Cosette blinks. “His cousin?”
“The woman he’s speaking with. Loraine, I believe?”
Mayor Ridley laughs. “Henry and Loraine aren’t cousins, are they?”
“Loraine is Henry’s secretary.” Cosette stands a little taller. “What made you think they were cousins?”
“I could have sworn that’s how he introduced her when I ran into them in Elkins the other day, enjoying lunch. I must have misheard.”
Cosette blanches.
Mayor Ridley gives his throat an awkward clear.
The air has been drawn out of the conversation.
All thanks to Rafe and his carefully placed comment.
The acting was faultless—innocent, oblivious.
But I’m not fooled.
Rafe is neither of those things.
“You know, Jude,” he says, “it’s very ungentlemanly of you to let such a beautiful date go to waste. I haven’t seen you dance with Selah once since the opening number.”
“I could say the same about you and Lainey,” Jude replies.
“Yes, well, Lainey isn’t short on suitors, is she? Meanwhile, poor Selah here is wilting on the sidelines.”
Heat rises up my neck.
Mayor Ridley chuckles, like this is good fun.
“What do you say, Selah?” Rafe extends his hand to me. “Would you do me the honors?”
My skin crawls.
I don’t want to touch him.
I don’t want to be anywhere near him.
But I do want answers.
If dancing with him is the only way to get them, then so be it.
45
SOBBING IN THE MUSIC ROOM
Ican feel Jude’s eyes on me as I take Rafe’s hand and follow him out onto the dance floor. I dare one glance over my shoulder. He watches in taut stillness, the kind that crackles with tension.
The music begins, soft and slow.
Rafe sets his hand on the small of my back and draws me close. “Do you want to make him jealous?” he whispers in my ear. “It would be so easy. A well placed kiss … ”
I lean away, trying to maintain space as the melody draws us into its rhythm. Rafe sweeps me across the floor with ease. His steps are deliberate, perfectly timed, his dancing skills every bit as honed as his acting.
“It’s so cute, watching you trail Lainey around like a little hall monitor. Tell me, Selah. What do you think of her performance so far?”
