much more. He didn’t want to ruin it.
Dana was speechless. She’d never been kissed like that before. She didn’t want this moment to end.
Breathless, Cody pulled away. They locked eyes, no words were necessary. There was an electric connection between them, something deeper than either of them had ever felt before. It scared Dana how close she felt to this man she just met.
Cody gazed at Dana, so taken with this woman who seemed to know a part of him no one else understood. She was so beautiful, but when he looked into her eyes, he could see her soul.
“Dana, Dana, Dana...” he breathed her name like lyrics to a song and wrapped his arms around her. “Where have you been...?”
She was wondering the same thing about him.
“Are you free tomorrow?” he whispered in her ear.
“Yes...” she murmured.
“Good,” he said, kissing her again slowly. “We don’t leave till Monday morning. Promise you’ll see me?”
“Promise,” she said, trembling.
He held her close in the night. They sat in comfortable silence listening to the rhythmic waves rush the shore and the quiet rustling of palm fronds.
The symphony of the night was interrupted by a blaring car horn. Suddenly they could hear voices of other people walking on the beach and the faint strains of dance techno music emanating from the club. Their moment was over.
Silently they stood up, brushing the sand off of themselves. Words seemed inadequate after what they just shared. Cody took her hand as they walked slowly back to reality. The noise of Miami nightlife filled the air.
Dana took some deep breaths trying to regain her composure and her senses. Cody was essentially a stranger, yet their connection felt deeper than attraction. She knew she needed a clear head to sort this out, but she was intoxicated from his kiss. For the first time in her life she had no idea what to say.
It was Cody who spoke first.
“Do you have a pen?” he asked.
Dana was thankful for a simple question. She rummaged through her purse. “No pen, but I have eyeliner.”
“It’ll have to do,” he said. “What’s your number?”
He wrote her answer in the palm of his hand. Dana smiled, “Why don’t we meet over there at Java Café?” She pointed to the coffee shop a few doors down from Luna. Good neutral ground, she thought, allowing her mind to overrule her heart, her heart that would have agreed to meet him anywhere.
“Perfect. Walking distance from our hotel.” A beat. “How are you getting home? Did your friends leave you?” he asked handing her back her eyeliner.
“Yeah, Jonny’s wife was tired. I was going to take a cab.”
“I guess you could stay with me at the hotel,” he said trying to be polite, hoping it didn’t come across the wrong way. “I’d sleep on the couch,” he added quickly, knowing full well if she came back with him he’d find it impossible to resist her.
“I probably should go home,” she said, wanting terribly to stay, but knowing she wouldn’t be able to adhere to his good intentions. Yes, going home was the right thing to do.
“Right, makes sense. I should probably get back anyway. Eric’ll kill me if I don’t meet the fans. He says it helps us sell more CDs. The curse of fame.” He grinned sheepishly. “Let me get you safely in a cab so I can see you tomorrow.”
Cody moved to the curb and flagged down a taxi passing by. “Listen,” he said as it pulled up, “we’re staying at the Seaside Motel. I’m under the name John McKinley.”
“As in the former president?” she laughed.
He laughed with her. “Yes...it’s a long story. The guys in the band...we all have this obscure president game we play when we check into hotels. I’ll tell you all the details some other time.” He opened the cab door. “So tomorrow...say one o’clock?”
“Yeah, tomorrow.” She smiled.
Cody bent down and kissed Dana again soft on her lips.
“See you then.”
The cab drove away quickly turning South Beach into a blur of neon. Dana stared out the window watching the colors streak across the darkness. She could not believe this night. That kiss! She’d never experienced anything like it before.
Except, it wasn’t only the kiss.
When they talked, she felt like she knew him and even more amazing, it felt like he knew her. But she didn’t trust her judgment right now. Her emotions were still so raw from the break up with Sam, maybe loneliness was driving her feelings. Her need to be touched.