Chapter 18
Samantha
I leaned back against the bar, swirling the last bit of beer in my glass as I listened to Ethan explain his life, his work, and why he didn't have a girlfriend. The more he spoke, the more I realized just how incredible this man was. Strong, kind, patient—he was everything you could want in a partner, and then some.
His countenance changed when he mentioned his ex-wife. The look on his face twisted me with anger and disbelief. I didn't know exactly what happened, but I knew she walked away from him. How could anyone walk away from Ethan?
"Your ex must be a total bitch," I blurted out before I could stop myself. The words just slipped out, fueled by the beer and the frustration I felt on his behalf. I quickly tried to soften the blow, but it was too late. The look on Ethan's face told me he was caught off guard.
I shook my head, feeling a mix of anger and sadness for him. "I mean, you're an absolute gem of a man. What could've been so important to leave you? It had to be money-related, right? If only she understood that money doesn't buy happiness."
Ethan didn't say anything right away, and I could tell he was processing my words. His face softened, though, and he gave me a small, sad smile. "Yeah, something like that. Sarah… she had her priorities, and they didn't always align with mine. She wanted a certain lifestyle, and I couldn't give it to her."
I frowned, thinking about how ridiculous that was. "That's insane. Money isn't everything. I mean, sure, it can make life easier, but it doesn't replace real love, real connection." I hesitated, not wanting to pry too much, but I couldn't help myself. "She really didn't see what she had?"
Ethan shook his head, looking down at his drink. "No, I guess she didn't. Or maybe she did, but it just wasn't enough for her. I wasn't enough for her."
"Well, she was a fool," I said firmly. "Because you're more than enough. Anyone with half a brain would see that."
The tension in his shoulders eased a little at my words, but there was still that lingering sadness in his eyes. I wanted to reach out and hug him, to tell him that he deserved so much better, but I held back. We were still getting to know each other, and he was hurting. I didn't want to make it worse.
Instead, I tried to lighten the mood. "You know, I'm surprised how much fun I'm having tonight. Usually, I avoid places like this because of the attention I get. But when you're with someone like you, dudes tend to keep their distance."
Ethan chuckled at that, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "Is that right? I cannot imagine what people would do if I wasn't here. People cannot keep their eyes off you..."
I grinned, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the beer. "Then I guess I am lucky you're here."
His eyes twinkled with amusement. "I think I should be offended. You're basically saying I'm scaring people off."
"Pretty much," I teased. "But in a good way. You're like my personal bodyguard tonight."
He laughed again, and I felt a flutter in my chest. I was really enjoying this—being here with him, talking and laughing like this. It felt so easy, so natural. It was like we'd known each other for years; had it only been 48 hours?
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and I found myself asking him about the girls. "So, what's the plan with Maya and Lily? Do they go back to school when you guys get home?"
Ethan nodded, taking a sip of his beer. "Yeah, school starts back up for them. Maya is in 7th grade, and Lily is in 5th. They go to a pretty good school."
I smiled, picturing the two girls. "What do they like to study? Anything they excel at?"
I was genuinely curious; if I was going to mother these girls, I needed to know more about that. HOLY CRAP, WHAT DID I JUST THINK? MOTHER THEM?
Ethan didn't notice my distress. He just shrugged. "Lily is really into art. Wants to paint for a living, you know, live abroad in places like Italy and Paris. She has what she calls a Hope Board with all the places she wants to visit."
Oh, that is perfect. I love Rome. I also have a place on the Italian Riviera we could use as a base. The thought of riding on the back of a motorbike with Ethan made my face flush. I also pictured myself with him and the girls walking through Rome, visiting the beaches of Tropea, and exploring the lemon vineyards in Lecce. It was a good thought.
"Maya wants to go into business. She says she is going to take care of me as soon as she becomes rich. I won't have to work another day in my life because she is going to handle everything. Lily complains that's what she wants too, but they fight about the merit of an artist's salary. It's a common argument in our household."
Samantha almost started laughing. She could hear the girls fighting about it.
Ethan's eyes while he talked about his girls were priceless. We talked a bit more about them, about their schooling and what they liked to do in their free time. It was clear that Ethan was a devoted father, and the way he spoke about them only made me admire him more.
