Kiss Me in the Moonlight (Destined for Love: Europe)

by Lindzee Armstrong

  “It’s pretty.”

  “Too much.” Layla tossed it aside and picked up a glittery tank top. “Are you going to change?”

  “Yeah, I guess so.” Paige unzipped her suitcase and pulled out a red silk blouse. It had a deep v-neck, and ruffles around the collar. The shirt wrapped around her middle and tied on one side, making her waist look teeny. With her dark denim jeans and little makeup, she might even look pretty. Not beautiful, like Layla, but pretty.

  Layla was already stripping in one corner, and Paige quickly did the same. She tied the shirt, trying not to think about the last time she’d worn it.

  “Whoa, hot mama!” Layla said, letting out a wolf whistle.

  Paige blushed. “Too much?”

  “No way. You look gorgeous.”

  “Thanks.” Paige played with one of the ruffles. Layla looked like a super model in her skinny jeans and silver tank top, her bangs somehow making her blue eyes pop.

  “May I?” Layla pulled up half of Paige’s hair without waiting for a response. “Oh yeah. You should totally pull your hair back. I have some bobby pins. Just a sec.”

  Paige stood still in front of the mirror while Layla worked her magic. Layla teased the top a bit, then pinned it in a half ponytail that was way more chic than anything Paige could’ve managed.

  “Perfect,” Layla said. “Nick is going to die when he sees you.”

  Paige grabbed a tube of lip gloss and swiped some on, just to avoid looking at Layla. “This has nothing to do with Nick.”

  “Sure it doesn’t.” Layla winked. “Let’s go.”

  Paige’s knees wobbled as she made her way down the stairs. She should’ve worn something a little more casual. Nick would recognize the shirt and think she was sending him some kind of message. Or maybe he wouldn’t recognize the shirt—that might be even worse. She brushed her fingers along her lips, remembering how he’d kissed her after the concert. Their first kiss. She’d bought this shirt specifically for that date.

  She should’ve stayed in her T-shirt.

  Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Nick waiting in the lobby with Tyler. Nick had changed into a pair of dark denim jeans and a loose short sleeve button-up shirt, the top button left undone. The color was a deep green and exactly matched the shade of his eyes. Her mind flashed back to the dozens of dates he’d picked her up for, looking handsome and smelling like cinnamon.

  Nick stopped talking. His eyes lingered on her blouse, and the green of his irises softened. His mouth turned up in a smile. For one crazy moment, she almost wrapped her arms around his neck for a kiss.

  The blouse had definitely been a bad idea.

  “You ladies are looking lovely this evening,” Tyler said, breaking into Paige’s thoughts. “Ready?”

  Paige flicked her gaze over to him, noticing that he’d dressed up a bit, too. She suddenly didn’t feel quite so self-conscious in her dressy blouse and fitted jeans.

  “Ready,” Layla agreed. She led the way outside, Tyler following close on her heels. The two were already chatting away, laughing at something that had happened on the bus ride earlier today.

  “I guess we should go,” Paige said, avoiding Nick’s eyes. “Layla might leave us behind if we don’t keep up.”

  “You’re never lost when you’re with me. I’m excellent at finding things.”

  Paige focused on the cobblestone. What was that even supposed to mean?

  Outside, the air had grown pleasantly cool, and the sun had dipped below the rooftops. Layla and Tyler were already half a block ahead, Layla’s trilling laughter floating on the breeze.

  “You look amazing,” Nick said. “Europe suits you.”

  “It’s weird to finally be here,” Paige said. “I’ve been dreaming about it for so long.”

  “What are you most excited for?”

  She let out a happy sigh. “Everything. The castles. The Swiss Alps. Paris. What about you?”

  He shrugged. “I’m just along for the ride. I’ve enjoyed everything on the trip so far. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the rest of it, as well.”

  Paige deflated a little. A vague answer—she didn’t know why she was surprised.

  “So, where are you living now?” she prodded.

  “Arlington.”

  She sucked in a breath, the hurt more intense than she’d anticipated. He’d only moved a thirty-minute metro ride away? “Oh. I didn’t realize you were so close.”

