A sudden case of nerves assaulted him when the DJ invited everyone to the dance floor after the cake was cut and the bride and groom had danced with their respective parents. There were so many things he wanted to say to Grace he was afraid he'd come on too strong and ruin everything.
Robert stepped up beside him. "You deploy without making your move, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." He looked across the gym at his wife Jesse. "Trust me."
Robert had been on the verge of proposing to his high school sweetheart when she was offered an internship in New York City and the chance to follow her dreams. He never got over her. Until she returned five years later, seeking protection from her abusive husband.
"What makes you think I haven't made my move?"
"She'd be hanging on your arm right now, if you had." Robert gave him a sly grin, then looked Damon in the eye. "Don't assume she knows how you feel. She needs to hear you say it."
"Right. I'm going to tell her." Damon smoothed the front of his jacket. "I am. It's just...She friend-zoned me last week, and even though we've continued to spend time together, I'm not sure she?—"
Robert smacked his shoulder. "A man would have to be blind not to see the way she's been looking at you all day." He tilted his head and grinned. "If you don't go ask her to dance, I will. Then, I'll make sure Jake and Daniel dance with her. And Rudy Wheeler. Although I'm pretty sure he brought a date toni?—"
"Okay, I'm going." Laughing, Damon held up a hand to cut Robert off. "Will you keep an eye on Marisol?"
Damon's chest grew tighter as he crossed the gym to where Grace sat. He prayed Robert and Marisol were right—that Grace wanted to be more than friends—otherwise, he was about to make a fool of himself.
Grace's chestconstricted as Damon approached. Her stomach fluttered so hard she could hardly breathe.
He was incredibly handsome in his uniform. It wasn't so much the clothing that attracted her, but the man himself. He was kind and thoughtful. He always seemed to be in-tune to hermood. He knew when to be serious and when she needed a good laugh or a hug.
She'd enjoyed spending time with him these past two weeks and more than once, she'd regretted brushing off his desire to get to know her better. She wanted more than friendship too, but she couldn't seem to shake the fear that he wouldn’t want anything to do with her when he found out about her baby.
He was leaving soon, and she didn't want him to go thinking she wasn't interested. She had no idea how things would work out between them, but she'd finally admitted to herself that she wanted them to work. Even if it meant she might have to leave her brother. She wouldn't force Damon to choose between her or the Army.
A pang of sadness hit her knowing that by the time Damon returned she wouldn't have to worry about leaving her mother. Unable to face that reality, she forced the thought away.
Damon stopped in front of her, and Grace's heart lodged in her throat. He bent and held out his hand to her mom. "May I have this dance?"
Her stomach plummeted as her mom burst into laughter. "That's very flattering, guapito, but I'm afraid my dance with Gabe—brief as it was—wore me out. Besides, we both know I'm not the one you really want to dance with." Mom nudged Grace so hard, she almost fell off her chair. She was surprisingly strong for such a slender, sickly woman. "Grace is dying to dance with you."
"Mom!" The word came out a harsh whisper.
"She was especially hoping to check out the lights floating in the pool."
"Is that so?" Damon grinned as he shifted his gaze to her and offered his hand. "Grace, will you dance with me?"
"How could I not after she ratted me out like that?" She shot a scowl at her mom as she placed her hand in his and rose to her feet.
"Guess she figured you needed a nudge." Damon took her left hand in his right and rested his other hand at her waist. "Did you?"
His proximity made her heart do funny things.
"Was that what Robert was doing?" She ignored his question by asking one of her own. "Nudging you?"
"If you saw that, then you know I didn't need much."
"Me either."
The hand at her waist slid to her back, pulling her a little closer as the music switched to a slow song.
She met his gaze for a moment before dipping her head.
Why am I suddenly shy?
She'd flirted with him all day, waiting for the opportunity to tell him she wanted more. Now that it was here, her heart flipped somersaults in her chest powerful enough to rival an Olympic gymnast. Damon held her close enough it shouldn't be so hard to tell him she wanted him to kiss her.
"What does quapito mean?" he asked.
