“Let me.”
He unzipped her bag for her, knowing the shoes were right on top.
Ally happily kicked off Lara’s torturous heels, and awkwardly tried to balance on one foot as Jake set hers on the floor in front of her.
Then incredibly, he crouched down and steadied her with one hand, while using the other to hold up a shoe for her to place her foot inside.
Ally felt dizzy.
“Better?” he grinned once both sparkly sandals were duly fastened on her feet.
“So much.”
Then Jake gallantly extended his elbow and Ally smiled, feeling a little like Cinderella as she placed her arm inside it.
And with the ring now safely in his inside pocket, Jake and Ally stowed their cases, and together set off back to the ballroom.
Chapter 21
Just as they were halfway across the dance floor and heading for the bar, the lights turned low.
“Time to find that special someone and make your way onto the floor,” the singer of the band announced as the opening bars ofA Lot Like Christmasbegan to play.
Ally stood frozen with awkwardness, while all around men took their partners and wives by the hand.
Turning to Jake, she was certain he felt the same discomfort, but when her gaze met his, she saw him smile.
“Talk about timing. Shall we?” He gently took Ally’s right hand and placed it on top of his shoulder, then took the other and placed it on his side, before wrapping his own around her waist.
Her arms felt rigid as wooden boards. What must everyone be thinking?
She looked around the room, feeling reassured then that absolutely no one else was even looking in their direction. They were all too busy with their own dance partners. So she began to relax a little and enjoy the moment.
Ally and Jake began to move slowly to the music, their bodies finding a natural pace within seconds.
Then over her shoulder she spotted Lara, whose eyes were out on stalks. She grinned and gave Ally a big thumbs up before placing her head back onto Mark’s shoulder.
Copying her example, Ally did the same.
As soon as her head found a comfortable position on Jake’s shoulder, a sense of almost surreal calm descended upon her. Following his lead felt so natural that she was able to completely lose herself in the moment.
And in his arms.
They continued to dance for what seemed like hours, until eventually Lara tapped her on the shoulder.
“So sorry to interrupt you two, but we really should get going. I promised the sitter.”
“Oh! I totally lost track of time.”
Jake stood back and still smiling, he grabbed her hand and kissed it.
“See you the day after tomorrow? I’ll text you the address - now that you’ve got your charger back. And Merry Christmas.”
Ally nodded, and once she’d collected her case and they headed back to the car, Lara could hardly wait to hear all the details.
“The day after tomorrow?” she urged. “Tell me everything!”
“Yes, Jake - J.T. - invited me to dinner with his family. And his brother’s engagement celebrations.”
“Amazing!” Her friend hugged her. “You guys look so perfect together. And he seems wonderful. But I thought you were leaving for Florida the day after tomorrow?”
“I think I might stay on a while longer if that’s OK with you?”
“Of course - as long as you like!”
Ally smiled as gently falling snowflakes cooled her rosy cheeks. This truly was turning out to be the strangest, but perhaps the best, Christmas yet.
And she got the sense that from now on - in more ways than one - maybe she wouldn’t need to travel light.
