeo, I noticed the sky darkening and the stars fading—a clear sign that rain was on the way. We left soon after, and as we hurried back to the ranch, heavy raindrops started to pelt down around us. We dashed toward the stables, seeking shelter from the sudden storm since it was closer than the house.
Ella squeezes my hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement and mischief. “It’s just a little rain!” she shouts over the growing roar of the storm, her voice barely audible over the wind. “Oh! I’ve got an idea. Let’s dance in the rain.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, lightning splits the sky in two and thunder booms around us.
The storm is worsening quickly. I shake my head no as raindrops quickly fall from my hair down to my face, soaking me through. I watch as rain drenches her from the top of her head down to her muddy boots. Still, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. My heart races as I stand watching her, her gaze meeting mine. Her black and pink hair, slick and shimmering with rain, cascades around her shoulders like a dark waterfall.
Even though she must be cold, her smile hasn’t faltered. My chest tightens, a rush of warmth flooding through me despite the cool, damp air. “I think we’ve danced enough for today, cupcake,” I grumble, towering over her.
“Nonsense! There’s never enough dancing!” Ella’s gasp of outrage is adorable and makes a smile pull at my lips.
“Come on,” I shout over the loud noise of the storm, then lift her and throw her over my shoulder like she weighs nothing. “We’ve got to get to the stables before you catch pneumonia.”
Ella’s laughter is swept away by the wind as I carry her in my arms.
I dash through the torrential downpour as I navigate the muddy terrain. The water is cold and relentless, soaking our clothes and plastering our hair to our faces. My shirt clings to my back, but I don’t seem to mind. My focus is solely on getting her to the stables and away from the rain.
As we reach the large wooden doors of the stable, I push them open with a burst of relief. The smell of hay and leather greeted us, a comforting contrast to the storm outside.
Dropping Ella to her feet, I took her in. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair a wild tangle of wet curls, but her eyes were bright with joy and exhilaration. Leaning down, I pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, and she sighed. Her blue eyes met mine. “What was that for?” she grins.
“I like it when you blush,” I shrug, taking off my soaked hat.
She takes my hand in hers and squeezes it as she whispers, “And I love that you carried me all the way here.”
“Yeah?”
Her smile grows wider. “Yeah. It was straight out of a romance book.” She swoons and fans her face with her free hand.
Thunder booms outside, startling Ella so much that she squeezes my hand. The rain continues to pour heavily on the wooden roof. While it was obvious she was a sunny-day and clear skies type of girl, I fucking loved storms. Loved the gray skies and the blinding flash of lightning followed by the crack of thunder. I even enjoyed the way the land smells afterward.
Letting go of my hand, Ella steps back and shakes her head, droplets of rainwater flying from her hair in a shimmering arc. Her clothes cling to her, accentuating the curves of her body as she moves, and I stand back, leaning against one of the stalls, my gaze fixed on her. I patiently watch as she pushes her wet hair away from her face, her smile radiant despite the rain. Every movement she was making seemed to captivate me, as if she were the only source of light in the darkness around us. That was the thing about Ella—she was the light to my dark. She shined her beautiful light wherever she was.
And in this moment, with wet clothes and wet hair, she knocked the goddamn breath from my lungs.
“Thank you for today,” she says for what felt like the millionth time. “I had the best day ever.”