Page 130 of Gold Rush

We find an open spot on the dance floor.

“Sort of strange, not being the only ones dancing,” she comments.

I smile. Last time I was at Atlantic Crest Country Club, where Lili and Charlie are having their reception, was when we announced our relationship to her family. That feels like a long time ago.

“I could get up onstage and suggest everyone else sit down?”

Her grip tightens on my hand and shoulder, like she could physically restrain me. “Don’t you dare.”

We sway in silence for a bit.

“My grandfather really likes you.”

“Which one? Arthur suggested we golf sometime.”

“He did?”

“Yep. I said I would if he let me drive the cart.”

“Was that a deal-breaker?”

“Surprisingly, no.”

She laughs.

Sudden panic seizes my chest. Fear that jokes and sex are all she wants from me. That she’ll never view me as anything more than the shallow playboy she’s mostly known me as. That if I asked her out, for real, she’d react the same way she did when I first suggested we fake date. Or, in a more typically Rory response, reasonably explain the many reasons why I’m completely wrong for her.

“Did you think about kissing me at Kit’s party?”

She blinks rapidly in response to the random question. “What party?”

“You know what party.”

If she doesn’t, then this really is all in my head.

Rory swallows.

“Never mind.”

“No, I—you just surprised me. Yeah, I thought about it. Other times too. I was mad at Carson that night, but we were technically together. I couldn’t cheat. I don’t try to be so uptight. I just … am.”

“I don’t think you’re uptight.”

She scoffs. “Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t. You adapt. You challenge. You’re adventurous.”

Pink floods her cheeks. “I’m only like that with you. You make people relaxed, put them at ease. It makes you an excellent lawyer. And … person.”

I shake my head. “Sorry, it’s noisy in here. Can you say that again? Louder?”

Rory rolls her eyes. “This is why I never compliment you.”

“You compliment me all the time,” I tease. “Just not about personality traits.”

Rory doesn’t argue with that. She blushes some more.

“How many other times?”