"So, what about you?" I asked, shifting the focus. "What's next for you when you get back to reality?"
Ethan thought for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "Well, there's work, of course. And I need to make sure the girls are settled back into their routine. But other than that, I don't really have any big plans. Just… taking it one day at a time."
I nodded, understanding that completely. "That's a good approach. Life can be unpredictable, so sometimes it's better to just focus on the here and now."
"Exactly," he agreed. "And right now, I'm just enjoying this."
"Me too," I said softly, meeting his gaze. There was something in the air between us, something unspoken but undeniable. I wasn't sure where it would lead, but for now, I was content to just enjoy the moment.
We stood by the bar and had another drink. Then the lively twang of country music faded out, and the opening chords of a slow, familiar tune filled the air. My ears perked up as I recognized the song—"Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett. It was one of those country love songs that had always tugged at my heartstrings, and in that moment, it felt like the perfect soundtrack to the evening.
Without even thinking, I reached for Ethan's hand, my excitement getting the better of me. "Come on," I said, tugging him towards the dance floor.
Ethan looked at me, a bit bewildered, and then hesitated, his feet planted firmly on the ground. "Samantha, you know I don't dance."
I shot him a playful smile, not letting go of his hand with both of mine. His hands were so big. I rubbed the top of his hand with my thumb. "This isn't really dancing, Ethan. It's slow dancing, which is basically just an excuse for you to put your hands on me. And let's be honest, are you really going to pass up that chance?"
Ethan's face flushed a deep shade of red, and I laughed softly at his reaction. He was so endearing when he was flustered.
Before he could argue further, I led him to the dance floor, weaving through the crowd until we found a spot where the music enveloped us, and the world seemed to slow down.
I turned to face him, placing my arms around his neck, and then gently guided his hands to my hips. "Just relax," I whispered, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us. "I am not going anywhere."
He let out a nervous chuckle, but his grip on my hips tightened slightly as he pulled me in closer. I rested my head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as we swayed together to the music. It was as if the entire bar had melted away, and there was only the two of us, moving in perfect sync.
The lyrics of the song wrapped around us like a warm blanket, speaking of a love so deep that nothing else mattered. It was the kind of love that I'd always dreamed of but never quite found. And as we danced, I wondered if maybe—just maybe—I could have something real.
Ethan's body relaxed against mine, and I felt his breath against the top of my head as he exhaled slowly. There was something incredibly intimate about this moment. I tried not to overthink it.
I tilted my head up slightly to look at him, and our eyes met. For a moment, I saw something in his gaze, a wolf. I suddenly felt like prey. Like Ethan wanted nothing more than to ravage me. His hands were like steel. He didn't hurt me, but I could feel the desire in his hands to grip me.
I was instantly aroused. Damn this man and his layers.
The next moment it was gone, and he stepped back a bit. It bothered me when he stepped back.
"See?" I whispered, my voice barely audible above the music. "You're a natural."
Ethan whispered in my ear. I felt the warmth of his breath on my face. "Only because I've got a good partner."
I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at his words, but I didn't look away. Instead, I let myself get lost in his eyes, the warmth of his embrace, and the sweet, soulful melody that carried us through the night.
As the song drew to a close, I found myself wishing it would never end. But as the last note faded away, I knew life wasn't like that. Life only continues forward. I should remember that.
The night continued with a lively energy that filled the Rusty Spur, the music alternating between upbeat country tunes and more mellow, intimate songs. After our slow dance, I noticed that both Ethan and I had become the targets of some attention. It wasn't long before other people started approaching us, asking for dances.
My mother taught me long ago that it was rude to reject dance requests. But I really didn't want to dance with anyone else. Ethan didn't seem to mind, though, and that bugged me. At first, it wasn't a big deal. A tall, charming guy named Trevor asked me to dance, and I accepted. I glanced over at Ethan as I let Trevor led me to the dance floor, and I could see that he was also being pulled into a conversation by a group of women who gathered around him like vultures.
The idea of him dancing with someone else made my stomach twist a little, but I pushed the feeling down, telling myself it was just a bit of harmless fun.
