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"Yes, quite," I reply tightly instead.
My eyes track Kathryn's every graceful move on the dancefloor. The sway of her hips. The elegant arch of her neck. Wilder spins her and she lets out a surprised laugh that pierces me. He pulls her close and whispers something in her ear that makes her eyes widen and cheeks flush.
Something hot and primal uncurls within me. I stand abruptly, intending to cut in, unwilling to watch a moment longer. But just then, the song changes to something slower. Wilder attempts to pull Kathryn closer but she steps back, shooting him a quelling look before drifting off the dance floor.
Interesting. Perhaps she's not as swayed by his charm as I thought. The revelation lifts my mood considerably.
Kathryn returns to the table, a becoming blush still dusting her cheeks. Seeing my opening, I stand swiftly and offer her my hand. "May I have this dance?"
Surprise and something warmer flash in her eyes as she accepts. "Sure."
As I lead her to the dance floor and take her in my arms, the vanilla scent of her hair envelops my senses.
"You look lovely this evening," I murmur, unable to resist.
A hint of pink graces her cheeks. "Thank you. You clean up nicely yourself."
"I confess, I'm curious how someone as vibrant as you ended up needing to hire escorts to family events." The bold question escapes me before I can stop it.
Kathryn arches one delicate brow. "Escorts? Is that how you view yourself?"
I clear my throat, cursing my lack of finesse. "My apologies, poor word choice."
"I suppose you could call it self-preservation." She looks off with a small shrug. "After enough disappointments, it seemed easier to avoid the risk."
My chest tightens at the vulnerability in her voice. On impulse, I pull her closer.
"Their loss then. Any man would be lucky to have you, Kathryn."
Her breath catches and she meets my gaze. "Perhaps you're right."
We stare at each other, the air suddenly charged between us. The song ends but we remain frozen in place, neither willing to break the spell first.
Finally, she steps back, eyes conflicted. "Thank you for the dance, Wyatt."
I instantly miss her warmth. "The pleasure was mine," I reply sincerely.
As we walk back to the table, her hand brushes mine and a jolt of electricity sparks between us. For some reason, I am utterly captivated by this complex, compelling woman. And I intend to unravel the mystery that is Kathryn Sharpe.
As we retake our seats, I notice Wilder watching us closely, his usual grin absent. His gaze flickers between me and Kathryn, assessing. "Have a nice dance you two?" He asks with forced lightness.
"It was lovely, thank you," Kathryn replies breezily, though her fingers brush her neck in a nervous tell. Wilder's jaw ticks, but before he can speak, her father stands and taps his glass for attention. I take the opportunity to slide my hand into Kat’s, telling myself that it’s only to maintain our cover, and for whatever reason, she doesn’t pull it away.
"If I could have everyone's focus, I'd like to say a few words." Roger beams around the table. "First, Annabelle, Ethan—congratulations to you both." The guests cheer as Roger continues. "Seems like just yesterday my little Annabelle was still chasing her sister around the house in frilly dress-up clothes. And now here she is, a beautiful, accomplished young woman about to be married."
He smiles affectionately at Annabelle. "From the moment Ethan came to pick you up for your first official date, I knew I'd never meet another boy who looked at my daughter with such genuine care and admiration."
Roger chuckles, glancing at Ethan. "Never mind that he was a gangly, wide-eyed teenager who could barely string two words together in my presence. I still had to pull him aside and give the whole speech about breaking her heart and facing my wrath."
Ethan flushes as the guests laugh.
"Poor boy was so nervous he nearly tripped over his own two feet assuring me he would sooner walk through fire than ever hurt Annabelle." Roger shakes his head with a grin. "I almost felt bad for terrorizing the lad, but it's a father's job after all."
He raises his glass towards Ethan. "But you've more than proven yourself over the years. Welcome to the family, son."
Ethan beams, his eyes shining with emotion as he embraces Roger. I feel an unexpected tightness in my chest, moved by the sincere affection between them. Kathryn's hand subconsciously tightens around mine, and I know she feels it too.
The guests cheer as he continues. "I can't begin to express how delighted I am to welcome Ethan to our family. But I'm equally happy that my Kitty-Kat has finally opened her heart again too."
