Well, that went right over her head, but she’d never been the fastest bunny in the forest. The mayor and his wife came out the back door, and seeing an excuse to get away from Stephanie’s toxic presence, I grabbed Dylan’s hand.
“We should go say hi to Mayor Jenkins.” He came readily along, and after a few minutes of chatting, we headed for the food table.
The rest of the afternoon went easily enough. Adam and Connor mostly hung with us. I loved how my two friends got along so well with Dylan. We mingled, introducing Dylan to various people, and I was impressed with how at ease he was with the country-club crowd. Actually he seemed to win the approval of everyone he met, from Hamburger Harry to the mayor and his friends. He sure had mine.
After we finished eating, Dylan leaned over, putting his mouth close to my ear. “Let’s get out of here. Go save that horse.”
“What’s your hurry? Is there a cowboy needing riding?” I whispered back.
Under the table he put his hand on the inside of my thigh and squeezed. “Needing it like the air he breathes.”
Okay then. “We’ll catch you guys later,” I said to the twins as I pushed my chair back. We’d done a good job of avoiding Stephanie until the band that had set up while we were eating began to play.
“Dance with me, Dylan,” Stephanie said, coming up on the other side of him. She grabbed his arm and tugged.
He flashed me an apologetic smile as he was dragged to the dance floor set up on one end of the deck, and yes, the mayor’s deck was that big. “Bitch,” I muttered.
“I heard that,” Adam said.
“Yeah, well, he doesn’t have to look like he’s having fun.” One thing I had to give Stephanie was that she was a good dancer, and as it turned out, Dylan was, too. There were several couples dancing, but everyone sitting around was watching Dylan and Stephanie. They were so good together that it looked like they’d been dance partners for years. I didn’t want to be jealous, but there it was.
“You don’t have to worry about her, Jenn.”
I shot Adam a grateful smile. He disliked Stephanie probably more than me. After his junior year in college, he’d dated her when he’d come home for the summer. Why, I don’t know, because by then he knew what she was like, and I don’t think he was particularly crazy about her. More like he was bored and she was just someone to pass the time with until he returned to school. Or maybe he was trying to get Savannah out of his system. Who knows?
Stephanie had other ideas, though. She’d decided he was husband material, and when her hints that they should get engaged fell on deaf ears, she claimed she was pregnant.
“I’m going to have to marry her,” Adam had said to Connor and me as he paced across his living room floor. “No baby of mine is going to be raised without a father.”
“Did you use protection?” Connor asked. “And if you say no, I’m going to disown you.”
Adam had glared at his twin. “Always. You shouldn’t even have to ask me that.”
“I haven’t trusted Stephanie since first grade when she put salt in my milk,” I said. “Here’s what you need to do before you agree to anything. Make an appointment with Dr. Saltzman for a pregnancy test. Then wait and tell her where you’re going when you’re on the way there, but not before.”
Adam did exactly that, and as he pulled into the doctor’s parking lot, Stephanie confessed she wasn’t pregnant. To this day, he credits me with saving him from a life of misery.
The band started right in on a second song, and when it appeared that Dylan was headed back to me, Stephanie danced in front of him, blocking his way. He laughed and kept on dancing. She turned, bumping her butt against his groin while her gaze landed on me, a smirk on her face. I was going to kill her.
“Easy,” Connor said, putting his hand on my arm when I stood.
He was right. If I killed Stephanie in front of all these witnesses, Dylan—being the police chief and all—would have to arrest me. There would go any chance of saving a horse tonight.
“Let’s go dance, peanut.” Connor pushed me toward the dance floor, but I planted my feet, refusing to move.
“You know I can’t dance,” I muttered. Yeah, I danced when I was with friends and had had a little to drink. But no way was I going to put myself next to Dylan and Stephanie, who could go on a dance show and win without even trying.
Connor took my hand and tugged. “Trust me.”
Of course I trusted him, so I let him drag me to the dance floor. He leaned over and said something to one of the band members, then led me to a spot near Dylan and Stephanie. Dylan smiled and winked when he saw me, but I was miffed with him. Turning my back, I gave Connor a what-now look.
The fast song faded out, changing to a slow one. I grinned at my friend. Slow dancing I could do without embarrassing myself. That was great except that meant Dylan would now be slow dancing with Stephanie. I scowled at Connor.
“Trust me,” he said again, reading my mind.
He pulled me into his arms. We’d danced for maybe a minute when he twirled me right up to Dylan. “Change partners with you,” he said.
Stephanie shook her head. “I don’t—”
