Then I was twirling again.
I sputtered to Brent, hanging on for dear life, “You can’t dance to stuff like this!”
His eyebrows rose and he spun us faster. He had never had lessons for this style of dancing when we were young, so he must have learned while living in New York. The surprises just kept on coming. He wasn’t as smooth at maneuvering me as Cole’s obvious upbringing had afforded him, but what he lacked in polish he made up for in style.
I started to falter and he lifted me straight off my feet, holding me snug around the waist. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and gasped. I was having the time of my life on this dance floor. I grinned at him, squeezing him tight.
But, he was serious as he stared into my eyes. Serious green on joyful blue. He spoke quietly, “I’m sorry I was a coward. I never should have left you.” He faltered and my grin slowly faded as I realized what he was saying, watching him struggle to find words. “I’m sorry for so many things, darlin’. I’m sorry that I was blind about your father. I’m sorry that I wasn’t man enough for you five years ago. I’m sorry that I took advantage of you. And I did. I knew that you wanted me to leave so I could start a career for myself and I grabbed that excuse like a life line.”
He stared at me hard. His features turning so fierce and determined that it startled me and I gasped. He stated with a determination that was unbreakable, “I won’t ever leave you again. I could say that I was young and foolish back then. I couldgive you many copouts for my actions, but I won’t. The truth was that I was scared silly.
“And I won’t say that I’m not now, but I’m not going anywhere ever again. I’ve learned my lesson. I know that it’s better to be frightened and with you than to guard my heart and be without you. I just pray that it’s not too late. Ember, you are my world. My…,” he choked on emotion, “My heart. You always have been. Every laugh, every smile, every tear, every fight, your smell, your taste, the feel of your skin. You’re it for me. Do you understand?”
I nodded rapidly, knowing exactly what he meant and trying not to tear up. Two men back to back pouring their heart out to you will do that to a woman.
They were myhome.
I gripped him as tight as I could. “Ditto.”
“I love you, Ember. I love you,” he whispered hoarsely, stopping right in the middle of the dance floor, couples gliding around us. With one arm holding me around the waist, he reached up with his other hand and cupped my cheek. He brought my face closer and kissed me like I was his oxygen, taking it all –me- with possessive fury.
Oh. My.
I was dizzy and giddy with love bubbling over when we exited the dance floor. Yes, without a doubt, they wanted me to choose, but right now, in this one moment in time, I glowed from their combined claiming’s. They were my world. And my world had just gotten that much brighter.
Stash was talking quietly with Zane and Cole when we strolled up to our group. Cole was listening, but his eyes were intent on Brent and me. Sam was trying to talk Ally into dancing. She wasn’t getting very far. Chloe, Peter, and Bas were sipping Champaign and trying to not look fatigued.
“Why don’t we sit down and eat?” I asked, thinking that would pacify everyone. Plus, I was hungry again. I hadn’t had a chance to eat lunch today since I’d had to find an outfit for this shindig.
Everyone agreed, even if Sam appeared a smidge put-out.
After we found an empty table large enough to fit our crew the waiters brought us our dinners. I stared down at my plate. There was a roasted chicken drizzled in something pink, a twice baked potato with all the fixings, baby carrots, green beans, and a side salad. By now, I knew what the three of us ate, so I started placing the carrots on Brent’s plate and then pushed my salad over to Cole. Brent and Cole were already in the process of reaching over me – they sat on either side of me – and doing the same thing, except they added their potatoes to my plate. Brent reached for a whole grain roll next to him and plopped it on Cole’s plate while Cole reached for the bread basket closest to him and handed Brent and I a biscuit with butter.
I peppered my potatoes and handed the shaker to Cole and then grabbed the salt and handed it to Brent. I got settled now that food was where it needed to be and placed my napkin in my lap. I took a sip of the Champaign in front of me. And almost spit it out.Yuck!It tasted stale or something. I sat it down and grabbed my water and a fork, ready to dig in just like Brent and Cole.
I placed a small portion of potatoes in my mouth, trying not to drop it, and Cole forked salad into his mouth and Brent started munching on his carrots.
I closed my eyes and moaned. “This is so good.”
Cole nodded his agreement, eyes merrily lit in food euphoria.
“Carrots need more salt,” Brent said around a grinning mouthful, grabbing the saltshaker again.
We sat in amicable silence and continued plowing into our food.
Out of nowhere, Sam mumbled, “Their like an old married couple. But, with three instead of two.”
I glanced up, as did Brent and Cole, and I saw everyone staring at us. Again. They hadn’t even begun to dig into their food. Forks and spoons and napkins lay unused next to their untouched food.
Bas was nodding his head. “Yeah, my parents do that. It embarrasses the shit out of me.”
They stared. We stared.
“What the hell are you people griping about now?” Cole asked, clearly irritated.
Heck, even I was getting annoyed. And if Brent’s expression attested to his feelings, so was he. We had been listening to them complain all day. I had done my best not to be embarrassed and ignore them, but enough was enough. Especially, this time when we weren’t guilty of any charges.
“Yes, please explain what we’ve done to warrant your scrutiny,” Brent stated slowly and quietly, his eyes narrowing.
