Page 48 of Small Town Boy

The whole group laughs, except Willa, who casually gives him the finger. The loud thump of the beat overhead fades away, the DJ transitioning into something more melodic. The opening notes are catchy, working their way into me, nestling right in my tummy. I can’t explain it, but something about the song gives me the warm fuzzies.

“Would you look at that, Kenz. They’re playing our song,” Dustin coos, holding out a hand to her.

Kenzie blushes, a smile taking over her face. Pure joy radiates off her as he leads her to the dance floor, and every eye in the place is on them. Including mine.

“This is Dustin’s biggest hit,” Noel tells me.

“Really? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it.”

“We need to get you listening to country music.” He laughs. The sound vibrates through me, taking over the music and the soulful voice singing something about chasing stars. “He wrote this about Kenzie and how much he missed her while they were apart.”

Seriously?!

Noel nods, answering my silent question. Making a mental note to look up not only Dustin, but also this song, when I get home, I turn my attention back to them.

“Wanna dance?” Noel asks.

“Me?”

“Yes, you,” he chuckles.

“I…I don’t know how.”

“It’s easy, just follow my lead.”

Before I can object, Noel slips his hand in mind and leads me to the floor. I willingly follow, my heart racing like it’s competing in the Olympics. The feel of Noel’s hand surrounding mine is enough to make my body come alive. I have no idea what it’s going to do once his arms are around me. Here’s hoping that if my knees give out, that he’ll catch me.

Half a racing heartbeat later, we’re on the floor, Noel’s hand pressed to my back, the other still holding mine.

“It’s a two-step. Nice and simple.”

“So you say.” A nervous laugh escapes with my comment, but Noel doesn’t seem to notice.

“I do. It’s nothing more than quick, quick, slow, slow. Ready?”

Nodding yes, even though my brain is screaming no, I inhale deeply and hope for the best. Here goes nothing.

Noel guides me backward, a quick step, followed by another, then two slow ones. Then he does it again. I manage to keep up, continually fighting the urge to look at my feet. I need to trust my partner.

And I do.

I trust Noel. It’s a wild concept, since we haven’t known each other that long, but as he holds me like this, pushing me around the floor, an overwhelming feeling of trust swoops over me. I relax in his arms, giving in to the feeling. This is exactly what I was saying I wanted earlier—safety, security, ease.

Noel wasn’t who I was expecting to feel it with though.

“You light up when you talk about work.”

“Do I?” I question.

“You do. You clearly love all the marketing and PR stuff. Your excitement radiates off you. It’s cute.”

“I don’t know that anyone has ever called my love of marketing cute.”

Noel shakes his head. “I wasn’t trying to belittle it.”

“Didn’t think you were.”

He opens his mouth to respond, but Dustin’s song ends, blending into something new. Something even slower. Something designed to bring couples closer.