“You’re not exactly the trouble-making type,” Callie offers as her feet shuffle to the beat.
“Neither is Lauren, but she’s been included in the trouble twice now.”
“To be fair, both times were because of my terrible love life.” I step my right foot forward and back. “Be thankful you’ve had Rhett to keep you out of that mess.”
“I guess,” she grumbles.
“I’ll tell you what, next time we’re going to do something stupid, we’ll stop to make sure you’re not out of town and call you if you aren’t with us.” Callie smiles.
“Are you mocking me?” Olivia stops, placing her hands on her hips. The motion causes Mrs. Liens to bump into her.
Callie tugs Olivia to get her back in the right position. “No, I swear we’ll include you next time.”
“Okay.” Olivia smiles as she accidentally grapevines in the wrong direction. She throws her head back groaning. “One of these days I’m going to nail a line dance.”
As we scuff our boots and turn to a new wall, I glance over at the table where Jax and Rhett are watching us carefully. Rhett has a look in his eye that makes it abundantly clear he is so in love with Olivia, even if she falters the steps.
“Well, whether you do or you don’t, you have a whole lot of people who love you.”
She stops trying to dance, glancing from me and Callie over to Rhett with a soft smile. “I know. So do you.”
I nod.
The song ends, and we clear the dance floor, but when the opening line of the next song comes over the speaker, I instantly recognize it as John Michael Montgomery.
Reaching out to Jax, I ask, “Are you ready to make our debut?”
“Hell yeah.”
I laugh as he leads me out onto the dance floor while John Michael Montgomery sings about how his lover’s belief in him is the reason he continues to get up and try to do things he believes are out of reach.
Jax’s hand finds my waist once we’re out on the dance floor, setting loose chatter around us. It makes me laugh. “People in this town can be so nosey.”
“I’m just glad they finally know you’re off the market. I’ve been terrified someone would come and sweep you out from under me.”
“You havenot!” I laugh, giving his chest a gentle push.
“I have.” He twirls me around in a circle and then returns to swaying with me from side to side.
“You must know by now I’m completely gone for you. I’m not going anywhere.”
He smiles. “Yeah, I do. But just because I know you’re gone for me doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying to impress you each and every day or stop fighting to be worthy of your love.”
Without hesitation, I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his. Words don’t feel like enough to express the way I care for Jax. I need him to feel how much I love him, and I want everyone else in this town to see it too. Jax isn’t going to be my secret anymore. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of us.
Being this close to him, sharing this moment ofintimacy, the rest of the world quiets. There’s no more music, no more people whispering about us, just the two of us happily in love. It’s incredible.
“I guess everyone knows now,” Jax whispers, his forehead pressed against mine.
“Iknewit!” Austin stumbles across the dance floor. “He was always pining after you and trying to steal you out from under me. It makes sense you’d end up with trash like him. You have no sense of self-worth.”
Jax swivels on his heel toward a very drunk Austin. “You don’t get to talk to her like that.”
“I can talk to her however the hell I want. Stay out of this, Greer.” Austin turns toward me, but it’s clear he’s keeping an eye on Jax. He may be a drunken jerk, but he’s not stupid. “Where was I? Oh, yes, your lack of taste, your lack of self-worth, and your overall inability to do anything on your own.” He throws his head around as he says the words. “You couldn’t even handle your job at Copper Hill without feeling overwhelmed. I bet the ranch is falling apart without me.”
Jax lunges at Austin, but I grab on to his arm. “Don’t.”
“He doesn’t get to treat you like this. Apparently, he needs to be taughtanotherlesson.” He turns from me back to Austin. “Don’t you dare talk to her like that.” He shoves him back. “Hell, don’t talk to her at all.”
