That made Elaine even more determined to find out why.
* * * *
By the grace of God, Lex played ten upbeat songs in a row. Connor made a mental note to take Lex out for drinks soon.
It wasn’t that he disliked dancing with Elaine, their bodies so close. If anything, he’d had to keep a bit of space between them so she wouldn’t notice the rod of iron in his pants. He just didn’t appreciate the glee in her voice when she talked about the women in his life.
He didn’t realize his love life was such a source of amusement to his friends.
Of course, he’d brought it on himself. Part of the bond he’d had with Lloyd and with the other guys was their ability to talk about women. Shape shifter men were wired differently than human men. Their frustrations seemed worse. Their emotions ran deeper. Their bodies reacted with an urgency no human man would ever understand. Connor had always liked having shifter friends with whom he could shoot the shit. They understood the struggles of the dating world.
Although Lloyd had mated with his high school sweetheart and had been committed to Elaine ever since, he’d had a few girlfriends before her. Talking about Connor’s love life reminded Lloyd of his young, foolish days, or so he’d always said. They’d lived vicariously through each other. When Connor dished about his dates, Lloyd got to experience those days again.
And when Lloyd used to talk about how much he loved Elaine, about how he’d gladly die to keep his family safe, Connor had listened in wonder.
Connor had always pretended to be happy as a bachelor. He’d never told anyone, not even Lloyd, how much he wished he could find someone just like Elaine.
Justlike Elaine.
Those were the moments when he used to look her way, hoping Lloyd wouldn’t see. The moments when he’d notice the sheen to her hair or the way her breasts swelled.
They were the moments he’d hated himself for coveting his friend’s wife.
He never would have acted on his attraction to Elaine. Never. Instead, he’d head over to the pub at the Ursa, chat up one of the waitresses, and take her home. As his mouth roved over the bodies of other women, he would sometimes dream about what it would be like to have Elaine underneath him.
His curiosity tortured him some nights, but he never let anyone glimpse it.
At least, he thought he’d been discreet.
Lloyd had never given any indication that he’d noticed Connor’s interest. If he had, he would have punched his lights out. Lloyd was always a good guy, but he still had a temper where his mate was concerned, just like any shifter male.
Maybe he hadn’t really known Connor’s interest then. Maybe, in death, he now understood everything. Perhaps he forgave everything too.
It didn’t make Connor feel any better.
He walked over to the bar and ordered a beer. When a gentle hand landed on his shoulder, he turned.
Elaine stood behind him, her cheeks glowing from all her dancing. “You’ve sat out the last three songs.” She reached for his hand. “Come dance with us.”
She’d been having fun on the dance floor with Gioia, Soren, Charlotte, and Bart. Elaine’s kids hovered around Charlotte, who held baby Lloyd in her arms. Connor had watched them but hadn’t felt like participating.
Some dance partner he was.
“Just resting my legs,” he fibbed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll be right there.”
Lex began another slow song.
Wonderful. Forget that drink, Lex.
Elaine looked at Connor, her eyes lit up. As much as Connor wanted to drag her into his arms and push her up against the bar to steal a kiss, he resisted.
Luckily, Andy and Layla ran up to her. “Mommy, Mommy,” they cried. “Dance!”
“I’d love to dance with you,” she said. She brought them onto the dance floor, and the three of them swayed, holding hands.
