His grin is so big, I can feel it. “Will you stop worrying? Two older sisters and a single mom; I’ve been dancing since I was two.”
“I wouldn’t know that, would I? The one time I had the opportunity to see you in action, you blew me off for that Daisy Duke wannabe, Colleen.”
“Here we go again.”
I turn in my seat and watch Luke’s eyes roll in profile.
“When are you going to forgive me for prom night?”
“I don’t know.” I cross my arms indignantly. “When are you going to pay me the three hundred and thirty-nine dollars you owe me for my unworn prom dress?”
“I’ll tell you what.” He takes a hand off the wheel and reaches into his back pocket. “You hold on to this--” He hands me his wallet. “--until the end of the night. If I can’t get you to laugh at least once, you can have every dollar in it.”
I pull apart the leather. There’s a healthy wad of green bills stacked neatly in the cash pocket. I’m tempted to count them until he smiles knowingly at me. I slap the billfold shut. “Deal.” I stash the wallet in my purse and go back to counting metaphorical tumbleweeds.
Luke pulls the pickup onto the exit lane and I’m glad to see a healthy number of businesses lining either side of the road before us. I pluck my bag from the floorboards and something small and red catches my eye. A rose petal. My heart gives a funny lurch as I capture it between two fingers.
Four days ago a dozen red, uncut roses arrived at the bakery. The note attached simply said,
I’m sorry
.
I wanted to throw them away. They’d have fit perfectly in the trash alongside my hopes of a future with him and faith in true love. But I couldn’t do it.
I’ve been harboring dreams of running down the aisle to yell,
“I object!”
at their wedding. But then what? If Alex hasn’t called things off by now, it’s because choosing me over Cadence would bring more pain to his family. Do I want to be responsible for that? Besides, my pride’s been wounded nearly as much as my heart. At this point my only options are run and hide or drive and dance.
“I hope you’re not planning an escape.”
Luke’s voice startles me. I muster up a quick smile and hope to hide any obvious signs of vengeful plotting. “Sorry, I got lost for a minute.”
“Well,” He pulls the truck into a parking space in front of a beautiful brick building. “I hope you found your dancin’ shoes, because we’re here.”
Luke comes around the front of the car and helps me out like a true southern gentleman. He’s not so bad really. Tonight might even be fun…if I can rid myself of all thoughts of Alex.
Entering the dance hall is like walking back in time. It’s vast and beautifully decorated. White marble surrounds an enormous hardwood dance floor. Small round tables with small dimly lit lamps and richly draped with maroon and cream linens, nestle around three sides. The band is already playing full swing, each of its members dressed in a sleek white tuxedo, heads bopping to the beat.
Luke speaks with the hostess, who smiles at me before leading us to a table right at the front of the dance floor. She leaves us with a leather-bound wine list and Luke spreads his arms wide. “Pretty fucking fancy, huh?”
I bite my bottom lip hard.
No laughing.
I shrug. “Yeah, it’s okay.”
“Oh c’mon, Charlie. It’s like Fred Astaire blew up in this place.”
Now
there’s
the country-boy who traded a slow dance with me for a handy behind the football bleachers. “You did good,” I say, careful not to seem too impressed. “How’d you find this place anyway?”
“Mom knows one of the cooks and she figured you’d like it.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’re…you know.” He sweeps his hand up and down.
“I’m?”
Luke removes his hat and drops it on the table. “You gonna break my balls all night?”
“Maybe not
all
night.” I pick up the wine list and then raise my eyes to meet his.
He gives me that same devastating smile he employed when his seventeen year-old self asked me to the prom. He raises an eyebrow and leans in close. “You wanna get drunk?”
Finally, Luke Walker and I are on the same page.
I’m dangerously close to losing out on a several hundred dollars. Luke has proven to be a much better dance partner than I could have anticipated. I about faint from shock when he pulls out the Charleston.
“I’ve got to go sit down.” I pull away from him.
He spins me back into the rumba. “The girl I knew used to have more getty in her up.”
I pull away successfully this time and smile drunkenly. “The girl you knew also thought cow tipping was an acceptable form of foreplay. This girl needs to find some water.”
