of the alley.
“Do you, Harvey Melton?”
“Yes, I do. I jumped to a conclusion. I should have asked. I’m sorry.”
“How are you going to make it up to me?”
“May I have this dance and show you?”
I saw some of her coworkers peeking around her into the darkness. Ali stepped forward, and someone leaned against the door to hold it open.
“Here?”
“Yes, here.”
She looked up at the rain and laughed. “Why not!”
“Music, Mike.”
A moment later, the music started, and Ali was grinning as she pushed her chef’s coat into someone's hands and began to walk toward me. We met in the spotlight just like we had on the ballroom floor, and this time, when she lifted my chin, I knew that I had won as I stared into her eyes.
As Ali twirled away from me, Mike hit the switch, and the alley lit up. I noticed briefly that there were several people off to the side, watching us, but I didn’t care. I wanted everyone to see us. I wanted everyone to know.
Ali and I danced even better than we originally had. It didn’t matter that we weren’t on a fancy floor or that it was raining. Our bodies fit against each other, and there was a stronger connection now than there had been that night.
By the time we were done with the dance, we were breathing hard and soaked, but we stared at one another as I cupped her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Ali. I was a bastard for how I treated you.”
“I forgive you. I know you didn’t know. I figured that out. You thought I was cheating on Blake.”
“I’ve had it done to me; I couldn’t do it to someone else. My conscience just stabbed me in my gut that night. As much as I wanted you, I couldn’t because I didn’t think you were free.”
She ran her fingers over my cheek, blinking back the raindrops as they fell against her lashes. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you. I should have.”
“When you were in the kitchen, later that day, I heard what you said. I did feel it. I do feel it. I feel so much when I am with you, Ali. I think that day that we first ran into each other in the storm, well, I think I felt it then too, but I was distracted.”
“I think I did too, Harvey.”
I leaned my forehead to hers. “Ali, I want to get to know you better. I want to learn everything about you and fall in love with you, build a future. It just feels right.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’m pretty sure I agree with you, but there is one thing that I need to know before I commit to anything.”
I leaned back and frowned. “Okay, what? Anything.”
“During the show, you said you wanted to be able to cook for your woman.”
“Yes, I enjoy cooking.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Do you use jar sauce? Because if you do, that’s a deal breaker.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “I have been known to use it on occasion, but I make a mean alfredo sauce from scratch.”
“Scratch, huh?”
I grinned at her as I took her face in my hands. “I’m going to kiss you now, Ali.”
“Hurry up, Harvey.”
I didn’t waste any more time as I brought our lips together. Neither of us knew for sure if our relationship would last, but for the first time in my life, I honestly wanted to do anything I could to make it happen.
There was something about Ali that spoke to my very soul, and I hoped that she felt it too. As we stood in the rain and kissed, there were claps and whistles off to the side. All but one light was turned off so that we stood in the middle of the single spotlight.
“Harvey, will you be my partner, now and forever, however long this lasts for us?”
“Yes, I will, Ali, but I have a feeling that it’s going to be a very long time. No matter what storm comes our way, I think we’ll be able to make it through.”
She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling, her lips almost touching mine. “Just ask me to dance, Mr. Sexy, and we can let our bodies do the talking.”
THE END
The Unexpected Series
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