Cassie leaned against a stool, glancing around, lips pressed tight.“What are we here for—” she trailed off, attention catching on Connor’s cut, the plaque pulling the eye whether you wanted it to or not.
“We’re here,” he said, pushing off the juke as a slow song rolled through the speakers, “’cause it ain’t like prom night all over again.”
He jerked his chin at her.“Now get your ass over here, Strawberry, and dance with me.Willie’s waitin’.”
Cassie blinked, surprised—and then she was grinning, coming toward him with an exaggerated swagger.
“Well, it’s about damn time,” she said, her arms coming up around his neck.
His hands settled at her waist, pulling her in close.He let her set the pace, the steps coming easier than he’d expected…or at least easier than he’d ever admit.
She leaned her head back, peering up at him.“Didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Don’t,” he muttered, half a smile slipping through.“This never happened.You say anything and I’ll deny it.”
She huffed, shifting closer, fingers toying with his hair.“I know you didn’t dance at prom…” her voice dropped just enough to carry between them.“What about your wedding?”
The question caught Nash off guard.
She huffed, shifting closer, fingers toying with his hair.“I know you didn’t dance at prom…” Her voice dropped just enough to carry between them.“What about your wedding?”
The question caught Nash off guard.
It wasn’t as if Addison had been avoidable this past month—not with Junie always coming and going—but Cassie never lingered there.Never asked outright.
“Now, prom woulda been different,” he said.“Might’ve danced if you made a big thing about it.But all I remember is you bein’ real comfortable on my lap.”
“It’s a pretty great lap.”
“Yeah?”Nash’s hands slid lower, settling at her hips.“You sure do make good use of it.”
She laughed softly, settling into him a little more, the top of her head brushing his beard as they moved.
“You didn’t answer me,” she said after a moment.“About the wedding.”
“Ain’t much to answer.Did a lot of drinkin’.”
“You really don’t remember?”
“I remember enough.”
“So?Did you dance?”
He looked past her for a second before letting out a slow breath.
“Maybe,” he said.“Didn’t feel like this.”
Cassie’s fingers stilled in his hair.
She tipped her face toward his, like she hadn’t expected that.Like she didn’t quite know what to do with how honest it sounded.
But just as quickly, her attention dropped away again.
“…Fall season starts soon,” she mumbled after a moment, not looking at him.“Program workups, sectionals…donor events…
“They’ll want me back before the first full run through.”
Nash didn’t speak—didn’t even look at her.Hell, he didn’t even know what half that shit meant.Instead, he tightened his grip and sent her out in a slow turn, letting the movement blunt the worst of it.
