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self-disgust and ducked her head, embarrassed, swiping quickly at the stray tear.
    “Laney.”
    The hushed quality of his voice made her raise her eyes, bracing to meet his usual mocking gaze. Instead, she saw … tenderness?
    He shook his head. “You’re not remotely pathetic. In fact …” He trailed off as his gaze slid over her in what could only be described as a caress. Those slate-colored eyes took in her hair, her face, her dress, and the feet which were now bare as she had removed her heels before walking onto the sand. When his eyes came back to hers, the intense heat in them made the breath catch in her throat. “You’ve got to be the most breathtaking sight I’ve seen in a while.” His lips curved slightly before he nodded his head in the direction of the now moonlit ocean. “Aside from that, of course.”
    Swallowing over the lump in her throat, she numbly said, “Of course.”
    Brilliant response, Laney. Just brilliant . How she had managed to get through life with these amazing social skills was a miracle. But, that was all she could muster for a response. Because had Zach really just called her breathtaking? And compared her to the beauty of the ocean?
    Music playing at the party, less than a hundred yards away, drifted over them and Laney noticed it was Christina Perri’s slow ballad, “A Thousand Years”.
    Zach held a hand out to her. “Dance?”
    “Here?” She could hear the apprehension in her voice.
    His eyes flickered with something. Disappointment? He shrugged, looking away, his hands about to slide into his pockets. “Nevermind. It was stu—”
    “Yes.” She wasn’t sure who was more startled by her interrupting response. Her or Zach.
    His eyes darted to hers, surprised. “Yes?”
    Attempting to find her usual sassiness, she gave him a look. “Did I stutter, Mayson?”
    With a chuckle, he slid a hand around her waist and tugged her to him so fast she wasn’t able to respond with more than a surprised gasp. He took her left hand in his right one, other arm wrapped around her waist, fingertips lightly brushing against where the cut of her dress dipped low, baring her back, making her shiver.
    They swayed to the song, moving their feet ever so slightly over the packed sand. And, Laney had to admit, in that moment, everything about that dance was absolutely … perfect.
    Including the man holding her.

C HAPTER S EVEN
    Z ACH COULDN’T BELIEVE SHE HAD said yes, had agreed to the dance he’d offered up on a whim. He sure as hell hadn’t expected her to say yes, to let him actually touch her in any way. But, here they were, his arm wrapped around her, holding her utterly soft hand in his, both of them swaying slowly to the song. The music, the melodic voice of the singer, washed over them, almost making it seem like they were in their own little world.
    And that dress of hers. Damn it, he was having a difficult time not accidentally-on purpose brushing his fingertips over the bare skin of her lower back. How was her skin so soft? Was she soft like that everywhere?
    Fuck. Don’t think about that. Don’t get hard when you’re holding Laney this close. Don’t. Fucking. Ruin. It .
    “What’s with the scowl? You don’t like this song?” Laney peered up at him suspiciously. “Or your dance partner?”
    Startled, he blurted out, “I like the song and my dance partner just fine. I’m trying not to get a hard-on from all your soft skin.”
    Oh, shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuuuuuck. Did I really just say that out loud? He closed his eyes with a horrified groan. They both stopped abruptly.
    Bracing for what would be a well-deserved slap, he opened his eyes in a squint to see Laney staring at him. Just as her lips parted to speak, she was interrupted.
    “Why wasn’t I invited to the romantic dance on the beach? Damn it, Mayson! You’re breaking my damn heart!” a male voice whined loudly.
    Zach stepped away from Laney, running a hand over the back of his neck, looking up to the darkened sky