Dave stood. “Let’s burn off dinner. Tawnee, my favorite cousin, let’s dance.”
She giggled. “Let’s do it!”
An unexpected plan poofed into my brain like magic. “This is fun. How about everybody dance with not the person you came with.”
There were shrugs and head nods as everybody shuffled out to the dance floor, leaving only Fern and me at the table. “I guess it’s all non-couples dancing. Nothing weird about you and me. Right?”
She stood. “Have I told you you’re brilliant?”
I walked over to her. “Not yet, but I knew it was just a matter of time.”
The jazz music danced around me as I held Fern in my arms. I reached for her right hand and ran my finger over the ring. “I like our promise.”
Her smile was electric. “Me too.”
I looked down between us at her dress. “You look amazing. If you could read my mind, I’m pretty sure you’d either be traumatized, aroused, or maybe both.”
“Listen to you taking dirty with my brother three feet from us.”
“You’re turn.”
She gasped, “Me? Talk dirty? I can’t.”
“Oh, I think you can.” I popped a brow, “Challenge extended.”
She bit her lip for a second, “Don’t make this a contest. You know I can’t resist a contest.”
“Oh, it’s definitely a contest. Are you going to be the loser tonight?”
“Gabe, I can’t just talk dirty.”
“Sure you can. I’ll start. Your ass looks lonely without my hands on it.”
Her mouth dropped open, “I just thought that back at the cabin. My mind said I wanted your handprints on my bottom.”
I teased, “I knew you had plenty of dirty talk dancing through that mind of yours. Now spit one out, or you’ll be the loser right here at the dinner club.”
Her eyes did a quick scan around us before she giggled and closed her eyes tightly. “I want you to lean me against the wall and do filthy things to me.”
I chucked because she was adorable. “Look at you go, Fern Ethel.”
Her eyes opened, and her soft laughter danced in my ears. “I wish you were touching me inappropriately right now. Your fingers and mouth everywhere.”
I put my finger over my lips, “Shh.”
She pushed my chest lightly and used a sexy whisper. “I want you to kiss me often, make love to me like a crazy man, feed me Jelly Bellies, and kill all the spiders.”
“I’ve created a monster.”
“So, am I the winner?”
I nodded, “You are. Fern is the winner.”
She nodded her head. “I had a feeling. What’s my prize?”
“Oh, I’ll show you your prize alright.”
It was cheesecake, toasts, and more dancing before we headed back to my place.
