Page 25 of Ethan

He was across the room with two men, who had to be his brothers. There was a strong resemblance in them. They were laughing at something one said had said. She’d seen Ethan smile before, small careful ones that came and went. This was different. This was him relaxed, off the ranch, among people he loved.

As if he felt her looking he turned his head, and their eyes met across the room. He went still.

She watched his gaze move over her, just once, slow, and deliberate, and then come back up to her face. Something shifted in his expression that she couldn’t quite name. Then one of his brothers said something and he looked away and the moment was gone.

She turned back to the bar, her heart doing something inconvenient in her chest.

“What are you drinking?” Serena asked.

“Whatever you’re having,” Naomi said.

The band slowed as Seth led Ryan onto the dance floor for their first dance. The room quieted around them, people setting down their drinks, turning to watch. Naomi watched too, her chin resting in her hand.

They were beautiful together. Seth had eyes for nobody else in the room, and Ryan looked up at him like he’d hung every star she’d ever wished on. Naomi felt a small ache somewhere behind her ribs that she didn’t examine too closely.

When the song ended the room erupted and the band moved smoothly into the next number. Naomi recognized the opening notes immediately and her heart did a little lift.

Your Love Amazes Me, a song by John Berry.

She’d danced to this song once at a rodeo in Billings with a man whose name she couldn’t remember anymore, and she’d thought at the time that she’d never heard anything more beautiful. She still thought so.

She found Ethan without meaning to. He was standing at the edge of the dance floor, a drink in his hand, watching the couples move out onto the floor.

She was off the barstool before she’d made a conscious decision.

She crossed the room and stopped in front of him. He looked at her.

“Dance with me,” she said.

Something moved across his face. For a second she thought he’d say no.

He set his drink down on the nearest table and held out his hand.

She took it, and he led her onto the floor and turned to face her, one hand settling at her waist, the other holding hers against his chest. She rested her free hand on his shoulder and felt the warmth of him through the fabric of his jacket.

They moved together slowly, and she was surprised at how natural it felt. How easy.

Neither of them spoke. The song filled the space between them and she let it, not wanting to break whatever this was with words.

His hand at her waist tightened just slightly, and she looked up at him. He was already looking at her.

She should look away. She knew she should, but it was harder to do than she thought.

****

“You know this isn’t a good idea,” Ethan murmured as he held her closer.

Naomi sighed and nodded. “I know.”

“So, now what?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do we ignore this attraction or do something about it?”

She shook her head. “If we act on it, won’t it complicate things at the ranch?”

“It might.” He didn’t look away. “But we’re adults. I’m not going to push you either way.” His hand shifted slightly at her waist. “I just want to be honest with you. Seeing you every day makes it a little hard to keep pretending it isn’t there.”