Hoping to repair her botched meeting with Ginny’s grandson, McKenna turned to Zane.
“Thank you for your help, and again, let me apologize for assuming you were part of the staff.”
“Want to make it up to me?”
Something about his gaze made McKenna nervous. Zane was too intense, too intoxicating, just plain too much. But it was more than that. The mischievous glint in his eyes reminded her of Erin’s when as children she’d ask for a favor, and McKenna agreed without asking for details. Then she’d find herself doing her sister’s chores while Erin met her friends at the mall.
“Depends on what you have in mind,” she said.
“Dance with me.”
“Dance? You’re askingmeto dance? With you?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
Yes. Men who looked as if they belonged on magazine covers never asked her to dance.
“Thank you for asking. Maybe another time when I’m not working.”
“A dance lasts what, three, four minutes tops? What can happen in that short a time?”
“You’d be surprised. I’ve had simple disagreements turn into brawls in a second when someone’s had too much to drink. I’ve had to put out fires because someone played with the table candles and a napkin ignited.”
“With the entire Wishing Police Department here, you don’t need to worry about fights.” He glanced at the tables. “Since the tables have flower arrangements, that eliminates potential fires.” He leaned forward, his eyes twinkling as if he intended to share a secret. “Here’s a tip. There are newfangled LED candles that look like real ones.”
Really? He thought she was so clueless she didn’t know about LED candles? She resisted the urge roll her eyes. “Those weren’t an option because the bride insisted on a specific brand of lavender scented candles.”
“That’s the problem. Women focus on the wedding but don’t give a thought to the marriage.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You can monitor for potential tragedies from the dance floor. In fact, you could get a whole new perspective.”
“I have a rule about never socializing when I’m working.”
A slow grin spread across his face revealing his dimples, and the world faded. “Rules are meant to be broken.”
Her glow disappeared. He was one ofthosepeople. Ones who went with their guts, bending rules to suit their purposes, while ignoring the consequences. No thanks. She’d lived with someone like that growing up and now avoided them like a child with a green runny nose in flu season. “Not by me they aren’t. Rules provide order, structure, and stability in a world filled with chaos.”
“Nah, they zap the fun out of life. If my grandmother were here, she’d say it was okay, and I know AJ and Grace won’t mind.”
Her stomach fluttered, but not because she was flattered by Zane’s persistence. Instead his tenacity had her smelling rotten eggs.
Men never pursued her. She wasn’t the type of woman who inspired determination. Not that she needed to put a paper bag over her head, but she was average. Average height. Average looks. Average figure. Nothing special. Unlike Erin.
When people talked about the Stinson girls, they referred to Erin as the beauty and McKenna as the smart, strong-willed one. If given a choice between looks or brains, she’d take the latter, but she knew what that meant in terms of men. They either ignored her because her brains intimidated them, or they overlooked her because she wasn’t beautiful.
Her mother’s advice rang in her ears.Never get involved with a man who’s prettier than you are. Women will flock around him, and you’ll spend your life worrying he’ll realize he can do better.
Tilting her head to the right, McKenna crooked her eyebrow. “Let’s be honest. Men who look like you never approach women like me at a party for anything other than directions to the restroom. So out with it. Tell me what’s really going on here and why you asked me to dance.”
*
Zane paused, stunned.What? She turned him down? Women never gave him the third degree, especially about why he asked them to dance. Nope, not once in his entire life. Not even at grade school mixers. Women smiled, maybe blushed a little, and said yes. But McKenna wanted to know why he asked her, and danged if she hadn’t left him tongue-tied trying to think of an acceptable answer other than the truth.
When he’d accepted his friends’ bet it sounded harmless. Hell, they bet on everything, including the weather, but faced with McKenna standing in front of him, hands on her hips, her eyes full of suspicion and accusation, the bet seemed callous now.
No, he wouldn’t feel guilty. Asking her for a date would’ve been cold, but a dance? People danced all the time, and it was a fine way for two people to get acquainted which he and McKenna should do since they’d be working together.
Damn. Another twinge of guilt rippled through him. He should tell her about the changes at Lucky Stars, but tonight was about AJ and Grace, and he wouldn’t risk causing a problem at AJ’s engagement party. Best to wait until next week in the office to break the news.
“I’m crushed.” Zane clutched his chest in exaggerated pain. “I’m making a friendly gesture to get to know you for my grandmother’s sake.”
