Gage turned toward my wife and brushed a kiss against her cheek, lingering just long enough to make my jaw tighten. “You look stunning as always, Callie.”
My wife’s face pinkened. “Thank you.”
I shot her a smug look before turning a glare on my friend. Tugging her closer, I growled, “Enough of that.”
“You’ve been married for a year, but your possessiveness hasn’t let up at all,” Gage teased, shaking his head with a laugh.
Vanessa joined us at the tail end of his comment, a champagne flute balanced delicately between her fingers.
“Maybe that’s why our marriage failed,” she said coolly, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. “You’ve never been jealous over me.”
“One of the many reasons we’re getting divorced,” Gage agreed with a nod.
His soon-to-be ex-wife ignored him and greeted us. “Callie. Ethan.”
“Vanessa,” Callie replied, warm and gracious in a way that only highlighted the contrast between the women. Her kindness was a big part of why I’d fallen for her so quickly. She wasn’t a trophy on my arm, but my partner in every way. And I needed to start treating her like it.
Gage clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Come on. Before someone corners me about the seating chart again.”
As we moved toward the ballroom doors, I kept my hand at Callie’s back, anchoring myself to her and aware of every breath she took beside me. The doors opened, and the sound of a string quartet spilled into the hall.
“Dance with me?” My wife tilted her head back to look up at me, her brows drawn together. “I want a moment with you in my arms before we get some champagne and face everyone else.”
Her smile was one of the purest I’d seen in too long. “I’d like that.”
“Hopefully, I remember how to do this.”
The remaining tension eased from her shoulders as I guided her to the dance floor, her body finally relaxing against mine. She hesitated for half a second before stepping into me, her palm warm where it rested against my shoulder as we began to move together. I guided her through the steps, my hand firm at her waist.
“You do seem a little rusty,” she teased.
I smiled down at her. “Maybe we need to go out dancing next weekend, to make sure I keep my skills sharp.”
“That would be great.”
We moved together in an easy rhythm, the world narrowing to the soft swish of her dress as it brushed against my slacks. For a few precious moments, it felt like we were back to a place where things were easy between us. I tightened my hold just afraction, wishing we were home alone instead of in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by people.
The song ended too soon, and Callie’s smile dimmed, her gaze drifting somewhere over my shoulder. I felt the shift immediately—the way the warmth between us cooled, replaced by something careful and distant.
Turning, I found my mother gliding toward us with practiced grace, Sophie just half a step behind her. Callie tried to pull away from me, but I tightened my hold just enough to keep her close. I wanted her to know that she wasn’t facing them alone.
My mother looked impeccable, as always. No one would’ve guessed she’d spent the night in a hospital bed only a few days ago.
“Son.” She brushed a light kiss against my cheek.
“Good evening, Ethan.” Sophie beamed a smile at me. “You look so good in your tux, you should wear it to important meetings.”
I felt Callie’s hand tense in mine, but my mother simpered as though she found Sophie’s joke funny even though she’d rip into me if I actually did what was suggested. She was a stickler for dressing appropriately.
Reminding myself that this was a work event, I limited my response to, “Good evening.”
My mother’s gaze flicked around the room, then back to me. “I was surprised not to see my name at your table this year. We’ve always sat together before.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine with Sophie to keep you company.”
Her brow arched, the smallest tell of displeasure. “I suppose.”
What I didn’t say was that the decision had been deliberate. I’d asked Gage to move the seating myself to give Callie a break tonight. After what she’d shared with me about how my momhad been treating her, I hadn’t wanted my wife to be forced to deal with her digs tonight.
