Dance with me

“Dance with me?”

That one, innocent question doesn’t sound very significant. It’s harmless.

Or so I thought, when I agreed to dance with him.

I was clueless to where that one dance could lead me. How one dance could change the course of my life forever

He was the son to one of my father’s old friends. I’d spent time with him when I was younger, and developed a school girl crush on him. But he was fourteen years older than me, and the older we got the less time we spent together.

We'd always be in very different chapters of our lives each time I saw him. When I was in middle school he was in college. When I started high school, he already started his career. By the time I graduated college, I hadn't seen him since I graduate High school. He made the trip just to see me get my diploma. And just months before that when his own father died.

When we would finally see each other again it was evident that things had changed between us. I was just oblivious to what the changes were, or when they had actually happened.

Turns out I was oblivious to a lot when it came to him. But it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

“How long will we have to be here this time?” Dave asks looking annoyed like he always does, anytime we need to make an appearance at an event thrown by my father.

“Not long. I told my father we had plans tomorrow and needed to be up early. We’ll be home in bed before you know it.” I answer looking up at him. As much as he hates it, I love seeing him in a three-piece suit all cleaned up. He wears a suit to work every day, but it’s different on nights like this. His hair is gelled back, and the bow tie in place of a normal tie changes his look dramatically. If he would just smile, he’d look even better.

We walk into the main room filled with rich snobs, all here for their own networking needs. They throw a few bucks at a charity to make themselves feel better.

My father throws big charity events as good publicity as well. He’s a high-profile lawyer, who ran for mayor on a whim and won.

Coming to these events works in my favor as well. I followed in my father’s footsteps and became a lawyer. Being a defense lawyer isn’t the easiest path to take, but I love the challenges that come along with it. I can remember watching murder shows on t.v. and thinking; I want to be the one to prove people’s innocence.

“I’m going to the bar.” Dave says when he see’s my father making his way toward us.

“Yep.” I answer disappointed. I don’t know why he can’t just slap on a smile for a couple of hours. Lord knows I do it every time I have to see his mother.

“Nicoletta. You look beautiful, as always.” My father says, smiling proudly as his extended arms wrap around me for a big bear hug. “Dave at the bar?” He asks pulling away.

I nod my head intertwining my arm with his as he leads me further into the room.

“You know he is. That shouldn’t even be a question.” I smile and nod to familiar faces as we walk.

“I don’t know why you don’t just leave him home. Or leave him all together.”

“Dad!” I whisper yell.

“Sorry, bug. I’ll just wait for it to fizzle out like I know it will.” He says with a shrug.

“Hey! Maybe if you were nicer to him, he wouldn’t be so grumpy coming to these things.” I look up and hold his eyes for a few seconds before we both start laughing. “I couldn’t hold a straight face.” I continue to laugh, listening to my dad chuckle.

“How has work been? Any good cases?” he asks leaning his head toward me like I’d tell him anything.

“You know I can’t tell you anything.”

“Was worth a try.”

I smile and slap his arm.

“Oh! Guess who’s here?” He asks smiling wide.

I honestly couldn’t think of anyone that I’d be surprised to see, and shrug.

“No clue. Who?”

“Nicky?” A weirdly familiar voice asks. But only one person ever called me that.

“Robbie?” I ask and turn around. “Robbie Marino?” I ask wide eyed when they land on a tall fit man with dark hair and blue eyes. His grey three-piece suit and black dress shirt fitted to perfection. His defined jaw and clef chin are a dead giveaway if the rest hadn’t already. He’s still as beautiful as I remembered all those years ago. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d never come back to New York?” I ask, tilting my head. My cheeks start to hurt from smiling so wide.

He chuckles, hanging his head, and looks back up through his lashes.

“Should I leave then?” He raises a brow.

I shake my head, quickly walking up to him for a hug.

“No! Of course not!” His arms wrap tightly around me, his hand planted flat on my back, hold me in place longer than I expected. “I just remember you saying you’d probably never come back.” I explain pulling back to look at him. He kisses my cheek before letting go.

“Well, I’m back for good. I have some business to do here, and then I’m retiring. I still have my father’s penthouse in the city, so I’ll stay there. Once it’s ready that is.”