I traipse back in the direction of our table with Luke close behind. Several ladies eye him greedily as we pass. It’s not every day you see a blonde-haired Paul Bunyan this light on his feet.
“All right.” He places a hand on my waist and whispers in my ear. “Five minutes then you’re mine again.”
“Luke, I can hardly stand!”
“Good. You won’t be able to run away when I put the moves on you later.”
A giggle erupts inside me and I slap a hand over my mouth, horrified.
His face lights up. “Ha!”
Damn.
And I was going to buy a new pair of boots with that money! I shove him playfully and turn to continue, but stop cold in my tracks.
“Now this is a pleasant surprise.” Spencer Ross, dressed in an old-timey three piece suit and looking like he just jumped off a movie screen, greets me with his leering smile. His date is dressed in red satin in the same vintage fashion. Her brown hair is elegantly styled in soft waves around her face. She’d be stunning if it weren’t for the bored sneer on her face.
Spencer takes my unoffered hand and bends to kiss it. Luke grips my side protectively.
“Charlie Davies, meet Paula Standover. Charlie is Ken’s fiancé’s sister,” he explains to his date, though he doesn’t look in her direction.
Paula gives me a fake smile, which I return. “Nice to meet you,” I say. “This is Luke Walker. Luke, this is Spencer Ross.” I look over my shoulder, trying to convey with my eyes what my mouth can’t say.
This guy’s a prick and I’d like to leave, now.
Luke doesn’t accept the hand Spencer offers but eyes him steadily.
“So, what’re you two doing all the way out here? Bit far from home, aren’t you?”
“Same as you,” I say. “We came to dance.”
Spencer looks coldly at my date. “Really?”
I cross my arms. “Really.”
He produces another of those shit-eating grins I’ve come to associate with him. “Well then, save a dance for me?”
“Sorry, her dance card’s full tonight.” Luke’s tone is low and unmistakably dangerous. Paula’s eyes dart toward him, the hint of a smile on her red lips.
Spencer considers his options then nods politely in my direction. He’s smarter than I’ve given him credit for. “Understood,” he says reluctantly. “But you’re running out of rain checks, Charlie.”
His promise sounds more like a threat and I back into Luke, glad for his presence.
I can feel his chest rumble as he tells Spencer and Paula we need to get going.
Spender smiles. “Don’t let us hold you up. We’re just waiting on some more of Charlie’s friends. Ah. Here they are now.” He raises his arm and motions to someone at my left.
Cadence, blonde, expertly coiffed and carrying the stench of Satan, steps out of the crowd with Alex following close behind. His dark blue suit isn’t as old fashioned as Spencer’s but it’s tailored beautifully and the gold pocket watch chain gives him a man about town quality. Cadence looks stunning in a green slinky dress, a deep V exposing a good amount of porcelain skin. I pull the hem of my simple cotton shift. It’s always been one of my favorites but it feels shabby and immature compared to the other woman’s.
Alex’s dark eyes take me in before settling on the hand at my waist. I watch a tick work its way across his jaw several times before he looks away. Cadence’s head bobs nervously between us and Paula continues to eye flirt with Luke, who stays rigid and still behind me. Spencer, lecherous scum that he is, simply stands back and enjoys the show.
You couldn’t cut the tension with a chainsaw.
“Charlie.” Alex breaks the silence. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” Alex, who is nearly as tall as Luke, pulls himself up to full height. His eyes land fierce and cold on my date, who does the worst thing possible, he places another hand on my waist, claiming me.
Alex starts to step forward but Cadence turns and places a hand on his chest. That stops him. “Our table’s ready, Alex,” she says lightly. “Let’s let them get back to their
date
.” She emphasizes the last word. A nervous smile turns a corner of her mouth upward.
Alex’s chest heaves beneath his suit. He’s working very hard to restrain himself.
Cadence turns her beauty-queen smile on Luke. “So nice to run into you, Charlotte, and Mr…?”
“Walker,” Luke supplies in a clipped tone.
“Mr. Walker. Y’all have a fine evening.” She threads her arm through Alex’s and turns. His eyes catch mine for a second, but it’s long enough to read the unhappiness behind them. They turn and go back the way they came, quickly disappearing in the crowd.
