No, scratch that.
Penny was his superior in every possible way.
And she made him want to do better. Tobebetter.
Even if that meant facing how his father’s death had changed him.
“Who says I want to ask out Penny?” Colt asked, attempting to gauge how obvious he’d been.
“Oh, the fact that you’ve been staring at her for twenty minutes straight.” Jack grinned, loosening his tie. “Unless you’re just trying to get some pointers on how to eat a piece of cake properly.”
Reed joined in Jack’s laughter.
“Ha-ha,” Colt mumbled. Although, he had to admit Jack was on a roll tonight. “I was thinking I’d ask her to dance. That’s all.”
“You can try,” Jack snorted.
Gathering his courage, Colt squared his shoulders.
The odds were definitely against him. But part of turning over a new leaf would require persistence and patience. Two skills he lacked, miserably.
Wadding up the napkin, he tossed it onto a nearby table, acutely aware his pulse had picked up tempo, matching the rhythm of the music being pumped through the speakers.
He’d never been nervous to pursue a woman before.
But this time, everything felt different.
For once, his heart was on the line.
* * *
Penny Heartwantedto like weddings.
Really, she did.
Especially when everyone kept saying howmagicalthey were.
But she simply couldn’t see the appeal.
She tapped her fingertips against the taupe tablecloth, taking in the way the canopy of twinkle lights glittered across the amber-colored apothecary jars brimming with white roses and eucalyptus. Their sweet fragrance scented the crisp night air, complementing the equally sweet notes of laughter and music.
Okay… so she could seesomeof the appeal. But it wasn’t as if the wedding itself deserved any credit for making a marriage last.
No, that happened far, far away from the revelry. In the hidden corners and crevices of a person’s life, where light and beauty were hard to find. In the places where secrets were exposed and scars were made.
That’swhen marriages either thrived or failed.
And it was usually the latter.
Her muscles tense, Penny reached for a glass of water, the ice clinking gently as she brought the rim to her lips. Even the water tasted sweet, infused with fresh strawberries and a hint of lime. She found it hard to swallow.
Luke and Cassie were different, though. Stronger and smarter than her parents. Than most people, really. They went into marriage knowing it would be hard, choosing to hope and persevere anyway.
Penny allowed herself a faint smile, watching the newlyweds on the dance floor, isolated in their own bubble of marital bliss. Beside them, Grant and Eliza looked equally lost in the la-la land of love. She had no doubt they would be next to take the plunge. Or perhaps Frank and Beverly, who sashayed across the dance floor like two young lovebirds.
“Care to dance?”
Penny jumped, icy water splashing over the rim of the glass, sprinkling the tablecloth. Darting a glance at Colt, she set the glass down and dried her hands on her napkin. “No, thanks.”
