Childhood Dream

Chapter 1-2

She’d never thought much about Tony, but his bandana was a part of him. She knew he had looked different tonight, but she couldn’t pinpoint why. She was so used to seeing him in his paint covered jeans with the rips and white paint splatter tee. His hair slicked back and a bandana keeping the curls secured.

The outfit was like a uniform, and it was familiar. She didn’t need to look at him any differently. He was Tony, Ella’s baby brother, but now taken out of his uniform, standing here in a suit, holding her hand, his other on her waist as he moved her around the dance floor, his dark eyes boring into hers, she saw him in a whole new light.

Or maybe it was the champagne addling her brain. It was probably the champagne.

Tony smiled, a sparkle in his eye, and her heart kicked up. Definitely the champagne.

His hand stayed in safe territory, but it tightened on her waist, holding her a little closer. She moved into him willingly, loving the strong feel of his chest, the fresh scent of his cologne and the way that curl bounced right back to his forehead like he’d predicted. This time she didn’t push it back. She rather liked the defiant curl and how it separated itself from the rest. It spoke to Tony’s character. Like her, he’d always moved to his own beat. A free spirit who cared more about his art than what people thought about him. It was refreshing in a world of trend followers.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said, and she glanced up to meet his gaze. “I don’t know if I told you that.”

Heat filled her cheeks, a sudden shyness overtaking her being. She bit her lip, her lashes fanning downward. “Thank you.”

“Not that you don’t always look beautiful.”

“It’s not every day I’m in a dress with a full face of makeup and more product in my hair than an eighties costume party.”

His lip quirked, a dimple pressing into his left cheek. “I don’t know. That’s a lot of Aquanet.”

“When it comes to this mess of hair, there can never be enough hairspray.”

He reached up, brushing a finger against the bounded mass of hair. Her breath caught in her throat as his finger lingered. “Still feels soft.”

A strand fell back into place, and she inhaled deeply as his hand followed the curve of her neck to her bare shoulder. The song ended, but they stood there a moment, staring into each other’s eyes. The lights and people fading around them and spinning away.

He nodded to the empty glass still in her grasp. “Want to get a drink?”

“Sure.” It was nice to have company without feeling like a third wheel. She followed him to the bar as he weaved in and out of the crowd. Many of the people Krissy recognized from their small town, but several she hadn’t, most likely friends of the bride who had lived in the city for a majority of her life until recently.

“What are we drinking?” Tony asked. “I’m assuming with no margaritas you’re sticking with champagne.” A smile tilted her lips as she realized Tony knew her drink of choice. Not that it was a secret, but still. It was nice he cared to notice.

“You’d be right.”

Tony motioned to the bartender and turned back to her while they waited. She instinctively went to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose only to realize they weren’t there.

“I was going to ask where your glasses were,” he said.

She shrugged. “I didn’t think they went with the dress, so I opted for contacts tonight.”

“I think your glasses would have went just fine with the dress.”

The sweet sincerity in his tone made her knees weak. Victor’s text popped into her mind. Maybe find a guy for the night. Weddings are great for hookups.

Heat spread through her like a raging wildfire that lost control. Maybe another glass of champagne wasn’t a good idea.

Someone complimented Krissy’s dress, and she thanked them while Tony retrieved her champagne and his beer.

“For you.” He handed her the champagne flute, and she took it with a smile. Not wasting any time, she took a sip. The music kicked up again, and she let out a squeak. “I love this song. Come on.” She downed the rest of her glass and grabbed Tony’s hand, dragging him to the dance floor.

He didn’t hesitate, following her and throwing his hands up in the air when they approached. Song after song they danced like no one was watching.

He stepped into her, lacing his fingers through hers, then spinning her around. A laugh bellowed from her mouth as they sang the lyrics at the top of their lungs.

The raging wildfire turned into an all-out inferno as heat prickled her forehead and neck. She waved a hand at her face.

“Hot?” he asked, and she nodded. “Me too. Let’s go get some air.”

Air sounded good. She skipped behind him, away from the reception and out onto a secluded patio that overlooked the water. The cool air clung to her skin and the scent of salt was strong in the air. It smelled like home.

“Are you having fun?” Tony asked, his silky voice washing over her like a warm bath.

“Honestly? A blast. Thanks to you.”

“I just asked you to dance; the rest was all you.”

She shook her head. “If you didn’t ask me, I’d be trying to sneak read under the table.”

“Krissy Turner, the only girl I know who would bring a book with her to a wedding.”

“Not a book exactly. I have an app on my phone.”

“That does not surprise me.”

While she was hot, the February air whipped against her, causing goosebumps to spring to life along her skin. She rubbed her arms.

“You’re cold now,” he said. “We can go back in.”