  “I wasn’t, when I left.” His voice was as soft and gentle as the breeze. “I went abroad for a while.”

  “Your email said it was work related?”

  “Yes.”

  She folded her arms, the air suddenly chilling instead of refreshing. She’d forgotten how cryptic he could be.

  “Paige—”

  “We’re here,” Layla called up ahead.

  Paige quickened her pace, relieved for the interruption. He’d been the one to leave. Maybe he didn’t deserve a second chance.

  Nick grabbed for her hand. “Please—”

  She shrugged it off. “They’re waiting for us,” she said. And she hurried to catch up with Layla.

  The restaurant was small, with a thatched roof and teal flower boxes beneath each of the front windows that instantly charmed Paige.

  Tyler held open the door. “After you, ladies,” he said gallantly.

  Layla gave a dramatic curtsy. “Thank you, kind sir,” Layla said.

  Even in the dark, Paige could see Tyler’s face redden.

  Inside, the dim lighting revealed dark wood tables dotting the room. The heady aroma of baking breads and rich pasta flooded over Paige. Oh, heavens. She inhaled deeply, letting her eyes roll back in her head.

  “I’m going to gain twenty pounds this summer if I’m not careful,” Paige said.

  Layla laughed. “We walk enough that it mostly balances out. Told you this place was amazing.”

  “I’m still not eating escargot,” Paige said.

  “You have to try it.” Layla nudged Tyler with her shoulder. “You’ll try it, won’t you?”

  His chest puffed out, and he stood a little taller. “Sure. Sounds delicious.”

  “I’ll try it, too,” Nick said. He threw Paige a glance and rolled his eyes. “I’ll even eat Paige’s portion.”

  If he thought that was going to make her forget everything, he was dead wrong.

  An older man appeared at the host stand. “Bon soir. Une table pour quatre?”

  “Oui,” Layla said.

  Nick’s arm brushed against Paige’s—just the lightest of touches, but her nerve endings felt as though they’d been lit on fire.

  The mustached man grabbed four menus. “Par ici.”

  He led them to a table in the corner of the room, and Paige flashed back to the restaurant Nick had taken her to right before the concert. It had possessed the same intimate feel as this one. Paige and Nick had lingered over their meal, heads close together as she shared tidbits from her past. That had been the night she told him about her mother’s cancer and death. She’d felt safe and secure in the moment, impressed to find a man that was such a good listener. Now she wondered why he hadn’t told her more about himself.

  Nick stood behind a chair, holding it for Paige in invitation. She slowly sank into it, letting him push her forward.

  This Nick made her heart ache with longing. She wanted a second chance with him, but was terrified to give him one.

  Paige cleared her throat, focusing on Layla. “Your French is really good. Where did you study?”

  “Oh, I don’t know that much. I took French in high school.” Layla shrugged. “What about all of you?”

  “My mother was French Canadian,” Paige said. Was Nick recalling the time she’d unloaded her regrets over not having a closer relationship with her mother’s family? “Her parents speak almost no English. After she passed away, my father made sure I attended a private school with a strong French program. He knew my mom would’ve wanted that.”

  “That’s so sweet,
” Layla said.

  Tyler gave a sympathetic frown. “I’m sorry about your mom.”

  Nick’s hand found Paige’s underneath the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. She reflexively curled her fingers, but he’d already released her grip.

  “It was a long time ago,” Paige said.

  “I haven’t heard you speak French much,” Layla said, turning to Nick. “Are you fluent?”

  “I get by.” Nick pulled out his phone. “Excuse me, but I’d better get this. Order the magret de canard for me if I’m not back by the time the waiter returns.”

  “You will be,” Layla said cheerfully. “Dining in Europe is all about the experience. They won’t take our order for at least thirty minutes.”

  Paige watched Nick leave the restaurant, unease prickling her stomach. Why had he never mentioned speaking French while they dated? And why was he now pretending to not be fluent, despite having read that article so rapidly?

  Nick was a puzzle that was pointless to try and figure out.

  “So when did you learn to speak French?” Paige asked, focusing on Tyler.

