The Sweetest Fix

by Tessa Bailey

“If you stumble,” she whispered, squeezing her eyes closed, “make it part of the dance.”

Are you allergic to tree nuts? Do you prefer milk chocolate or dark? Those were pertinent questions.

He understood there was a certain gratitude that was expected when a woman went out with him, considering he tested the seams of every dress shirt he owned and grunted as a form of communication, so he always asked them out again.

Key word here being gratitude. Absolutely not true! Your weight should not make you grateful for a date!

In Leo’s head, she’d been pretty. But he’d wildly miscalculated. This girl was stunning.

“My…perfect bite?” She dropped into first position and scanned the display case. “I’ve never thought about it.” He had. At least four times since laying eyes on her.

“Leo has a gift,” Jackie explained. “He likes to convince people they’re wrong about what they prefer. It’s infuriating and inexplicable.”

“Right…” Jackie said thoughtfully. “Except some people, and I’m not generalizing, will be lucky to remember Valentine’s Day at all. Men. I’m talking about men.”

“Connection,” Jackie murmured, falling onto her elbows on the counter. “There it is.”

When in real life does it ever happen? Leo Bexley had walked out in his apron, the top of his head nearly brushing the doorframe, and she’d gotten a zap of static in her fingertips. Followed by her toes and then inward. Straight to her belly button. And that was before he’d spoken in that hibernating-with-a-jar-of-honey voice and it resonated everywhere that counted.

She liked the theory of men, but it took a lot to inspire her to flirting.

world.” This man was making a visible effort to see into her brain. He made a sound that could only be described as a sexy garbage disposal.

“I don’t know, Reese,” he said, his voice significantly deeper. “If you want to nap, we’ll nap. If you want something else…” His breath rasped in. Out. “I’ll give it to you.”

“Are you letting me know who’s in charge, Leo?” “No, I’m giving you the option of letting me be in charge for a while.”

“Christ, Reese. You’re so fucking beautiful.” “I feel that way. When you look at me.”

She was in love with a man. A kind, thoughtful, wonderful, occasionally grouchy man who never left her guessing, never failing to give her a sense of security. Belonging.

“Some broke, unemployed girl?” He echoed in disbelief. “Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that, Reese. You’re a hell of a lot more. You’re the girl I love. I love you. You want an audition with my father? Done. I’ll make it happen today. This is nothing like what happened with Tate. I was so damn wrong to say that. You’re the opposite, sweetheart. You’re the exception to every fucking rule, okay?”

She was desperately in love with a man and he was a thousand miles away.

“Success is measured in all kinds of ways, honey. And I think finding something you love as much as you love dancing is a success in itself. There are people who’ll never discover their passion, because they never bothered to look.”