Spencer chuckles callously. “It’s always interesting with you, Charlie.” He takes Paula’s arm as they follow the path Alex and Cadence took.
Luke finally drops his hands from my waist. I turn to look up at him. “You wanna tell me something?” He releases a hefty sigh.
Maybe it’s the booze. Maybe it’s the fact that the man I desperately want to be with just walked away with my own personal villain, but I feel sick all the sudden. “I think I need to use the bathroom.” I press my hand against my stomach.
“I’ll get the truck.” Luke bends and places a soft kiss on my forehead. The sweetness of it makes me want to cry. “Go on and get yourself cleaned up. I’ll wait outside.”
I push my way through the crowd, throwing a few shoulders and elbows into those who don’t get out of my way fast enough. The ladies room décor is an extension of the dance hall’s art deco. Inside the anti-room is a row of individual vanity stations and I drop onto one of the velvet cushions, throwing my head into my hands. I barely have a moment to myself when the door behind me flies open and Alex walks in. I jump to my feet and spin to face him. “What’re you doing in here?”
“I saw you come in. I need to talk to you.”
“You can’t come in here,” I squeal.
“Paige called me,” he says in a rush. “I know she told you about me and Cadence.”
“Get out!”
“She asked me to leave you alone, but I can’t.” He steps toward me.
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare talk like it’s not your choice.”
He looks helplessly at me, his arms hanging limp at his sides.
“You brought me into your bed, into your life, and all the while, you were going to marry someone else.”
Alex comes closer. “Please, just let me ex--”
“There’s nothing to explain.” My voice is loud. It bounces off the walls.
“I’m in lov--”
“Stop!” I turn and grab the vanity next to me. My head is spinning from the drinking and dancing and I really do feel sick. I sway and Alex wraps his arms around me. I throw him off and move away, feeling wild and out of control.
He moves toward me.
“Don’t.” I put my hand out, warning him to stop.
He ignores me. “Please just let--” His face snaps to the side.
The palm of my hand burns. I look down at it, surprised. His eyes are closed. When he opens them, I see that they’re not angry, but sad. It fills me with rage.
“Liar,” I whisper.
I push against his chest. Hard. He stumbles back.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice rises as I push him again. “I thought there was something real between us.” My hands shove him again. He doesn’t defend himself, just keeps staring at me with those sad dark eyes.
I want to scream and wail like I haven’t since I was a little girl. “How could you make such a fool of me?” I bring my hands forward to push but he captures them this time, holding me to him.
“I’m so sorry.” His words are rough and pleading.
I struggle but his grip on me is tight.
“I wanted to tell you a thousand times but I couldn’t find the words--”
“Liar!” Tears stream down my face now. “You came back for me.” I choke, bending and straining against him as I try to free myself. “Why did you come back if this was always how it was going to end?”
One tear eases down his toffee-colored cheek. “I don’t know.”
“Do you love her?”
“No.”
“Then how can you go along with it?”
I wait for him to respond. My heart pounds in my ears. When he finally answers, he whispers. “I have to.”
There it is. Ever since Paige told me about Alex’s promise to marry Cadence in exchange for saving his family from ruin, I’ve hoped he wouldn’t be able to go through with it. I hoped what he felt for me was strong enough to keep him from marrying her.
His eyes beg me to understand but my heart feels like it’s being consumed by fire. He’s going to marry her.
His grip loosens, but I should pull my hands back, I know it, but I want to feel him close to me one last time.
“If I’d met you before any of it happened… I’m sorry.” He has no fight left. I collapse against him and teardrops soak into the expensive fabric of his suit.
“I hate you,” I whisper thickly, looking down at our joined hands.
Alex inhales a shuttering breath and moves to embrace me. I hold him tightly.
“Charlie,” he whispers against my hair. “I’m so sorry.”
I want to remember everything about this moment. The way his jacket feels beneath my cheek, soft but prickly. The way his cologne smells. The sound of his heart beat through his chest. I pretend it’s beating for me, at least in this moment.
I pull back and wipe my face with both hands. I think I’ve cried more in the past week than I have in the past seventeen years. I’m spent and sore.
I look away from him and take a deep cleansing breath. “I have to go.”