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Before she could overthink it, Vanessa began weaving her way through the crowd. Heather watched her approach, surprise and something that looked like nervousness flashing across her face.
“Dance with me?” Vanessa held out her hand.
“I’d love to,” Heather said. Her smile was dazzling as she placed her hand in Vanessa’s. A spark jolted through Vanessa at the contact.
Guiding Heather to the dance floor, Vanessa slid one hand around her waist, gently pulling her close as they began to sway. The familiar floral scent of Heather’s brought her right back to that night in New York.
“You look beautiful tonight,” Vanessa said softly.
“So do you.” Heather’s voice was barely above a whisper.
They swayed together, Heather’s cheek nearly brushing Vanessa’s. Vanessa closed her eyes, letting the music and Heather’s nearness overwhelm her senses. She knew people might be watching, and she had no doubt that even though this was Anna’s day, she wouldn’t miss what was going on between them.
Vanessa didn’t know when Megan had planned on telling her parents that she’d split up with Heather or if Heather was going to tell Megan tonight or tomorrow what was really going on, but in this moment, Vanessa pushed those worries aside, and all that existed was Heather in her arms.
Too soon, the song was ending. Reluctantly, Vanessa pulled back to look at Heather again.
“Can we talk outside for a minute?” Heather asked softly.
Vanessa nodded, following Heather out to the empty patio that the handful of smokers had been using throughout the day. The snowflakes that had started to fall at dusk were accumulating.
“Maybe not outside,” Heather said as she eyed the two or three inches of snow that was out there now.
“We’ll go back towards the lobby.” Vanessa had only taken four or five steps before she felt someone’s hand on her arm.
“There you are.”
Vanessa turned to see Gabriella as she stood up from the table by the patio doors, her hand falling away. Had she been here all evening? And why had she even been invited?
“Hi,” Vanessa said, taking in Gabriella’s deep green dress, aware of the fact that Heather was witnessing this.
“I’ve been trying to catch your eye all evening,” Gabriella said with a warm smile. “You’re a hard woman to get a hold of. I feel like every time I drop by the coffee shop, you’re out or in the middle of something.”
“Yeah, well.” Vanessa swallowed, desperately trying to wrap up this conversation without being rude. “There’s always something that needs to be taken care of.”
“Well, hopefully not here. Would you like to dance?”
Vanessa sucked in a breath, chancing a look to her left, and Heather gave her the subtlest nod before making her way to the bar. “Sure,” Vanessa said, tearing her eyes away from Heather and following Gabriella out to the dance floor.
“So, that’s your niece’s girlfriend?” Gabriella asked as they stood across from each other while the band introduced the next song.
“Yes. Yeah.” Vanessa could hear her pulse thumping in her ears. She’d never been good at lying.
Gabriella’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t mean to pry, and I think the whole town knows at this point that I’d ask you out if I thought I had a chance, but you’re not… You’re not having an affair with your niece’s girlfriend, are you?”
The drums kicked in, followed by the guitar and then the lead singer’s husky voice soulfully crooning out the lyrics to a slow love song that Vanessa immediately recognized.
“No,” Vanessa said as she let Gabriella take the lead, sliding her arm around Vanessa’s waist.
“No?” Gabriella asked, a coy smile on her lips.
“It’s so complicated. Look, they’re not really dating. My sister is a bit too enthusiastic when it comes to other people’s dating lives, and I think Megan’s just trying to keep her happy or at the very least out of her meddling reach for just a little while.”
“And does Megan know that you two are…”
“No. And we’re not… Not really together.”
Gabriella laughed softly. “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain, but I shouldn’t wait for you, should I?”