“No, it’s peaceful out here. I wouldn’t mind staying for a little longer.”

“Okay.” He slipped his suit jacket off and draped it over her shoulders, running his hands up and down her arms. His scent surrounded her, and she inhaled. “Better?”

“Much. But aren’t you going to be cold?”

“Born and raised in Willow Cove. We don’t get cold.”

“Considering I was born and raised here that argument doesn’t hold much water.”

“You’re in a sleeveless dress. I’m in pants, a t-shirt, a dress shirt, a vest, and a jacket. I’m surprised I haven’t succumbed to heat exhaustion to be honest.”

“You do have a lot of clothes on,” she said, and her brain flashed to an image of them strewn across her hotel room floor. She swallowed back the unexpected desire to have Tony in her hotel room, naked and hard, and focused on the water.

Tony sidled up beside her, his arm pressing ever so slightly against hers. It wasn’t uncommon for them to stand close. But tonight, she was acutely aware of every little thing about him. His dark chocolate eyes followed her gaze toward the moonlight dancing across the water’s surface.

“It sure is beautiful out here,” he said. “Sometimes, I get so caught up in my art that I forget there’s an entire world of art right outside my door.”

There’d be days and sometimes even weeks that would pass, and Tony wouldn’t emerge from his studio. It had become a part of his process, but it still worried his family. Krissy loved the idea of shutting the world out and disappearing into your own mind.

“What are you working on now?” she asked, genuinely interested.

“I have a bit of a block, though I hate using that term. It’s not like I can unclog myself and get the creative juices flowing. I guess you can say I’m percolating. I’m letting the juices drip through until they’re ready to create the final cup.”

“I like that and who knows, maybe tonight will be exactly what you need. Sometimes when I’m trying to come up with a new ice cream flavor, I step away from my notebook and just go have a day to enjoy myself. My best ideas always come at the end of that. Like the flavor Sunday Afternoon came to me when I made a peanut butter, jelly, and fluff sandwich. I used to eat them as a kid all the time, but never thought to transform that into ice cream.”

Her father had made them for her after her mom up and left and he was too depressed to do much else. It should’ve been a bad memory, but the tastes were soothing. It was as if those sandwiches were Dad’s way of comforting her when he couldn’t even comfort himself.

“That’s one of my favorites,” Tony said.

“It’s so good, right?” She was proud of that flavor. She was proud of all the flavors she added to the menu since she took over ownership of the ice cream shop. She hoped her aunt was proud of her, too. Aunt Doris had built that business from the bottom up, and Krissy’s only dream was to continue the legacy—honor her aunt, who had become a beacon to the community through her infectious joy and kind heart. They were big shoes to fill, but Krissy was confident she’d fit them just fine.

Cheers erupted from inside, and Krissy swung her head to the door. “Sounds like it’s getting a little crazy in there. Did you want to go back?” She blinked up at him, and their gazes crashed in an intense explosion. She sucked in a startled breath as the remnants of the crash showered down on her. Need, desire, want… all mixed together in an unexpected turn of events.

She stepped away before she could submit to the clawing desperation to kiss him, to thrust her fingers through his hair and tug on those unruly curls.

Biting back the overpowering craving to know what his lips tasted like, she nibbled on her own, worrying the plump skin, which only aroused her more.

“We should go back,” she said, slipping off his coat. She handed it to him, but her bracelet got stuck to the button on the cuff. In her haste, she yanked a little too hard and his button clanked to the floor beneath them. “Oh no!” she exclaimed and dropped to her knees, running her hand along the patio. Her contacts made her vision blur.

“Got it!” Tony announced and held the button up.

“I’m so sorry. I can fix it. I have a needle and thread in my room.” She had opted to stay at the venue for the night after much persuasion from Ella and Cami. They didn’t want her to miss the morning after breakfast and seeing the couple off to their honeymoon. Krissy figured she wouldn’t have to worry about finding a designated driver or calling a cab, so she caved.

“Do you always travel with a needle and thread?”

“Actually, yes. You never know when you’ll need it.”

“Always prepared. Okay, let’s go get this bad boy sewn on. Lead the way.”

Krissy nodded and walked through the doors, leading Tony farther away from the wedding guests and closer to isolation, away from the craziness.

“I’m on the third floor,” she said, coming to a stop outside the elevators and pressing the button for up.

They waited in silence and what felt like forever, though, was probably mere seconds. She could feel his heat emanating from him, and she licked her lips as she imagined being surrounded by that very heat. Their fingers brushed against each other, shooting sparks up her arm.

She swallowed, attempting to ignore the idea of a hookup but finding it hard to resist the man beside her. He was funny, sweet, and everything she would want in a guy, but this wasn’t about a relationship. Those were complicated and scary. This would be s*x and nothing more.