“Where are you staying till then, son?” My father asks. I almost forgot he was standing there.

“I’ve got a room at the plaza for a few days.” Robbie answers, wrapping an arm around my lower back. His hand rests on my hip. Weirdly, it feels natural.

“Nonsense. Nicoletta, you have a guest room in your big place. Robert you can stay with her.” My father offers.

I do have my own place. I just don’t stay there much these days. I’ve been spending most of the week at Daves place.

We’ve been together eight months now, and I figured we couldn’t live together while dating there was no way we could ever be married. My father doesn’t know about that though.

“Oh no, I couldn’t impose.” Robbie waves at my dad.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not an imposition, is it?” My father looks down at me raising a questioning brow.

“No, not at all. I’ll give you the address, and you can grab your things from the hotel and come by tonight.”

“What’s this now?” Dave walks up with his brows furrowed, glass of champagne in hand. One glass, just for him. Thanks Dave.

“Dave, this is Robert. His late father and I were great friends. He’s just back in town; I told him he could stay with Nicoletta while his penthouse is prepared for him to move back in.” I look from my father to Dave, waiting for him to explode. Dave looks to Robbie, eyeing him up and down before extending his hand to him.

“Nice to meet you, Robert. I’m Dave. Nicoletta’s boyfriend.

With his free hand Robbie shakes his hand, never letting the other drop from my hip.

“Likewise. You are a lucky man.” Robbie answers squeezing my hip slightly. The action catches my attention. Robbie winks when my eyes meet his.

“Thanks. Can I just steal Nicoletta for a minute?” Dave asks, taking my hand in his.

I open my mouth to object, but I’m already being pulled away.

“What is the problem? Dave, stop.” I ask tugging his hand to make him stop.

“You’re going to let some guy stay in your guest room? And I’m supposed to be okay with that?”

“It’s only for a couple of days. And I spend most nights at your place anyway. I’ll go back to my place until he gets there with his bags, and then I’ll go to you place to stay.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll be asleep by then.”

“You aren’t seriously getting upset by my father’s friend staying in my guest room? He’s like fifteen years older than me. He knew me when I was in elementary school. There isn’t anything funny going on here.” I try to explain so he’ll calm down.

He sighs and hangs his head.

“Nicoletta, I’m going home. Do whatever you want. Come by, don’t come by. Either way I’m going to bed.” Dave steps forward and kisses my lips.

“I love you.” I whisper looking into his eyes.

“Yep.” Is all he says and walks away.

I stand there, watching his retreating back as he disappears through the crowd.

This was not how I saw the night ending. He’s being so ridiculous, leaving like this. Not to mention how rude he was to my father and Robbie. Especially Robbie. It’s the first time you meet someone and you’re going to size them up?

I contemplate going after him, but once he’s gone without even looking back, I decide against it. I make my way to the bar for a scotch instead.

I take my first sip and hope the burn will distract me from the disappointment I feel.

I always knew Dave was a bit selfish. He been that way since we met, but he would always make up for it by doing something sweet for me. But lately that hasn’t been the case. He just expects me to give up everything and everyone from my life before I met him. Any time I want to see my friends or family he throws a fit like a child. But when it’s just he and I, things are wonderful. He’s loving and attentive.

As I stare down into my glass, running through these thoughts I fail to realize that Robbie is right beside me.

“Dance with me?” He whispers in my ear.

I slightly flinch as I’m pulled from my rabbit hole of thoughts and look up at his handsome face.

Without saying a word, he takes my hand to lead me to the dance floor.

“I need more detail. More text calls and emails. Be more specific, yes, I’m here to listen.” Meghan Trainor ’all the ways’ starts to play as Rob takes me into his arms to lead the dance. This song is fitting for the way I’m feeling right now.

Except the smile on his face, and the pace of the song forces a smile on my face.

As the chorus starts, he stops us, rolling our hips as we drop low and back up.

“If you love me, love me, love me, like you say, Darlin, tell me all the ways.” I can’t help but laugh with him as he twirls me around the dance floor. “The way yoooou, you looooove me.”

As the song ends, it fades into a slow song, and I release his hand; but he keeps his arm on my back.

“I’m not done dancing yet.” He says pulling me closer.

“I’m not going to complain. I never get to dance at these things.” I say smiling up at him.