Trevor was a good dancer, confident and smooth, but I found myself struggling to fully enjoy the dance. My attention kept drifting back to Ethan, wondering who he was talking to, whether he was enjoying himself, and if he'd rather be dancing with someone else. I tried to shake it off and focus on the moment, but it was harder than I expected.
When the song ended, I thanked Trevor and excused myself, making my way back toward the bar where I'd left Ethan. But before I could reach him, I noticed a petite, bubbly girl approaching him. She was short—barely reaching his chest—and had a wide smile on her face as she asked him to dance. Geez, she looked silly next to him. She was mostly eyes and boobs which definitely not natural. The Boob Shank animatedly reach for Ethan who looked a bit surprised but agreed with a nod, and I watched as he followed her onto the dance floor. I saw Ethan check out her chest. I couldn't exactly blame him though she was almost spilling out of her top.
I was already not a fan of Boob Shank.
I also got asked by another guy who was far less charming than Trevor. He might have told me his name, but I don't remember it now.
Boob Shank was clearly in awe of Ethan. They danced together through a couple of songs, and I found myself watching them more than I'd like to admit. Each time a new song started, I hoped Ethan would excuse himself, but instead, she kept engaging him and he kept dancing with her, making polite conversation and occasionally flashing that easy smile that seemed to come so naturally to him. He maintained a polite distance from her despite her attempts to get close to him, so that was something. Her attempts bugged me.
It wasn't that I was jealous—okay, maybe I was a little jealous—but more than that, I was annoyed. He was attending to me tonight, and the others should just know to leave him to well—attend to me. Jealousy is not a natural emotion for me, and I found that I was not a fan.
After their dance ended, I noticed Ethan making his way back to the bar, and I decided to do the same. But as I approached, ANOTHER group of girls intercepted him. These were not locals, causal tourist or workers. These were part of the upper crowd. They were all attractive, dressed to impress with designer labels and dressy outfits, and clearly interested in Ethan. One of them, a striking Asian girl with an air of confidence, stepped forward and addressed him directly.
"Ethan," she asked with a sly smile. "Fancy meeting you here. If I had known you were going dancing, I would have told you to come with us earlier."
"Good to see you again, Hana," Ethan said smoothly. "It was a relatively last-minute decision for me and Samantha."
Hana kept talking like she didn't hear Ethan's response. "So, you didn't lose my number, did you? I don't remember seeing a call from you. What gives?"
Ethan looked surprised at first, then broke into a laugh, which only served to irritate me further. I picked up my pace, not willing to let this play out without making my presence known.
"Well, Hana," Ethan said with a grin, "it's mandatory to wait three days before calling. I'd be breaking all sorts of protocols if I didn't follow the rules."
Hana laughed, but it was clear she wasn't entirely amused. "Oh, please, don't tell me you're one of those guys who actually believes in that nonsense."
I was right behind Ethan now, close enough to hear every word. Deciding I'd had enough, I stepped forward and slid my arm through his, leaning in slightly as I spoke. "Ethan, there you are. I was wondering where you disappeared to."
Ethan turned to look at me, his expression softening when he saw me. "Hey, Samantha. Just chatting with some new friends."
Hana's smile faltered slightly as she looked me up and down, her eyes narrowing just a fraction. She was clearly sizing me up, and I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she tried to figure out who I was and why I was so close to Ethan.
"Hi, I'm Samantha," I said, offering her a polite smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
Hana forced a smile in return, but there was no mistaking the annoyance in her voice as she replied, "Nice to meet you. So, how do you two know each other?"
I could feel the tension in the air as she waited for Ethan to answer. Before he could say anything, I spoke up. "How do we know each other? Well, Ethan happens to be my knight in shining armor. We're here together tonight after he saved me from a terrible fate."
Hana's forced smile remained plastered. "Well, isn't that nice? Ethan, what do I have to do for you to be my knight in shining armor?"
I answered, my voice sounding harsher than I meant. "You'd have to almost die in a limo."
I turned and pulled Ethan. "It was nice meeting you, Hana. Have fun dancing."
Hana's expression soured for a split second before she forced another smile. "Sure, maybe."
