Page 108 of Rekindle My Heart

“Just sayin’.” She grabbed her wine and moved over to sit next to Trey.

Ryan lost sight of Erica when he stepped off the head table’s riser platform. His internal compass pushed him in the direction of her last-seen location. He weaved around tables, dodged chairs and guests on his way to her.

“Shit, there are a lot of people here.” He was halfway through the room when the microphone screeched.

“Thank you all for coming. Can I have all the single ladies come up to the dance floor? Time for the bouquet toss.”

It was as if a starter pistol fired. Ryan was jostled and shoved as a stampede of women, all ages, rushed past him. Some were even being pulled.

He’d never understand this tradition. With a quarter of the room’s population now on the dance floor, he could maneuver through the crowd a little easier.

By the time he reached Erica’s table, she was gone. He craned his neck, scanning the banquet hall. He’d have better luck spotting her at a concert. She wouldn’t have gone for the bouquet toss, would she?

He moved closer to the front. As he got to the edge of the dance floor, he spotted her. The colored lights glinted off the red tones in her blonde hair.

His jaw dropped open. Did she just elbow Jim’s grandma out of the way?

No. That wasn’t his Erica.

Then she widened her stance like she was defending the line. No way that scrawny teenager was getting passed her. Then he noticed she wasn’t alone. Kate was at her back. The women could teach the defensive linemen for the Vikings a thing or two.

He watched with fascination. He’d never seen Erica this way. Then he remembered… KarFire89 would totally take out anyone who got in her way.

A hearty laugh rolled passed his lips.

He cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled, “You got this!”

Liz beamed as she waved her flowers in the air. She turned her back to the women and brought the bouquet back and forth over her head as she counted.

Ryan’s attention was glued to Erica. Knees bent, fingers flexing. She would get this bouquet or go down trying.

His dick twitched. She was fierce, and it was sexy as hell.

Liz yelled one, and the flowers flew. It was a mad scrabble of arms and feet, skirts flying. The volume in the banquet hall was deafening.

He caught Erica hip-checking one of Liz’s friends from out east.

The dust settled and through the tangle of women, an arm rose victorious with the bouquet.

Erica. Ryan rubbed his cheeks. They ached from laughter.

As the crowd thinned, Erica looked around. Her eyes widened as she spotted him at the edge of the dance floor. He could see the nerves tighten her shoulders as she made her way to him.

“You caught it?” Ryan searched her face.

“Yeah.” The flowers shook in her hands. Her gaze traveled the length of him before settling somewhere between his neck and his chest.

“So, does that mean you’ll be the next to get married?”

Her head bobbed. “So they say. Now, I just need a groom.” Her questioning eyes crept up to meet his. She dropped to her knees. “I was an idiot… be my friend, be my lover, be my gaming partner for the rest of our lives?”

Ryan closed the distance between them.

Her hands shook, and flower petals fell to the floor.

He stood in front of her, love threatening to burst through his chest. He clasped her by the shoulders, pulling her up, then gently slid down her arms.

His warm fingers cradled her ice cold and trembling ones. Nerves. Did she think he’d reject her? Hell, he’d fight any man in the room for her hand in marriage.