Page 60 of Wilde Ride

“How are they doing those dips and turns like that? They’re so in sync,” Emeline said, smiling from ear to ear as she watched the two dance.

“I have no clue.”

As the song ended, Caden pushed Lilibeth out into a spin that seemed as if it would never end. The last note ended with him dipping her, and her leg coming up. The crowd went wild, including everyone at our little table. Even the woman Caden had been talking to all night.

Another song instantly started, and Caden and Lilibeth both stood there for a moment. She took a step toward him and said something. He closed his eyes briefly and drew her closer. They started to dance as other couples moved around them in a slow two-step.

I watched my best friend as he seemed to let go of something when Lilibeth lifted her gaze and met Caden’s. She smiled, then rested her head against his chest.

Turning, I looked at Emeline, who was also watching her brother and Lilibeth. She smiled softly, then glanced down. I would have given anything to ask her what she was thinking in that moment.

She must have felt my gaze on her because she lifted her head and looked directly at me. “If I ever see Rachel in this town again, I’m going to kick her ass for hurting my brother like she did.”

I let out a soft laugh. “I do believe you’d do exactly that.”

Her eyes searched my face before she asked, “Dance again?”

Suddenly aware of the crackle in the air between us, I replied, “I think I’ll sit this one out.”

The look of hurt passed so quickly over her face, I would have missed it if I hadn’t been staring at her so intently.

“Emeline?”

The sound of another man’s voice caused us both to turn to see Luke standing there.

“Would you like to dance?”

She stood. “I’d love to.”

I watched them walk out to the dance floor. When he drew her close, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, I had to fight the urge to go cut in. Instead, I grabbed my beer and drank the rest of it as I tried to ignore the way my chest ached to see Emeline in another man’s arms.

When I glanced at Ensley, she raised her brows. “What was that you were saying earlier?”

I turned away and looked back to the dance floor, trying not to seek out Emeline and Luke. When the song ended and Caden returned to the table, I stood.

“Ready to leave?”

He looked flustered for a moment, but he nodded and said, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Emeline

I sat back in my chair, pulled out a Swedish Fish, and popped it into my mouth. My mind drifted back to last weekend and the moment that passed between me and Levi. Had I imagined the way he’d looked at me?

“Don’t be stupid, Emeline. Of course you did. He declined your request to dance, remember?” I exhaled and shook my head. “He’s not interested in you, so you need to just move on.”

The sound of the knock on my open door caused me to let out a small yelp, then look to see my brother standing there with a grin on his face.

“Taking to talking to yourself now, little sister?”

“No. I was working something out in my head.”

“Something? Or someone?”

My head tilted as I regarded my brother. “No idea what you mean.”

He sat down in the seat across from my desk. “Levi.”

“What about Levi?”