“My behavior was uncalled-for. I have no excuse, only regrets.” Harald did look shamefaced.
“Of course, we forgive you.” Astrid was Astrid. “You were distraught. It was horrible—just horrible. I can’t imagine how you were feeling.”
“See, I told you Astrid was cool, Dad.” Leif stepped forward, holding on to Kerrielynn’s hand. “Congrats on the win.”
“Thank you,” Astrid said. “For calling me cool.”
Leif looked at Tansy, then stared meaningfully at Dane. “Tansy, did you still need help with thatthing?”
This was it. Time for thething. She nodded. “Yes.”No. She definitely wanted to throw up now.
“Cool.” Leif pushed her bee cart forward.
Tansy was shaking.This is so stupid.She glanced down at the top of her Bluetooth speaker.What am I doing?But then she looked at Dane. She knew exactly what she was doing and why. She loved him—everything about him.So much I’m going to make an absolute ass out of myself in front of everyone.
She bent, pressed Play on her phone and lifted the speaker over her head, looking at him. Then the first few notes of “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel reverberated across the fairgrounds.
Dane’s blue eyes widened, but the corner of his mouth cocked up.
A good sign?Her face felt hot.
“What’s happening?” Harald Knudson whispered.
“It’s a thing... Between Tansy and Dane,” Astrid whispered back. “It’s supposed to be romantic.”
Tansy’s laugh was all nerves, about Dane and the crowd gathering. But mostly about Dane.
Dane crossed his arms over his chest. “Where’s your trench coat?”
“Oh. Right.” She set the Bluetooth speaker down and grabbed the trench coat. “It was underneath. Here.” She pulled it on and picked up the speaker. “Should I start the song over?”
“No.” He stayed where he was, his blue eyes searching.
Tansy went back to standing, the speaker over her head, the music blaring and the crowd growing until she was starting to lose confidence. For all the fire she saw in his eyes, he didn’t make a move toward her. Had she lost her chance? Was this the worst idea ever? She nibbled at the inside of her lower lip—
And, Dane pulled her tight against him.
“Dane—”
But he was kissing her. Not some gentle brush of the lips, either. He was kissing her and she was kissing him back. She must have dropped the speaker because her hands were tangling in his hair... She didn’t care if it was broken. She didn’t care about anything else.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I get what you’re doing here.”
“I was hoping you would.” She smiled. “I figured you’d either kiss me or yell at me—I believe those were the choices?”
“I’ll always pick kissing you.” He cradled her face. “Anytime. Anyplace.”
“You know this won’t be easy.” She kissed his cheek.
“With you? Nothing ever is.”
“You know we’re going to have to learn to communicate a little better.” She kissed his other cheek. “Okay, I’m going to have to.”
“I’d say this is working so far.” His arms tightened around her.
“You know that I love you.” She stared up at him, holding her breath.
“Now I do.” His blue eyes were full of such promise and warmth. He caught her hand in his and pressed a kiss against her palm. “I’ll make sure you never regret it.”
