Chapter Two
Jake held Amanda’s hand tighter as they entered the hotel. Silver balloons and gray streamers adorned the ballroom as part of the Night to Remember theme. Couples clustered on the dance floor, while others danced wildly on a stage.
Amanda straightened and he held her closer. He smiled, trying to make her feel at ease. She’d been jumpy since he picked her up. Plus, he had to keep his mind busy and eyes away from the amazing cleavage that peeked out of her top. Since when did her boobs get so big?
Jake cleared his throat and leaned in to Amanda, so she could hear him over the loud bass music. “Ignore the people waving. Just you and me tonight, okay?”
When she smiled back and tugged at his lapel, a flutter swarmed his chest. Who was he kidding? He craved to be with her. It only took a minute to figure out that tonight was the chance he’d been waiting for. A night to impress little Mandy Larson. Now he had her. “Come on. Let’s get a drink.”
Amanda nodded and he escorted her across the room to a table with punch dispensers. He served them both a cup and stood quietly next to her.
Watching the dance floor, he winced. “So, back to high school.” He shook his head. “I don’t miss it one bit.”
“Hey, give me a break. I still have a whole year ahead of me.” She bumped his side with her hip. And damn it to hell, if that little touch didn’t feel good, good enough to imagine her hips doing other things.
He coughed into his drink.
“You okay, Jake?” She patted him on the back.
“Yeah, wrong pipe.” Trying to think of other things, he nodded in the direction of her favorite English teacher. “How’s old Mrs. Nelson treating you?” He waved at the teacher as she frowned in their direction.
“She never did like you, did she?” Her eyes twinkled. “Actually, she’s my favorite teacher.”
“You were always the teacher’s pet.”
“Yeah, well, I prefer to be a teacher’s pet than a heartbreaker.”
It was true. He never seemed to stay with only one girl, only a select few. He always joked that it was more fun to be with a bunch of girlfriends, gaining experience in areas that others didn’t have. Still, coming from Mandy… that little comment hurt.
Jake flinched back and laughed it off. “You have a feisty side, don’t you, Squirt?”
Before she could answer, a tall, skinny boy appeared next to them. The glasses on the boy’s nose kept falling down and he lifted them up with his pointer finger.
Amanda breathed deeply through her nose and put her cup down on the table. “Hello, Dwayne.”
“Um, hello, Amanda. You look beautiful this evening.”
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.” She tugged at his bowtie.
Jake didn’t like that at all, especially since she’d done the same to him earlier.
Amanda spoke with a high-pitched voice, “You remember Jake Edwards, right?” She pointed to Jake, but Dwayne didn’t look.
Dwayne stood up straighter. “I do.”
Looking around, Amanda motioned to the balloons. “You did a great job as the Decorations Committee Chairman. The room looks great.”
“Why, thank you.” He pushed his glasses up again. “I hope it really is a night to remember.” He eyed Jake. “You should take her to dance. That’s why we have music on. If I was her date, I’d already have her on the dance floor.”
Jake put his cup down. “You’re absolutely right, Dwayne.” He grabbed Amanda’s hand. “Wanna dance?”
“Sure.” She smiled at Dwayne. “See you later.”
Jake pulled her to the dance floor, squeezing in between other couples, so that they were smack-dab in the middle. The fast-paced song belted out of the speakers, and they moved to the rhythm. Jake said hello to a few people around them, but kept his focus on Mandy. She did the same and it made him feel damn good.
After a few moves, he leaned over and shouted above the music in her ear, “See, you had plenty of guys who would’ve taken you tonight.” When Amanda shook her head, Jake nodded in Dwayne’s direction. “Seems like you have a secret admirer.”
Amanda’s face reddened. “Yeah, he even ended up in my art class this year. He’s been following me around since we were lab partners in the tenth grade.”
“Poor guy. You should dance with him at least once tonight. That would be a night for him to remember.” He winked. Funny how his expectations for the night had completely changed. It was a stupid high school dance; being with Mandy, as her date, changed his perspective. Jake leaned down again. “You do look beautiful by the way. You take my breath away.”
“Always a sweet talker.”
He looked into her eyes. “I mean it.”
A sweet smile spread across her face. When the music died down and a slower song played, Jake didn’t hesitate to reach for her waist.
Amanda stretched her arms around his neck and looked up with those dreamy eyes. She felt it, too – this wild affinity that somehow formed between them. Other couples joined the dance floor around them, but he didn’t notice who danced next to them. He focused on Amanda, since she seemed intent on concentrating on him, too. If he could, he’d take her away from all this nonsense and show her a true night to remember.
A desire to erase the distance between them forced him to pull her closer and place his forehead against hers. “I’ve missed you, Mandy.”
“As much as Roscoe?”
Jake lifted his head and laughed. “My dog? Yeah, I’ve missed him.” He raised his eyebrows. “But, I’ve missed you in a different way.”
Her eyebrows squinted together and she stuttered, “What are you saying?”
Before he could answer, the music died and her best friend, Shannon, tugged at her arm. “Come with. I’ve gotta go to the bathroom.”
Talk about bad timing. Jake smiled at Shannon, anyway. “Good to see you, Shannon.”
“Oh, hi Jake.” Then she did a double take. “Jake?”
Amanda gritted her teeth into a fake smile and forced words through her stiff lips. “I think you can go to the bathroom alone.”
Shannon smiled back through her teeth. “Now, I’m doubly sure I need you there with me.”
“Go ahead, Mandy. I’ll wait for you.” He winked. As he looked around, some old football teammates who stood by the DJ waved him over and he walked toward them. He’d finish what he just started. Somehow, somewhere, he’d finish with his little Mandy.