“I thought I loved my ex-husband, but I only did in the way that you love someone who teaches you that they can take their love away at any moment. And give it back as a form of control. So no,” Jenny says heavily, “I guess I’ve never been in love either.”
We stand there for a moment in silence, contemplating the weight of what she just shared.
“Okay you two,” Tomás pipes up from behind Jenny. “Time to change the subject from whatever sappy shit you were discussing. It’s line dancing night! We’re supposed to be having fun.”
Jenny gives me a weak smile. I’m sure that if Tomás knew what we were actually discussing, he wouldn’t have described it as “sappy shit.”
“You’re right,” Jenny says. “Let’s go dance!”
The band is starting their first song, with Jonah singing and playing rhythm guitar. Jenny grabs my hand and we head to the dance floor. Thankfully, Ronda has someone at the front demonstrating the steps for any newbies. I’ve only been line dancing one time before, and while I had a hell of a good time, I don’t remember many steps.
Jenny, Tomás, and I start dancing, and are soon joined by all the others. Nathan is wearing a fringed shirt and fancy looking boots, and the fringe flies around him as he dances. Candice’s outfit is more understated, but she moves to the music like a natural. I went for full on cowgirl Barbie tonight, and have on a pink fringed shirt with pearl buttons and embroidery, and a white leather belt with a tooled silver buckle.
I let myself get carried away by the music and the feeling of the crowd around us, and eventually I stop needing to look at the dancer in the front, and follow my friends instead. They’re all incredible—even Beau is getting into it. Jonah’s soulful voice is a constant as I stomp my feet and spin, and even though I know that the room is full of other people, I still feel like he’s singing just for me.
We move closer to the stage, and I catch his eye for a moment in between songs. He tips his chin towards me, and when he starts to sing the next song, he keeps his eyes locked on me. Itry to make the next steps fluid and easy, but I stumble through some of them, unnerved by his intensity and the electricity that crackles between us even at this distance. I head off the floor and to the bar, in need of water.
The bar is packed, and while I wait to order, the dance changes to a couples one. I watch Nathan swing Candice around, and then, to my shock, see Beau hold his hand out to Jenny. From here, I can’t see her face for her reaction, but after a few beats, she places her hand in his. I quickly order some water, and when I have it, I turn back around to watch Beau and Jenny dance.
He’s looking at her like she hung the moon, the stars, and the sun. The easy love Jenny spoke about might be right in front of her. But her face shows no emotion, and I can tell that she’s holding back. She’s not touching him or leaning into him anymore than she absolutely has to.
A stranger’s hand on my shoulder distracts me from watching, and I turn to find a tall, kind looking man smiling at me. He’s wearing a cowboy hat and has a short groomed beard.
“How is it that a woman like you is alone on the edge of the dance floor, watching everyone else have fun?” he asks.
“Oh, I’m here with friends. Just having a bit of a break.”
“I’m Greg,” he says.
“Winnie.” I smile back at him.
“Winnie is a nice name. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with that name before. Would you like to dance?”
“Sure!” I say, before I can really think it through and stop myself.
Damn it. I’m not used to telling people no, and even though Greg seems nice enough, I’m not interested in him like that. Besides, I’m married. I reluctantly take his hand and follow him onto the dance floor, where he whisks me into a two-step not far from the stage. Greg is a decent dancer, and I easily follow hislead. Thankfully, he doesn’t get handsy, which helps me relax a bit. It’s one dance, nothing more. And Jonah and I might be married but it’s a marriage of convenience.
Just like the rake and the wallflower inThe Rake’s Bride—the audio book that I listened to on my drive to Star Mountain. They ended up in love against their better judgement, and ripping each other’s clothes off all across the duke’s manor house. But that’s just a romance novel. Jonah and I aren’t like that. We aren’t in love, and we haven’t ripped each other’s clothes off.
Yet.
I try to ignore the fact that I’m listening to Jonah sing while I dance with another man, but I can’t—I only hope he hasn’t seen me. I’m not sure he’ll care, but I find thatIcare. I don’t want him to think that I have a thing for anyone else.
Greg spins me one more time, and then brings me towards him, closer this time than he has before. Then the song ends and I hurriedly push out of his arms.
“Can I have another dance?” He smiles down at me.
I shake my head. “Sorry! But I’m actually, uh, I’m here with someone and I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said yes to dancing with you to begin with, but I’m not very good at saying no. And you’re really nice, I swear.” I wince internally—poor guy.
“That’s alright,” Greg says easily, “No hard feelings.”
He walks away, leaving me to search for my friends in the crowd. I find them in a group on the other side of the dance floor, taking a break. Jenny is nowhere to be found and Candice and Beau are debating something hotly. Nathan looks concerned.
“I never should have asked Jenny to dance,” Beau says, a note of finality in his voice.
“Why not? It was one dance!” Candice throws her hands up in the air.
“Because she’s not interested in that. She made that pretty clear when she walked away from me without another glance.”I wince as I hear the implication in Beau’s voice: she’s not interested in thatwith me.