  They talked about their childhoods, and Layla shared funny stories from last summer in Europe while the minutes ticked by. The waiter appeared, and they placed their orders, including Nick’s.

  “Where did Nick disappear to?” Layla asked. “It’s been like half an hour.”

  Tyler shrugged. “He’s always doing that. I’ve given up trying to figure it out.”

  Paige choked on the water she’d been sipping. She coughed, a loud, hacking sound that ripped through the tranquil restaurant.

  “Are you okay?” Layla patted her on the back.

  “Fine.” Paige took another sip of water, trying to clear her throat. “Sorry. Swallowed wrong. Nick leaves a lot?”

  “Yeah.” Tyler’s skin looked even paler than usual under the dim lighting, and freckles stood out on his cheeks. “It’s not like he’s gone for hours at a time, but he disappears. I figured he was calling home or something.”

  “Does Nick have a lot of family?” Layla asked. She and Tyler both stared at Paige with expectant expressions.

  Embarrassment mixing with frustration curdled in her stomach. “He didn’t talk about them much. I know his parents live in Pennsylvania, and I think he has a sister somewhere in the Midwest.”

  Layla raised an eyebrow. “I get it—too busy kissing to talk, huh?”

  Paige blushed. “It wasn’t like that.”

  “Sure it wasn’t.” Layla leaned toward Tyler, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. “Does Nick talk about Paige a lot? Give us the inside scoop. Nick is an enigma.”

  “Guys don’t really talk about stuff like that,” Tyler said.

  Layla smirked. “Sure they do. What’s your read on Nick?”

  “He’s nice.” Tyler shrugged, as though that said it all.

  Layla gave an exaggerated eye roll. “Men. Am I right? Oh, he’s coming. Act natural.”

  Paige whipped her head around. Sure enough, Nick strolled back to their table.

  “Sorry about that.” He slipped into his chair. “I didn’t expect to be gone quite so long.”

  “Is everything okay?” Layla asked.

  Nick gave an easy smile. “Nothing to worry about. So, did you order that escargot?”

  “You bet,” Layla said enthusiastically. “I can’t wait for you guys to try it.”

  Paige made a face. “Seriously, there’s no way in Hades I’m eating a snail.”

  “Oh, come on, it’s not that bad,” Layla said. “They dip it in so much butter and garlic that it’s basically like eating crab.”

  Right. No difference at all.

  A few minutes later, the waiter set the escargot in the middle of their table. The plate had indented circles around the edges, and the snails floated in tiny pools of butter and garlic, still in their shells. Paige cringed, her face crinkling in disgust.

  “Ready to try one?” Layla asked the group, her eyes alight. “They’re delicious. Promise.”

  “Anything for you, m’lady,” Tyler said. “Now, do I pull it out of the shell, or eat that, too?”

  Layla laughed, leaning into Tyler. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you how to eat it.”

  Ugh. Paige was going to be sick. Was that snail still moving? It better just be her eyes playing tricks.

  A hand rested on her knee, and she jumped. Nick’s fingers found hers underneath the table for the second time that night.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t let her make you try it.”

  “Good,” Paige said. “I don’t think anyone wants to see how that would turn out.”

  Conversation flowed for the rest of dinner, and Paige almost forgot about Nick’s disappearance. She ordered a fruit crêpe for dessert that was out of this world, and somehow found her hand in Nick’s again, hidden from sight underneath the table. This time, Paige didn’t pull away. His thumb softly caressed her knuckles, and she let her fingers tighten around his.

  She missed Nick. A lot.

  They paid for their meal, then headed outside. Darkness cast the colorful buildings in dark shadows.

  “I want to show Tyler something,” Layla said. “Meet you guys at the hotel?”

  Paige glanced at her watch. “Head check is in thirty minutes.”

  “We’ll be back by then.” Layla tugged Tyler down the street, in the opposite way from the hotel. Tyler wrapped Layla’s hand in his, and their laughter disappeared as they vanished down a side street.

  “They seem to be getting along well.” Nick was a silhouette in the shadows, and his husky voice made a delicious shiver run along Paige’s spine.

