“Maybe.But just to be sure — Crystal likes Dallas and wasn’t happy that Tiff was talking to him.And Tiff likes … Brayden?”
“There’s no need to look so shocked,” she said with a laugh.“Brayden’s a good guy.Why shouldn’t she like him?”
“Yeah.Shit.No, sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.Brayden’s a great guy — I’ve chatted with him a few times.He’s really smart.It’s just …” He glanced over at Tiff and the others again.“I would never have had him down as her type.”
“That’s the thing with Tiff.You should never imagine that you know anything, because I can tell you from experience — she’ll always surprise you.And mostly in a very good way.But yeah, she’s had a thing for Brayden ever since she first came to town.”
“And he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“I honestly don’t know.The trouble is, he doesn’t believe her.He thinks it’s all some big joke.And normally I’d be mad at a guy for that, but I can kind of see his point.You found it hard to believe that she’s interested in him — I did too, if I’m honest.And Brayden’s not exactly an outgoing kind of guy, is he?”
She loved the way Jake smiled as he said, “No.But even I know there’s such a thing as opposites attract.And Tiffany and Brayden couldn’t be more opposite if they tried.But anyway, I hope things go well for her there, and if I can be of any help, I will.But right now, I’m more interested in seeing how things are going to go for Savannah and Jake, aren’t you?”
She looked up at him with a smile.“I am.Come on, let’s go get this party started.Do you want to sit with everyone?”
“I do.”
She took his hand and led him through the crowd to the table where her friends were sitting.As they skirted the dance floor, she looked back at him over her shoulder and said, “I hope you dance.I haven’t danced in forever — and if Clay’s singing, I want to get up there.”
He took her by surprise when he tugged her to him, wrapped his arm around her, and spun them both before she even knew what he was doing.When they came to a stop, he looked down into her eyes and pressed a kiss to her lips.
“I should have warned you before — I like to dance.”
She rested her hand in the middle of his chest and rose onto her toes to kiss him back.“You just get better and better, don’t you?”
He tightened his arm around her as he said, “I’m going to try.”
~ ~ ~
Jake leaned back in his chair and took a long swig of his cold beer.He was really enjoying this evening.He and Savannah had danced for a while as Clay sang.He still couldn’t believe his luck — that Clay MacAdam just came to hang out at his local bar like this and sang because he wanted to.Before he’d come to Summer Lake, the only time Jake had ever seen Clay MacAdam play was in a stadium.
He brought his attention back to the conversation.He’d talked with most of the guys tonight.All of them had been up and danced, but none could keep up with the women, who were all still out there.He glanced over at Savannah, loving seeing her enjoy herself so much.She turned, caught his gaze, and gave him a little wave.He waved back.She was beautiful.She was maybe the sweetest person he’d ever known, and he considered himself lucky that she was finally giving him a chance.She was enjoying herself up there with her friends, and he loved that for her.
“…don’t you think?”
He turned to Zack.He’d been enjoying talking to him and his friend, Luke.They were both pilots, but Zack’s question made him realize that he’d totally zoned out on the conversation.
Luke grinned at him.“It’s okay.We get it.You’re not paying attention because you’re more interested in Savannah.You guys just started seeing each other, didn’t you?”
He gave them a sheepish smile.“Yeah.I wasn’t ignoring you.It’s just so good to see her out having fun.”
Luke chuckled.“No need to explain.I know exactly what you mean.”He jerked his chin toward his fiancée, Angel.“It’s taken me years to get her to the point where she’ll take time off work to just relax and have fun.And …”
Luke stopped talking, and all three of them looked up when the song ended and the dance floor cleared.
It took Jake a moment to understand why – Clay MacAdam was thanking everyone for coming out to see him.He shook his head with a smile.That was just who the guy was; he was humble like that.Jake figured that pretty much everyone in the place tonight would’ve been happy to pay good money to hear Clay sing.
As the women came back to join them, Jake loved that Savannah came straight to him, and after looking around for an empty seat and not finding one, proceeded to plunk herself down on his lap.He held her close for a moment and pressed a kiss to her temple.She was hot and sticky, and she turned to him with a smile.
“You don’t mind, do you?”
He tightened his arm around her waist and reached for the bottle of water he’d picked up for her the last time he went to the bar.“Far from it.Do you want this?I figured you might need it after all that dancing.”
“Oh, you’re a lifesaver.Thank you.”She took a long drink of water before lowering the bottle.“Damn, I needed that.”
Tiffany elbowed her way over to them, and Luke and Zack shuffled along, leaving an empty seat for her beside Jake and Savannah.
“Hey, guys.”
