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His smile was gentle and sweet. His eyes were filled with the same love I’d seen the last time we made love so many years ago.
“I met Mallory for lunch today and told her things would never work between us, not when I was in love with another woman. Not just another woman…the woman. The woman I have been in love with since the first moment I laid eyes on her.”
A small sob slipped out. “Tripp,” I whispered.
“It’s always been you, Harley. Always. And it will be for the rest of my life.”
Attempting to swallow the lump in my throat, I forced the words out. “But I thought y’all were…”
He placed his finger on my lips. “I was never in love with her. I never saw a future with her.”
When my tears fell, he brushed them away with his thumbs and then his lips. The warmth caused an explosion of tingles to race over my body.
“Now what?” I asked, my voice shaking in anticipation of his answer.
A beautiful smile spread across his handsome face and my body trembled. Tripp leaned down, his lips inches from mine. His breath made my heart race faster than it had in years. It hadn’t pounded like this since the last time he had leaned in to kiss me.
“Now? Now I get to kiss you, Harley. Finally.”
My smile dawned before his lips slid against mine. His fingers laced in my hair, drawing me closer, making me moan into his mouth. Tripp’s hand moved to the small of my back, pulling me to him. The feel of his hard length on my stomach nearly had my legs buckling.
Tripp’s mouth withdrew. His eyes pierced mine with such intensity I was almost frozen still. “Let’s show them how to dance to this song before it ends.”
I giggled. Soon we were gliding across the dance floor. As I danced in the arms of the man I loved, I realized I’d never been this happy in my entire life.
When the song ended, and Tripp drew me to him for another kiss, I knew everything was finally going to be okay. No matter what happened with the clinic or how things went with Tripp running for mayor…we were together at last.
The sounds of “It Had To Be You” brought everyone out of their seats. With a spin, Tripp and I danced like two silly teenagers staring at one another while gliding across the makeshift wooden dance floor.
My eyes caught Melanie’s, and I could see her tears as she lifted her hand off John’s back to give me a wave.
I returned the gesture before Tripp spun me again.
“You know, your mother is pretty sneaky.”
He laughed. “Tell me about it. I’m positive the moment she saw us both walk in alone she went to work.”
I buried my face into his chest as I smiled. Drawing back, I looked up into his beautiful eyes.
“I’m sorry we lost so much time together.”
Tripp cradled the side of my face. Leaning into it, I closed my eyes as I felt his lips brush over mine. “It just means we have a lot to catch up on.”
My lower stomach clenched. When I opened my eyes, we were lost in each other. A few more songs and I was in need of water and a rest. I couldn’t ignore the throbbing at my side.
Tripp guided us back to the table where we both sat down. I scanned the dance floor to find Cord and his date.
“Who is that with Cord?”
“That is Tammy. The manager of Cord’s Place. Or I should say, his go-to girl when he needs a date for an event like this.”
“Anything going on between them?”
Tripp let out a hearty laugh. “Hell no. Cord knows better than to sleep with her. She helps keep that place running and the last thing he wants to do is mess that up.”
I took a sip of water. “Does she feel the same way?”
“I think so. She’s never seemed interested in Cord that way. Of course, she has a front seat view of his ways so that probably keeps her at bay.”
I watched as all the couples danced and laughed.
“Everyone looks like they’re enjoying themselves,” I stated.
“Look at Trevor. I think the little bastard has finally met his match.”
“With Scarlett?” I looked around, searching out over the dance floor. “Where is she?”
Tripp pointed to Scarlett in the arms of Aunt Vi’s date. I covered my mouth and laughed.
“Oh. Roger got to her.”
“Yeah, look at my brother. He’s pissed.”
Trevor looked rather upset, indeed.
“Do you think he likes her?” I asked.
With a shrug, Tripp looked at me and grinned. “Oh, yeah. And I’m sure that confuses the hell out of him. He’ll act like he doesn’t care that another man asked her dance, but he can’t hide the seething.”
“Are we talking about our lovestruck baby brother?” Waylynn asked, sitting down next to me.
