As we moved across the floor, something occurred to me. Alex Vaughn had a hidden skill. He could dance. Like really dance.
I lifted my head up so my eyes met his. “You can dance?”
“It’s been a while. I’m rusty.”
“Ifthisis you rusty, I don’t think I could keep up with you when you’re on your game.”
He grinned as he effortlessly glided us around the floor with command and grace. I’d always loved to dance, but I’d never actually known how to dance. I’d never had any formal training. I felt like I was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and Alex was the pro.
“I took lessons to surprise Ash for our ten-year wedding anniversary.” There was sadness in his voice but also a spark of…love.
I wasn’t sure what to say so I remained quiet.
“She was a great dancer. Before we found out she was pregnant with AJ, her plan was to move to New York and be on Broadway. She could have done it. She always said that she didn’t regret becoming a parent so young, and I know she didn’t. She was a great mom. The best.”
“She sounds… amazing.”
He looked down at me. “Sorry.”
“For what?” I asked.
“I don’t really talk about them…I don’t know why I am now.”
“I know it was hard for my dad to talk about my mom. For years, he couldn’t. But there was an incident on the job, he was a cop, that forced him to go to counseling and the therapist said it would be damaging to me if he didn’t talk about her. So, he tries.”
“Your mom died giving birth to you, right?”
“Yeah. Did Lexi tell you?”
“Yes, but I knew before then. I did a background check on you.”
“Oh right, when I was going to be watching Lexi.”
His jaw clenched and his body tensed slightly. “I ran a background check on you months before that.”
“You did?”
“I just…wanted to know more about you.”
“Oh, that’s…”
The right corner of his lips pulled up in a lopsided grin. “Creepy?”
“Yes, but also…sweet.”
As he continued leading me across the floor, I rested my head on his shoulder. I could feel his heart pounding against my cheek as his hand tightened on my lower back. We were in a room filled with people, but somehow it felt like we were the only people on the earth.
I wished tonight would never end. But I knew that it would. And then what? I had no idea, but tonight, I wasn’t going to worry about tomorrow.