  “I think she likes him,” Paige said. “And he definitely likes her.”

  “They’d make a cute couple.”

  Electricity sparked between them, and Paige longed to reach out and touch Nick.

  “Are you cold?” he asked.

  “No.” Her nerve endings felt on fire, and the pit of worry in her stomach grew. Could her heart handle giving him a second chance?

  They walked slowly toward the hotel, not bothering with the sidewalk since the streets were empty. A full moon sparkled above them, reflecting off the cobblestone. Talk about picturesque.

  “You look beautiful tonight,” Nick said. “I’ve always loved that blouse on you.”

  Paige tugged at the corner of her shirt. “Thank you.”

  “Do you remember the first time you wore it?”

  “The concert,” Paige said softly.

  “It was a perfect date.” Nick threaded his fingers through hers.

  Paige’s heart pounded in her chest. “I’d never had a guy plan such a thoughtful evening for me.”

  Nick chuckled, the sound rich and enticing in the dark. “Getting those tickets wasn’t easy. But you were absolutely worth it. I wasn’t about to let you down.” His hand squeezed hers. “I’m sorry I ended up failing in the end.”

  She wouldn’t get a better opening than that. A silent war waged in her mind—the need for answers battling the fear of what they’d mean.

  Curiosity won. She took a deep breath, and plunged. “Why did you do it, Nick? I thought things were going well.”

  “They were.” His Adam’s apple bobbed in the dark. “It’s hard to explain. I’m not sure where to begin.”

  Again with the vague answers. She could scream. “Fine then. Don’t tell me.”

  A car screeched around the corner, headlights momentarily blinding Paige. She yelled, the blare of the horn making her jump. Nick yanked her out of the street. She fell against the side of a building, chest heaving. Nick was right beside her, the length of his body warm against her side. She rested her head against the brick and started to laugh.

  “We almost died,” she said with a gasp. “I guess it’d serve us right for walking in the middle of the street.”

  Nick pushed himself off the wall, his body hovering over hers. Her laugh cut off as he stared down at her, his eyes black in the darkne
ss.

  A hand reached out and slowly brushed against her cheek. “I would never let anything happen to you, Paige. You’re safe with me.”

  “What a relief.” Her voice was embarrassingly breathy.

  White teeth glinted in the moonlight as he grinned. His fingers moved down her cheek and around the side of her face, until they were buried in her hair. Her scalp exploded with tingles. Nick leaned closer, and his warm breath whispered over her face, smelling like cinnamon.

  “Do you remember what we did after the date?” Nick asked.

  Paige couldn’t tear her eyes away from his. “Yes. That was the night you first kissed me.”

  “It was a full moon, just like tonight.”

  “The parking lot was nearly empty. We’d stayed in the stadium, talking until the traffic died down.”

  Nick’s body pressing against hers. Paige rested her hands on his shoulders, not sure whether to pull him close or push him away. Her entire body ached with longing.

  “I’d spent the whole night wanting to kiss you.” Nick shook his head and chuckled. “I was terrified, though.”

  “I kept wondering what was taking you so long.”

  His fingers played with the ends of her hair, and her entire body buzzed with electricity.

  “I’m not making the same mistakes this time,” he whispered. “I’ve learned my lesson.”

  His head lowered, and Paige arched her back, pressing closer to him. He paused, his lips millimeters from hers. Waiting.

  And she knew she was lost.

  She laced her fingers behind his neck and lifted on her toes. Their lips met, and then his hands were at her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. Paige ran her fingers through his hair—felt his tongue flick against her lip. With a groan, she deepened the kiss. The hard brick wall pressed into her back, but all she felt was his hands in her hair, at her back, moving to caress her face and neck. Heat blazed through her as white-hot as it had the first time they kissed.

  During that first kiss, she’d known she was falling in love with Nick. And now, she knew that she’d never really stopped.

  He eased away, the weight of his body lifting. Her breathing was ragged, and she longed to pull him back.

  He pressed a feather-light kiss over each of her eyelids, then one on her mouth.