“Are you okay? That looked a little heated.” He asks, his smile gone now, as his brows furrow.

“Yeah, I’m okay. He just doesn’t like the idea of a strange man staying in my guestroom.”

He jerks his head back, shaking it.

“I’m not just some strange guy. You’ve known me your entire life.”

I shrug my shoulders, totally understanding his point.

“I tried to tell him that. But if we are honest, we don’t really know each other. We know of each other. But we were never close. I was always too young.” I state with my brows pinched.

Rob looks past me for a moment like he’s thinking about my comment before looking back at me.

“Then we’ll have to change that. You aren’t too young anymore. It’s not like when I was getting out of college and you were just leaving middle school. We’re both adults now. We’ll have things to talk about now.” The corner of his mouth turns up for a half smile, showing off his dimple.

I’d like to get to know him better. It won’t make a difference to Dave though. I smile, and look down between us.

“What? You don’t want to be friends?” He asks, sounding disappointed.

“Of course I do. I’d love that. But that won’t make a difference to Dave. He doesn’t like any of my friends. I don’t know why? I think he just doesn’t like sharing my attention with others.”

“Mmhhmm” He hums. “Well, it sucks to be him, because I’ve known you longer, and I’m not going away any time soon.” I giggle hearing him say that, and he smiles again showing off both dimples.

I stare up at him in awe. How can it be legal to be that sweet, and devastatingly handsome all at the same time?

“What?” He asks fighting a smile.

I smile wider, as blood rushes to my cheek, and look down trying to hide it. With the side of his curled index finger under my chin he lifts my face, forcing me to look at him.

“Tell me.” He says in a hushed voice.

“I was just being silly, really. It’s nothing.”

He shakes his head Pursing his lips.

“Nothing, makes you stare and blush like that.”

“You’ll think differently of me.”

“I promise I could never think different of you, sweetheart.” His teasing smirk turns serious as his face seems to hover right above mine.

Shaking my head I look down for a moment to gather my courage, before looking back up into his blue eyes.

“I was just wondering how it’s possible for someone as handsome as you to be sweet as well. That just doesn’t happen. You’re like a unicorn.”

His face flushes as a smile grows on his lips. He shakes his head, and kisses my forehead.

“I wasn’t always. I promise you. I’m still not. Only with people who matter to me.”

As the song comes to an end, he keeps hold of my hand as we step off the dance floor. Walking up to my father he takes our intertwined hands and seems to hide them behind me at my lower back.

I appreciate him saving me from embarrassment after the way Dave left like that. I smile looking up at him as a thank you when he winks at me. I can see us being great friends.

If only I had known things wouldn't go that way. I could've save us both a lot of time, and myself some tears.

Roberts POV

As I watch her walk away with that jackass, I'm finally able to take a deep breath again.

As soon as she turned around wide eyed, she took my breath away. I'm not even sure how I was able to talk to her. Hearing her voice, feeling her skin, and smelling her perfume was an overload to all of my senses. Truth be told I held onto her just to keep myself grounded.

"She's still in love with you, you know? I can see it." Patrick stands beside me looking to Nicky and her boyfriend.

"I had hoped so, but it seems you and I would both be wrong." I shake my head as I turn to look at Patrick. He laughs and slaps my back.

"No, my boy. That man will not last, now that you are back. I have a feeling she only stayed with him because she thought you were never coming back."

I look back in her direction as Dave says something to her that makes her shoulders sink.

"I never stopped loving her Patrick. If I'm honest with you, I wish I never would've listened to you and just told her back then. She could've came with me to Chicago and went to college there. At least then she wouldn't have had to subject herself to assholes like that."

"Maybe. Or maybe she wouldn't have gone to school at all. Maybe you would've ended things because she was too immature at the time."

I look up at Patrick thinking he has no idea who is daughter is, or how much she means to me.

"There's no point to arguing now about it, Patrick. But I intend to ask her to marry me."

"Good." He claps my back again. "I'll finally be able to sleep at night knowing my daughter is in good hands. You have my blessing. But you knew that already." He winks as he walks away. Turning my attention back to Nicky, I find she's gone from the spot. I look around and it doesn't take long to find her at the bar. Alone.

Here goes nothing.