Page 52 of His Secret Wish

“I know you’ve been going out together. For coffee and stuff.” She couldn’t keep the hurt out of her voice, and it pissed her off. Getting upset would do nothing.

“We’re just friends.”

She snorted. “Isn’t that what they all say?”

“I’m serious, mi cariño.” There was a sincerity in his gaze she couldn’t deny. “She may have wanted more, I don’t know. But I’m not interested in her. Or anyone.”

Isabella’s heart practically leaped out of her chest and did a pirouette on the dance floor. He was serious. There was nothing between him and Becky Lynn. All the worry about him being with someone else washed away, making her feel lighter and happier than she had in the last few years. It was amazing what a little validation could do.

They twirled around the dance floor as one. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Ben dancing with her cousin, Celia. She turned her head to watch them. They looked good together.

Owen glanced in the direction she was looking and a fierce scowl settled on his face.

She couldn’t resist teasing him. “And you don’t need to be jealous of Ben.” She bit the inside of her lip to stop from grinning like an idiot. Okay, so a little jealousy was actually kind of hot. If the butterflies beating their wings against the inside of her belly were any indication. “We were just reminiscing earlier.”

He pulled her tighter against his body. “About when he was in love with you?”

“Actually, yes.” She rubbed her palm on his arm.

“I knew it.” The tension in him ramped up. His gaze sparked with something stormy. It sent a shot of heat through her, one that settled in her core.

“When we were kids, Owen. He doesn’t feel that way about me anymore.”

“He better not.” He tossed poor Ben a look that could easily slice like a blade. Ben was lucky not to bleed out right there in the middle of the dance floor.

“Will you stop?” She swatted his arm.

He stared at her, his eyes sparking with heat, making her skin feel tight, tingly. She licked her lips. His gaze tracked the movement of her tongue, and he swallowed hard.

It was suddenly stifling in the tent.

Owen had somehow steered them toward the edge of the dance floor, and she pulled out of his hold. “I’m going to get some air.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and fled through the front flap of the tent.