Once Hana was out of earshot, I turned to Ethan, trying to keep my tone light even though my heart was pounding. "It's hard to be in demand."
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish. "I don't know about that. I think people are just being friendly."
I shook my head, unable to suppress a small smile. "Friendly, sure. But you've got to admit, you've caught the eye of more than a few people tonight."
Ethan chuckled softly, his gaze meeting mine with that warm, genuine look that always made my heart skip a beat. "Honestly, Samantha, I haven't really noticed anyone else."
Wait. What did that mean? Does that mean he only noticed me? Say something more, Ethan.
The big idiot didn't say anything else—just kept smiling. I could feel my cheeks heating up, and I quickly looked away, trying to hide the fact that his simple statement had sent a flutter through my chest.
"Come on," I said, forcing a playful tone to cover up how flustered I felt. "Let's get back to the dance floor. Maybe we can find another slow song to dance to."
Ethan smiled, a real smile that lit up his face. "I'd like that."
We made our way back to the dance floor. I felt a surge of possessiveness over Ethan. It, like jealously was foreign to me, and an emotion one I wasn't entirely sure I liked. Still, I was enjoying this night more than I'd expected, and a big part of that was because of him.
The next song that came on was upbeat, so instead of slow dancing, we found ourselves laughing and moving to the rhythm. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this carefree, this light. The worries that usually weighed on my mind seemed to melt away, replaced by the simple joy of being in the moment.
For someone who said he didn't dance, Ethan was a surprisingly good dancer when he put some effort into it.
Big jerk. Was he just pretending? It was unfair how he was making me feel seemingly without trying.
Then I had a naughty thought.
I leaned into him, twisting my body and backing up to him, touching him with my butt. I grabbed his hand and guided it to my hip and stomach having his fingers brush my skin. Then I was moving again.
We swayed my hips and moved my butt sensually for a few moments.
I turned to see his face, and he was turning red. That's right. That's what you get!
After a moment, we got into it and moved effortless with a natural pace, it made it easy for me to lose myself in the music. We danced through a couple more songs, the night blurring into a whirl of music, laughter, and the occasional glance between us that lingered just a little too long.
Eventually, the music slowed down again, and I found myself back in Ethan's arms, his hands resting comfortably on my hips as we swayed to the music.
This time, there was no hesitation, no awkwardness. He was in the moment finally.
I rested my head on his shoulder, letting the warmth of his embrace wash over me. Every so often Ethan's thumbs would crest my sides.
It made me shiver and I am not sure he even realized he was doing.
For a moment, I allowed myself to forget about everything else—about the cameras, the expectations, the complications. Right now, it was just me and Ethan, and that was enough.
As the song came to an end, I pulled back slightly to look up at him, our eyes meeting in a way that made my heart race. "Thanks for tonight, Ethan," I said softly. "I didn't realize how much I needed this."
Ethan's expression softened, his eyes full of warmth and something else I couldn't quite place. "I'm glad we came, Samantha. I've had a great time too."
Before I could say anything else, the moment was interrupted by a loud, obnoxious voice calling out from behind us. "Hey, Samantha! When's my turn for a dance?"
I turned to see a group of guys standing near the bar, one of them grinning at us as he waved. It was one of Luca's friends, the one who had been eyeing us earlier. His tone was joking, but there was an edge to it that I didn't like.
Ethan tensed beside me, and I could feel the easygoing mood of the night start to slip away. I wasn't about to let some drunk guy ruin the evening, but I also didn't want things to escalate.
"Maybe another time," I called back with a forced smile, trying to keep things light.
The guy shrugged and turned back to his group, but I could tell the moment had passed. Ethan's arm around me tightened slightly, and I could sense that he was on edge, ready to step in if things got out of hand.
"Let's get another drink," I suggested, hoping to distract him. "I could use one after all that dancing."
Ethan nodded, his expression relaxing a bit. "Yeah, good idea."
As we headed back to the bar, I couldn't help but glance over at Ethan, wondering what was going through his mind. Tonight had been fun—more fun than I'd had in a long time. It was because of Ethan. I like it. I like him. And I wasn't sure if that made me excited or terrified.
Maybe a little bit of both.