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“She’s putty in my hands.”
I cast my gaze to where she sat, sulking. “Looks like it.”
“My hands are on you at the moment.”
I groaned and grabbed his hand. “Come on.”
“Mrs. Quinn, I can’t dance with this one any longer. Would you do me the honor? That is, if you don’t mind, Mr. Dixon.” Patrick bowed gallantly.
Mrs. Quinn cracked a smile. “I’d be thrilled.”
“Mr. Dixon, save me please.”
He stood and offered me his arm. “My pleasure.”
Effortlessly, he led me around the small space.
“I had no idea you were quite the dancer.”
Crinkles formed around his eyes. “My children think I sit around at home all day, but I know how to have a good time.”
“Bet there are a lot of broken hearts now that you’re off the market.”
He glanced wistfully over to Mrs. Quinn. “I’m worried I’ll mess it all up.Again. I seem to excel at driving women away.”
“We don’t know how capable we are at forgiveness until we try.”
“You’re a smart young lady.” He grinned. “But I already knew that.”
I blushed and glanced away.
“What about patience? Are you any good at that?”
“I—” I rubbed my temples. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I think so.”
“Can you try to be? With my son? He’s—” His eyes got misty as he choked on his words.
“Got a lot to process.”
“Not just everything that happened last night.” He sighed. “He doesn’t talk about it, but he lost his best friend.”
“I found the newspaper article about it.”
“Did he tell you he was there?”
“Yeah.”
“He lost his friend and Celia all at once. He puts up a good front, but it’s all compounding.”
“What about you? Is it all compounding?” It was deflection at its finest. I couldn’t stand to hear anything about the woman Holt might still love.
“May I cut in?”
“Certainly.” Mr. Dixon patted Holt’s shoulder. “I’d better go save Audrey.”
The music was still upbeat, but Holt enveloped me in his arms and gently swayed.
“I don’t know what to say to him,” he confessed against my hair.
