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Vanessa inhaled deeply.
“It’s pretty obvious that you two have some kind of connection,” Gabriella said.
“I don’t know what we have,” Vanessa said honestly as they swayed to the music, her voice barely audible over the music.
And that was the truth. Vanessa could safely say that she’d never felt like this before, and it terrified her, on so many levels. She had lived a good portion of her life, built a business, had her fair share of failed relationships. And now, here was this captivating woman who had appeared out of nowhere and turned her world upside down.
There were far more reasons that this wouldn’t work than there were chances that it would. The age gap alone posed a monumental challenge. Not to mention the fact that everyone in this room thought that Megan and Heather were a real couple. Could she really upend her life, all for a fleeting infatuation?
But when Heather turned her head, meeting her gaze from across the room with those striking blue eyes, all those doubts faded away. Vanessa knew that when she wanted something, she could make it happen, and maybe she was finally ready to trust her heart.
If this was meant to be, she would find a way.
19
Megan joined Heather at the bar, and they both ordered cocktails. Heather tried not to watch Gabriella and Vanessa dancing. She knew it meant nothing, but it was hard not to compare herself to Gabriella. She was probably in her mid-forties. She owned a restaurant. And she was undeniably beautiful. Everything about her, from her elegant posture to her confident smile, spoke of a woman fully in her prime.
Next to Gabriella’s striking maturity, Heather felt young, uncertain. For all her stylish clothes and creative talents, she wondered if she could ever match up to someone like Gabriella.
“Here you go,” Megan said, handing Heather her cocktail.
“Thanks.” Heather forced herself to ignore Vanessa and Gabriella, focusing on Anna and Bob instead. “I don’t think your parents have left the dance floor.”
Megan smiled as she reached for her glass. “They’ve been planning this for years. I think their wedding was on a tight budget, and well, most of the people here weren’t around yet to celebrate with them. They’ve got so many nieces and nephews, grandchildren. They wanted to have a day out with everyone involved.”
“Your family is so nice. Everyone I’ve met. I feel bad, you know.”
“About lying?”
Heather nodded. “Yeah.” She couldn’t stop herself from looking in Vanessa’s direction again, except this time Vanessa was staring right back at her.
“I’ll let them down easy,” Megan said with a smile. “I’ll make sure they know that it was my decision and that we’re better suited as best friends than partners.”
“Yeah, I’d like for them not to hate me.”
“Except, you probably won’t see them again.”
Heather inhaled a sharp breath. That would be true, except for that fact that Heather wanted more than anything to have a real chance with Vanessa.
“It’s okay, Heather.”
“Hm?” Heather turned to face her best friend.
“I know.”
Heather’s breath stalled. “You know what?”
“I know that you have a massive crush on my aunt.”
“Oh,” Heather said with a laugh, relief flooding through her. “Yeah. Well. Yeah, I can’t deny that.”
“It’s very obvious, by the way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this smitten before,” Megan said. “Right from when we had dinner on Friday night, you couldn’t take your eyes off her.”
“I never said I could act.” Heather took a drink, her heart rate increasing by the second. This was her chance to come clean.
“You know I’m your wingwoman, but…”
Heather pressed her lips together. Here it comes. Megan was going to tell her that she just can’t approve of Heather dating her aunt.
