Ethan wiped his brow.“Wait until it’s your turn.There’s nothing more traumatic than planning a wedding.”
“Have you—” His breath caught when he saw Barbara.With a pale gold gown skimming her curves, she reminded him of a Greek goddess, or someone who’d just stepped out of the ocean from Atlantis.It dawned on him that he’d never seen her in a dress.She always wore jeans or pants.
He didn’t know why, because she looked amazing.But it wasn’t only what she wore.Her eyes were shining with happiness.Barbara was confident of who she was and what she wanted out of life.And, with a sinking feeling, he wondered if he would ever be someone she’d want in her life.
CHAPTER 19
After the wedding speeches were over and Penny and Wyatt had cut the cake, Barbara breathed a sigh of relief.All they had to do was get through the last part of the evening and everything would be okay.
She smiled at Anne as she moved around the room with a tray of drinks.Kathleen was thrilled when Anne offered to help serve the wedding guests, especially since she knew how to waitress.With a team of five other volunteers, they’d run the reception with military precision, making sure nothing was overlooked.
“Someone’s happy.”
Her smile widened when she saw Theo.“That’s because it’s nearly the end of the night.Have you enjoyed yourself?”
“I have.I’ve been speaking to one of your aunts.She was telling me all your family secrets.”
“If you were speaking to Aunt Roberta, be careful.She tends to be overly dramatic.”
“It doesn’t matter.I still enjoyed the stories.Do you want to dance?”
Barbara checked the time.She’d memorized each fifteen-minute slot on their spreadsheet.If anything happened, she was ready to pounce into action, even if it was only a minor issue.“I can dance with you for a few minutes.I promised I’d check on Penny and Wyatt’s suitcases.Katie overheard our cousins talking about sabotaging them with confetti.”
“That sounds like something a cousin would do.”He held out his hand.“A few minutes is better than nothing.”
Barbara held his hand and stepped onto the dance floor.She’d never been the type of person who went to lots of parties or anywhere for that matter.She worked, she went to meetings, and then she did a little more work at the end of the day.Until she’d met Theo, living like that had suited her.She knew what she was doing, the variations in results she could tolerate, and how to minimize the unexpected events that impacted her clients’ projects.
But Theo had turned her life upside down.She had no idea what she was doing when they were together.Learning how his mind worked and the values he brought to their relationship was a minefield.But most of all, she didn’t know how long they could continue to be friends without both of them taking a giant leap into the unknown.And just thinking about the unknown gave her nightmares.
“You’re doing great.”
Theo guided her around the dance floor as if they were champion ballroom dancers.If her dad could see her now, he’d be proud of every bruised toe he’d suffered when he taught her how to waltz.
She tightened her grip on Theo’s hand.“Where did you learn to dance?”
“Mom taught me.When I was a teenager, I got into a bit of trouble.Mom thought that if I wouldn’t join the military, she’d instill some structure into my life in other ways.So I learned how to dance and play the piano.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Theo smiled.“I’m a bit rusty on both fronts.But if no one’s looking too closely, I get by.”
“You do more than get by.You’re making me look like a great dancer.And take it from me, I’m not.”
“It all depends on who you’re dancing with.”
Barbara smiled.“Has anyone ever told you you’d make a great radio host?”
“A few people.Is it my deep, sexy voice that gives me an edge?”
“Possibly.But I’m more impressed with your ability to surprise me.Radio listeners like to think they know you, then bam!You tell them something that leaves them wondering if they ever knew you at all.”
“And playing the piano and ballroom dancing are your bam moments?”
“Not quite.It’s more your insight into human nature.You have a way of making the world sound like a better place than it is.”
“Ah, the cynic raises her lovely head.Why is the world such a horrible place?”
Barbara relaxed against Theo’s chest.“It makes you choose between the things you want most in your life.”
