“Ladies' room. I’ll be back. Am I allowed, dear master?” she taunts me, clearly entertained. I stand up to help her pull her chair back, and her eyes turn strange. “Who are you when you wear a tux?” She seems astonished, and quite frankly, so am I.
“Cute. Real cute. I just believe I’m obeying your request that I be a gentleman tonight.”
She hums a response before swaying away, just as Ford is walking back to our table and holding out a glass of scotch for me.
“You are completely enamored.” Ford smirks to himself before taking a sip of his own glass.
We both sit down.
“She may be getting under my skin a little,” I admit. Assessing the area, everyone is busy eating desserts and sipping wine. There are a few sports stars here, but in true Lake Spark fashion, it’s the town mayor who takes center stage.
“I would be worried if she wasn’t. Besides, she looks completely into you. It’s funny watching you two together, like two teenagers with a crush.”
“Come on, Ford, it’s not that bad. Besides we’re just comfortable around each other since she is staying at my place.” I lean back in my seat and stare into my filled tumbler.
“And why is she staying with you? Oh yeah, because she already took a ride with you, consequences be damned.”
I flash him an unamused look. “Enough about me. Why are you here solo? Wasn’t the memo to bring a plus-one?”
His brows raise, as if he's surprised I asked, as I should realize the answer. “You know I don’t bring dates to my home turf. It wouldn’t feel right.”
Biting the corner of my mouth, a wave of empathy hits me. I’m an ass for asking, because he treats Lake Spark like holy ground, as it’s where he had his first real love and heartbreak, and if he had his way, then Brielle Dawson would also be his only love.
“How are you going with that?” I wonder.
He sighs a breath. “I see her every few weeks for ten minutes to discuss our boy and that’s it.”
I slap a hand on his back. “It'll work its way out. Besides, hockey season is about to start and will keep you busy.”
“Thank fuck for that.” He tips his head in the direction of the exit. “April is back. You’re good if I ask her to dance?”
Shooting him a warning glare, it causes him to chuckle.
I slide out of my chair and quickly charge a few steps to meet April halfway, and in a flash, I loop an arm around her middle.
She startles from surprise. “What in the world?”
“Let’s dance.”
“Really?” She seems skeptical. “You dance?” But she doesn’t protest and follows me to the dance floor where a slow song is playing.
A faint smile graces her lips when our eyes meet as we face one another, her arms finding a home around my neck as we move our bodies to the music.
“How was your temporary escape?” I joke.
“Not bad. Listening to the old ladies debate if the hockey player or baseball player is better suited for their granddaughter was absolutely amusing, especially when they realized I was standing there in line.”
I relax into this moment. “You’re the threat, clearly.” I feel my phone vibrate in the front pocket of my suit. “Sorry, let me quickly check that in case it's Hadley related.”
April’s eyes have a sort of admiration hinted in them; they sparkle, but that’s probably the light. “Absolutely.”
Reaching into my tux jacket, I slide out my phone and see that Piper texted. I swipe my thumb across the screen, and I can only internally celebrate the development.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I tuck the phone back into my tux. “Piper took Hadley and Pickles back to her house, as the baby needed an extra change of clothes. Hadley is going to sleep there tonight since it's easier.”
“Lies, I tell you. There is no way that baby needed an extra change. Piper never leaves her house without at least three outfits for the kid.” April laughs.
