Page 71 of Wild Heart

He nodded, soft laughter spilling out of him. “That’s true. If you’re on the dance floor, there’s no question you’re having a blast.”

“It’s really the best way to have a good time.” My eyes drifted to where he’d been sitting, noting two new guys and three more women had walked up. One woman was speaking to one of Tate’s cousins, but she had her eyes on Tate as she did. Ignoring that, I returned my attention to the man standing beside me and attempted to coax him. “You should come out and join me for a dance.”

There was a glint in his eye. No doubt he was recalling what happened the last time he was with me on the dance floor. “That would not be a wise idea.”

I downed a bit more of my water, the cool liquid feeling like paradise after all the dancing I’d done. “Why not?”

“I think you know you’re a little too wild for me when it comes to that. You can dance and dance and remain unaffected, but if I’m out there with you and it’s anything like it was at thewedding, I’m going to want things to go places you aren’t ready for them to go. It’s already been difficult enough to sit here and watch you from this distance, knowing I can’t have you when we get back tonight.”

If only he knew what I had planned for him.

Wanting to be sure I could make this a big surprise, I didn’t let on that I was planning anything. Instead, I teased, “Well, I think you’re going to be missing out. I mean, I understand how much you enjoy meetings and talking, so I get why sitting around is so much more fun for you. But I still stand by what I said before.”

His brows drew together. “What exactly did you say?”

“That not everything has to be planned. Sometimes, you can just go with what you feel in the moment and act on that.”

“Hmm. I think that has the potential to get me into trouble, my friend. It has before.”

It was like he’d dumped a bucket of ice-cold water over my head. He’d just called me his friend. Granted, I knew that we’d been working toward rebuilding our friendship, but there was something about the way he said it that left me feeling unsettled.

“Hey, Tate.” Our attention was pulled beside him, where the eldest of his cousins was standing and had clapped a hand on Tate’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Francesca just got here, and I wanted to introduce you.”

Tate’s eyes had slid past his cousin and toward the crowd of newcomers, settling on the woman who’d been watching him only moments before. She offered what could only be described as a seductive smile and a nod. Tate returned his attention to his cousin and said, “Right. Yes. I’ll be right there.”

Something hollowed my stomach, an empty pit forming there. Maybe I was imagining things, but I could have sworn I heard an edge of excitement in Tate’s voice. Plus, the wayhe responded made it seem as though he’d already had a conversation about this woman.

After his cousin walked away, Tate looked once more at Francesca before he returned his focus to me. Like he hadn’t just ripped my heart from my chest, he smiled and said, “I’m going to go do more of the boring stuff, like meetings.”

It took everything I had not to react in a way that would tell him I was bothered. “Sounds thrilling. If you change your mind and want to have some real fun, you know where I’ll be.”

Amusement washed over his expression. “I do. Enjoy yourself, Ava.”

“Oh, I intend to. You do the same.”

I took one last sip of my drink, set it down on the counter, and without waiting for a response, I turned and moved back to where Ivy, Jules, and Rhea were already making their way back to dance. Skye had cozied up to Cooper and was taking a break.

And with each step I took away from Tate, I couldn’t ignore the growing sense of doom I felt.

I rejoined the girls and did my best to just enjoy myself, but my eyes darted across the space several times, seeking out Tate. Four songs later, he was still talking to Francesca. She was leaning in close, and he hadn’t stopped smiling.

My stomach roiled.

And by the fifth song, Francesca wrapped her hand around the back of Tate’s upper arm and led him away from the crowd. My heart began pounding, bile rising in my throat as I watched him go.

When he made his way to the exit with her, it hit me.

Tate had had enough. He’d put himself out there with me in ways he hadn’t ever done before, and it hadn’t worked. He’d just called me his friend after telling me how badly he wanted things to go somewhere I wasn’t ready for them to go again.

He was a man. He wanted physical affection. And it seemed Francesca was going to be able to fill that void for him tonight.

I began moving in the opposite direction.

“Hey, Ava, what’s going on?” Ivy asked as she reached for my hand.

I shook my head. “I don’t… I don’t know. I think that what I ate for dinner isn’t sitting well with me. I’m going to head back to the chalet.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”