It had taken most of the hour, but Pierce had finally gotten the hang of the basic steps of the classic waltz. His posture still needed work, and he kept looking at his feet, but it was progress, nonetheless.

He had even kept a careful distance between them, and kept their topics of discussion on either the upcoming nuptials or the town of Black Oak. A part of Tory appreciated that, yet a part of her wanted him to pull her into that tight embrace again, so she could feel that powerful body move against hers.

Grinding her teeth, she worked to put those kinds of thoughts out of her head, but that was hard to do when the man she was drooling over was at that very moment holding her hand.

“Okay, now remember to count the beats,” she instructed, letting Pierce lead her across the floor. “Rise to your toes, lower onto the heel at the end of the third beat.”

Muttering something under his breath, Pierce did was he was told, squaring his shoulders as he went along.

“Good,” Tory encouraged him as he got the hang of it. “Very good.”

He smiled at her as they ran through the steps once more, but as the music came to an end, he spun her around, his hand sliding down as he dipped her back. The move was unexpected enough that Tory couldn’t adjust her stance quickly enough, and she could feel her knee lock up on the turn.

She winced, grimacing for just a moment before she could hide her pain under a neutral expression. But Pierce noticed it, the smile immediately leaving his face. Pulling her back up, he held her to his side, eyes darting down to her legs.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, no, it’s fine,” she replied, shaking her head.

“I guess I’d better leave the fancier moves to the professionals,” he said, chagrined.

With his arm weaved around her waist, his eyes locked onto her, Tory had to admit she had already forgotten about the pain. Being so close to Pierce was like a drug, but it was best not to get addicted.

Clearing her throat, she stepped away from him, feeling cold as soon as she did.

“It’s all right, really,” she said, smoothing a hand down her skirt.

He nodded, seeming to pick up on her not wanting to discuss it any more.

“So, what are you liking most about Black Oak so far?” he asked. “Feel free to say me.”

“Here we go,” Tory laughed.

“No, but really,” he smiled at her. “It’s not often I get to hear an outside perspective on this place.”

“Well…” Tory started, thinking it over. “I like how quiet it is at night. And the sky is always so clear. I had a thing for astronomy as a kid, so I like to look at the stars.”

And why exactly was she telling him all this? She had no idea. But the way he looked at her, hanging off every word, she couldn’t stop herself. Leaning back against the wall, she ran through the two weeks she had spent in Black Oak so far, focusing on moments that had made her feel welcome, and calm.

“At first I found it a little weird when people came up to me on the street, already knowing my name, asking me how I was,” she mused. “I thought everyone was just being nosy. But now, when I go to get my morning coffee, or take a trip to the grocery store, those same people wave and come up to chat… I kind of hate it,” she laughed, surprising herself. “But it’s actually kind of sweet, too.”

Chuckling, Pierce looked at her, curiosity in his gaze.

“You’re a fish out of water, aren’t you?” he asked.

“What about you? You’ve lived here all your life. Haven’t you ever thought of leaving?” she countered.

“Not really,” he shrugged. “This is my home. It’s where I grew up, it’s where all the people I care about are. I know every street, every back road. This place is like air to me. I’m happy here.”

“It’s that simple?” Tory questioned.

She had lived in New York all of her adult life, but she had never felt about it the way Pierce felt about Black Oak. From the way he spoke, it was clear his home meant a lot to him. There was a connection between him, the town, the people. It was alien to Tory, but also intriguing.

“No need to make it complicated,” Pierce shrugged, holding her gaze.

There was a good three feet of space between them, but it felt like a lot less. Were they still talking about the town? She guessed not. But in a place as small as Black Oak, Tory knew her choices were less a private matter, and more fuel for the rumor mill.

Some things were complicated, weren’t they? Suddenly, looking into Pierce’s brown eyes, she wasn’t so sure. It wasn’t like she had to commit to something, or put her heart and soul out there. All Pierce had done was ask her out. It wasn’t like he was proposing marriage.

He stepped closer, tilting his head at her. Stubble shadowed his squared jawline, his hair was a mess. It was just the sort of look advertisers and photographers spent a lot of time and money perfecting, yet on him it was effortless.

He probably hadn’t even looked in the mirror before stepping out of his house, looking like a tousled underwear model.

The jerk.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, as Tory’s heart beat fast in her chest.

“You know…” she stalled. “Whether giving you my number would be a mistake or not.”

“Is there any way I can sway your decision?” he asked, stepping closer still.

“I don’t…” she hesitated, her back against the wall as Pierce slowly boxed her in.

There was an intensity in his eyes that made her forget about everything around her, and about all the silly rules she had set up for herself. There was being careful, and then there was being so careful you missed out on your own life.

That hurt, bitter part of her tried to rear its head, but when she was suddenly face to face with Pierce, the warring voices inside her head quieted. Carefully, like she were made of glass, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Without even meaning to, Tory found herself leaning closer, pulled toward him. His head dipped, that musky scent of his enveloping her as their lips met. It was tentative, gentle, testing at first.

But as her lips parted and his tongue snaked into her mouth, it became something entirely different. Tory’s head swam as his body pressed against hers. With a groan in his throat, Pierce gripped her other shoulder, holding her in place as he kissed her breath away.

It was deep and lingering, filled with a passion that made her core clench. When they pulled apart, she was breathless, clinging to him as he rested his forehead against hers. This wasn’t her. She didn’t just kiss men she barely knew, and definitely not in her place of work.

Yet here she was, willing to throw all logic to the wind.

Chuckling to himself, Pierce pulled away to look her in the eye.

“Did that convince you to give me your number?” he asked.

“Yes,” Tory blurted out, gathering herself.

What the hell else could she say?