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Chapter Two
Her heart pounding after their slow dance, Brenda sat next to Matt, debating whether or not she should encourage him or keep him at bay.Matt had relaxed while they’d chatted and danced, but he’d retreated after indulging in a romantic moment when his lips had caressed her cheek.
The handsome surgeon was obviouslyin a rough place emotionally, one foot in the past, missing and hating his ex, the other in an uncertain future where he couldn’t get himself to trust any woman.
Her alert, professional mind had detected the hidden vibes as soon as he’d spoken to Jocelyn, his cold voice hiding resentment and mistrust.
The photographer fussed around their table, issuing orders, and cracking jokes.
“Come on boys and girls. Stand up here. Cluster together. There’s no curfew, no underage rules. You can hold your sweetie without fearing the teacher may drag you to the principal’s office.”
They laughed, and the three married men wrapped their arms around their wives’ waists and drew them against them, Jacquie’s husband kissing her cheek, and Hanna’s husband pressing his lips against her throat. More discreet, Carl just stuck his head against Jocelyn’s.
Fearing an out-of-place remark from the photographer, Brenda glanced at Matt who stood at her side. Understanding her unspoken plea, he wound his arm around her and brushed his cheek against hers.
“Say cheese, and show me your teeth,” the photographer ordered.
“Cheese.”
They burst out laughing.
“No escape now. Stuck together for eternity in this picture,” Matt joked, his amused words sounding more like an unfortunate omen.
Her breath caught in her lungs, and a smile froze on her lips. She refused to be stuck with a man, not for eternity, nor for a brief moment.
“No,” she hissed, and tried to pull back from Matt’s firm hold.
Too late. Several flashes blinded them.
“Thank you, ladies and gents. I got a few terrific pictures. You’ll love them.”
“Thank you.” Matt pressed a kiss at the corner of her lips.
“For what?” she snapped. Had he not noticed her reluctance?
His eyebrows shot up. “You seem upset. Have I missed something?”
He’d missed a lot, and thankfully, so had everyone around them. It would be wiser on her part to swallow her irritation, and let the matter die. She plastered a smile on her face.
“Everything’s fine.”
She only had herself to blame for being caught in an intimate pose with a man she barely knew anymore, in a picture that would hang for years on her school’s wall.
“Now, he’ll take pictures of couples,” Hannah announced.
“Oh no,” Brenda murmured under her breath and caught Matt’s squint.
“Brenda, I love this song. Shall we dance?”
“Sure.”
Grateful that he’d understood her frustration and had stepped up to save her from another unwelcome picture, she strapped her purse to her shoulder and accepted the hand he held out to her.
“The pictures,” Hannah called.
“Later,” Matt answered as he ushered her to the dance floor and paused when they reached it “Brenda, do you want to dance or leave?”
Would she hurt his feelings by asking to leave? She pinched her lips, hesitating.
