‘Only if you want to.’
‘Doyouwant to dance, Daisy?’ he asked and he sounded looser than usual, sillier. She could hear the laughter in his voice. Maybe that May wine was working its magic.
Maybe she should give in. Just for the night.
After all, Elliot wasn’t asking for marriage. He was just asking for a dance.
‘Yes,’ she said, and Elliot stood and reached down for her hand. She took it and he pulled her up, laughing when she ended up crushed tight to his chest. They stood like that for a moment, with her pressed against him and his grin lighting up the night, and then he grabbed her hand and twirled her round.
Her giggles joined the rising tide of laughter and cheering around them. She spotted Noah nearby, spinning a niece with each hand. The girls giggled as they spun. Hazel and Jeanie skipped together between the fire with a disgruntled Casper between them. As soon as they were through, the cat jumped down from Jeanie’s arms and sprinted into the darkness.
‘At least you’re protected from evil spirits now!’ Jeanie called after him.
‘He is the evil spirit,’ Hazel said with a laugh, circling back to Noah’s side.
‘More wood, boys!’ Jeanie called, and Logan and Bennett brought over a few more armloads to add to the fires. As soon as Bennett was done, Kira tugged him away into the shadows, a cheeky grin on her face.
Iris waved to Daisy as she and Archer made their way through the dancers. Olive was perched on Archer’s shoulder with her flower crown still on her head, even if it was a little more squished than it had been when she picked it out. Daisy knew Owen was safe at home with a babysitter.
‘Bye, Daisy!’ Olive called. ‘Thank you for my flowers!’
‘You’re very welcome,’ Daisy said, waving to the little girl. Archer grinned, grabbing Iris’s hand as they wandered off into the darkness beyond the fire and toward home.
A home filled with love and babies…
Something Daisy always thought she’d have.
She shook her head, spinning and dancing with Elliot until his crown was even more crooked, and Daisy was out of breath. He pulled her close again.
‘Is that the mailman and the lady who sold me my house making out over there?’ he asked, nodding his chin in the direction of the couple in question.
‘It sure is.’
‘And is that Crystal who makes me my coffee every morning riding away on the back of a very large man?’
Daisy giggled. ‘That’s her fiancé. Football player.’
‘Wow.’
‘And, oh, my God,’ he whisper-shouted. ‘There goes Jack and Gabe, sneaking off together!’
‘We told you! It’s Beltane. It makes everyone… frisky.’ She tried to say it like she was joking but his gaze snagged on hers and she was sure if it was light enough, she would see the red creeping to the tips of his ears.
I want you, Daisy.
He’d said that, hadn’t he?
‘Right,’ he said, his voice hoarse from laughing and dancing. ‘You mentioned that.’
‘It doesn’t mean we have to… you’ve made your feelings about a casual hook-up very clear. You’ve done plenty just by coming with me. If dancing at Beltane doesn’t break the curse, then I don’t know what will.’
‘You’re not cursed, Daisy,’ he whispered, tucking her hair behind her ear. ‘You’re perfect. Just in case I haven’t been clear about that.’ He cupped her face in his hands so that when he leaned down to kiss her, she was held captive, trapped in his grasp,safein his hands.
His lips were soft and sweet, and he tasted like wine and fruit. Daisy wrapped her arms around his neck and let her fingers toy with the longer hair at the nape of his neck. She let herself melt into him and sway to the music. She let herself surrender to the magic of the night.
Everything was warm and glowing. The music vibrated through her, keeping her blood humming and her body calling out for more.
Elliot groaned against her lips when she pressed her body to his, and she sighed in return when his arms wrapped around her, holding her tight.
