Page 29 of A Whim and a Prayer

Her cousin Will tossed a piece of popcorn in his mouth with a teasing smile. “Yeah, Pooh Bear, I’m hungry.”

When cake was devoured and presents were opened, Winnie’s friend Kelli Coble immediately stood and extended a hand to Will, a sparkle in hazel eyes that matched her sleek pageboy exactly. “Come on, McGee, since you and Teddy are the lone males at this table, you have to take turns dancing with the females.”

Will groaned as he got up, but Winnie laughed because she knew he had a terrible crush on Kelli and vice-versa, so she pinched his cheek. “Ooooo, such a hardship, eh, William?”

A lazy grin slid across Will’s handsome face as he slowly rolled up the sleeves of his pin-stripe shirt. “Well, I guess—if I have to.”

“Hey, McGee,” Kelli said with a slant of her sexy blue crepe dress, “I can get somebody else to dance with me if you want.”

Will grabbed her wrist and jerked her close, staring down with a dangerous look. “Do that, Coble, and I’ll be forced to break some poor schmo’s face.”

Kelli laughed as she took his hand to lead him to the dance floor. “Well, I can’t dance every dance with you, McGee, because the other girls need partners too, you know.”

Will grinned at Winnie’s other two friends, Kat Bochman and Marilyn Cox. “No problem, ladies, there’s plenty of me to go around.” He sent a wink his cousins’ way. “For ladies, not cousins, as you recall.”

“No fair,” Abby groused, aiming a piece of popcorn at Will that hit dead center.

Ever the gentleman, Teddy rose and extended his hand to Abby, just as a couple of cute boys asked Bella and Laney to dance. “Alright, Abs, I’ll do my duty.”

Abby slapped a palm to her chest with a pretty smile. “Gee, thanks, Ted, there’s nothing more flattering to a girl than being a duty.” She nodded her head to Winnie, who was just finishing up her second piece of cake. “Maybe the birthday girl should have the honor first, don’t you think?”

“Nope.” Winnie shot up from the table so fast, her chair wobbled along with her heart. Her pulse took off as she peered across the room, and not from all the sugar. “I’ve got birthday plans, Abs,” she whispered.

“What?” Abby whirled around, her gaze widening when she tracked Winnie’s … all the way to the bar on the other side of the room.

Where Brayden McCarthy was laughing and drinking with friends.

“Winnie, you can’t!” she hissed under her breath.

“Oh, yes I can.” Winnie took a quick slug of her Coke, fingers shaking so much, she almost spilled it when she put it back down, the thrill of adventure coursing through her bloodstream like adrenaline.

“Hey, Teddy,” she said, pulling his attention away from Marilyn and Kat while he waited for Abby, “I need to talk to Abs, so …” She gave a side nod toward Kat, sending him a silent plea to ask her to dance just as another guy approached Marilyn.

Offering a quiet salute, Teddy extended his hand to Kat with a smile, laughing at something she said as he led her to the floor.

Abby grabbed Winnie’s arm. “This is not smart, Dennehy, so think what you’re doing here for once, will you?”

“I am thinking, Abs,” Winnie said with a plea in her tone, “and what I’m thinking is, I’ll never have another chance like this again. Holy Joe, it’s almost like a birthday gift from above because Beck is not here yet to object and sweet chorus of angels, my spontaneity is kicking in!”

With a pinch of her lips, Abby folded her arms. “Somehow I doubt it’s a gift from above, Miss Spontaneity, unless the devil is cheering from the rafters.”

“Oh, phooey,” Winnie said as she dug her gloss out of her purse and slashed it across her lips, determined to make this birthday count.

To make it really special.

She glanced at her watch, then jutted her lip in a pretend pout, folding her hands in prayer. “Come on, Cuz, please? It won’t be any more than a hello and goodbye, I promise, because you know Beck will be here any minute.”

Abby gave her a slatted look out of the corner of her eyes, slapping her hands to her hips. “Your mother will kill you, Win, and me!”

Winnie nibbled on the nail of her index finger with a grin that was pure mischief, sing-songing her reply. “Not … if … she … doesn’t ... find out …”

Abby just shook her head, and Winnie squealed over the reluctant consent in her cousin’s eyes. “Oh, Abs, you are the absolute best,” she gushed before checking her face in her compact mirror, fluffing her hair, then snapping it closed.

“Or the absolute worst.” Abby deadpanned a flat smile.

“No, because it’s perfect, don’t you see? Everybody at the table is gone, so there’s nobody to object.”

Abby’s mouth pursed as she locked her arms to her chest once more. “Except me.”