“I kept looking for you to show up. So far I’ve had to have the catch-up conversation with half of my high school alumni. Can I hide out with you for a bit?”
I took a gulp of my white wine. “Of course. I’ll protect you from your legion of fans.”
“I wouldn’t say they’refans, exactly. Most people are curious about why I came back. Then I have to get into the whole ‘it’s not a done deal yet’ Ruth conversation.”
“Ooh, right, we can work on that tonight. Jake Thorne is here, and I thought I saw the two Bobs.”
“The who?”
I grinned. “Bob McCall and Bob Jackson. They sit on the town council and make up the team of three Bobs with Bob Lumley, our mayor.” I looked around the room and saw Amy Thorne but didn’t see the mayor. “Huh, doesn’t look like he’s here. But the other Bobs both have ranches and they’re members of the Cattleman’s Association. We should try to have a conversation with all of them before the night’s over.”
Declan’s brow furrowed for a moment, and he threw back the rest of his beer.
We both went silent, and I thought about the reason we were hanging out. The agreement. Business. Because that was all it was.
“Hey, Shannon, get your butt out here right now.”
Zoe’s voice echoed around the room, and I peered at the small parquet dance floor across the room, where she was on the mic, with Fiona bouncing around next to her.
“They’re playing our song. Come dance.”
The opening strings of “Thong Song” came on and I groaned.
Declan laughed. “You heard the lady, get out there and shake it.”
Dancing with Zoe and Fiona to the ridiculous song in the privacy of my bedroom was one thing, but doing it in front of a room full of people was something else entirely. I considered begging off but realized that I’d look like a killjoy. I threw back the restof my wine, handed Declan my empty glass with orders to have another ready, which made him grin, and wobbled over to them.
It only took about thirty seconds before I was laughing hysterically, doing my best to tone down the naughty moves I usually did to something that was acceptable in public. Fiona, on the other hand, didn’t get the memo and was twerking so hard that she nearly gave everyone a free show.
I was sure I wasn’t drawing quite as many eyes as my sister, but I could feel Declan’s eyes on me, and I liked it. As the song ended, I didn’t hold back, slithering with my arms above my head in my best stripper move.
The crowd clapped as we hugged. I headed off the dance floor and stopped abruptly when I felt a hand grasp my arm.
“That was amazing. I didn’t know you could dance,” Declan said, his eyes locked on mine and his fingers searing my skin.
I shrugged. “Thanks. I guess I’m okay.”
“But can you two-step?”
The music had changed to a slower country song.
“Of course I can.”
I waited for Declan’s next move.
“Let’s go, then,” he said, pulling me out to the dance floor.
He paused to place his hand on my lower back, and I tried to stop the butterflies in my belly as our bodies fell into the rhythm. It didn’t take long before we were in perfect sync, gliding across the parquet like we’d done it forever.
“You’re a decent dancer too,” I said, smiling up at him with what I hoped looked like a casual expression andnotlike I was on the verge of passing out at the feeling of being wrapped in his embrace.
“It’s all about the partner,” he replied. “You’re making me look good.”
Declan stared out over my shoulder, and I wondered what was going on in his head. Was he regretting asking me to dance? Because he was almost oddly distant.
He suddenly shifted his gaze and locked onto mine, as if he could read my thoughts. “This is ancient history, and I probably shouldn’t bring it up, but do you remember that night…”
The intensity on his face made me hold my breath.Whichnight?
