Page 46 of One Kind Soul

Who of course had noticed because he’d been staring right back at her. Though she hadn’t wanted to tell Tessa, she had to admit she was glad she and Christian had been revealed. It had been a topic of conversation at the bachelorette party on Thursday when she’d met a few women who had dated Christian. Actually they’d only had one, maybe two dates with Christian while she’d seen him—and enjoyed his body—way more than two times.

Smiling over that now as Tessa and Donovan finished their salsa dance as husband and wife, Nicole reveled in the sense of power she felt. If she could snag Christian’s attention so he wanted to keep seeing her—when other women had not—didn’t that say something about her? Something in the realm of maybe she wasn’t as repulsive as her sister had always proclaimed? Possibly she had what it took to keep a man interested. This particular man.

Applause exploded from the guests as Donovan finished by dipping Tessa then snapping her back up so their lips met.

“They ought to take that onto to a big stage,” Christian said.

Nicole craned her head back to see his face. “How does Donovan feel about sequined costumes?”

“Definitely against. No sequins, no tights, no body glitter.”

Nicole laughed as she pictured Donovan sporting any of that.

“For the record, I’m against those too,” Christian said.

“Not the hot cowboy farmer dress code?” She turned around, loving when his hands automatically went to her waist and pulled her closer.

He shook his head. “Want to dance?”

“Oh, does that come with tonight’s package?” Nicole smoothed the lapels of his suit. “I thought it only went so far as getting to see you all dressed up.”

“You get the all-inclusive package, Nixen.” He tugged on his jacket sleeve. “You get the suit view—though I would have rocked the bright green suit if the newlyweds had allowed it. You get dancing, a handful of out-in-public appropriate smooches, and because you’re a preferred customer, you get the deluxe hands-all-over-you bonus when this reception is over.”

Nicole clapped as she followed him to the dance floor where other guests followed a few steps Tessa showed them. “I’ve been hoping for that bonus since last night.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think that rehearsal dinner was going to take that long at Albero’s.” Christian ignored Tessa’s instruction and pulled Nicole up against him.

She didn’t mind in the least. “Well, when you’re friends with the head chef and he doesn’t throw you out after hours, I guess you get to hang around all night.”

“We should have excused ourselves.”

“It would have been rude for the maid of honor and best man to disappear.” Though she’d considered suggesting it last night when sitting next to Christian had tempted her like nothing else ever had.

“Well, we’re disappearing tonight.” He squeezed her. “I need to be with you.”

“Perfectly acceptable to skip out at some point tonight,” Nicole said. “We’ve fulfilled our wedding duties. Tessa and Donovan are good and truly married. Our work here is done.”

“But different work begins.” He leaned his head down and nosed into her hair. “I love these curls.”

Tessa had insisted on Nicole wearing her hair down. Violet Kinsford, Maplehaven’s hairstylist extraordinaire, created these big, soft curls with one side pinned up so the waves cascaded over Nicole’s shoulder.

“Violet is an artist. I’ll never get my hair to look this good on my own.”

“Your hair has looked good every time I’ve seen you.” He inhaled. “And it smells damn tasty.”

“All part of my plan to be good enough to eat.”

“That plan it totally working,” he whispered in her ear.

She shivered in his hold.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“Not that kind of shiver.”

A slow smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “Ah, an anticipatory one then?”

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder as they swayed to the music that had turned slower now. While she was eager to get to their private time together, she also wanted to relish every second with him. The past few days had flown by and now she only had one more week left in Vermont.