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“Hell, that just hurts the pride.”
I laughed, but my humor died. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like you’re breaking hearts left and right or anything. It’s just been a little weird tonight. I said I was bringing you, and they’ve all run with it.”
The music faded out and a slow melody kicked in. Kiernan didn’t let me go, but adjusted his steps to the song, and somehow we moved even closer together.
“I get it,” he said. “You feel like you’re lying, and then you see they’re really happy for you.” He was gazing at me, his brown eyes picking up the sparkles from the lights around the dance floor. “I hate deceiving people.”
“That’s a good trait to have.”
“I like to think I have a few of them.” He winked, his mouth curving up at the corners. “Along with some good moves.”
“What moves?” I asked innocently.
He grinned and stepped back to twirl me around. Landing back in his arms robbed me of air. I ended up pressed against his hard chest, and our linked hands were held close to our bodies like we made our own cocoon in the middle of the other couples on the floor.
“Oh,” was all I said. He had some nice moves, and I had no business wondering where else they translated to.
ChapterThree
KIERNAN
I’d never given much thought to dancing. It was an enjoyable activity to do with clothes on in public. In a small town where there wasn’t much to do, there was often a wedding reception, a street dance, or some other event I could take a girl to.
But having Emma in my arms took the sport to a whole new level. She fit perfectly, and what steps she didn’t know, she was happy to learn. I almost growled when the DJ switched the song up to a popular line dance. I wanted Emma in my arms, and I couldn’t do that with her next to me doing the Boot Scootin’ Boogie, dammit.
After that song, she was whisked away by her uncle, and I was doing the polka with her aunt.
“You two sure are cute together,” Addy said, interrupting my thoughts. “It’s nice to finally see her with someone who takes care of her.”
That put me on alert. “Was there someone who hasn’t?”
“Oh, I don’t know. No one who’s opened doors for her, refilled her glass, and made sure she wasn’t sitting alone.”
I spun her out for a slow twirl. No ER visits for my dance partners tonight. When we were back in step, I said, “She’s a good person.”
Hell, I’d always known it, and I’d admired it. I’d admired her. Now that I’d spent the evening with her, I wasn’t going to be forgetting her anytime soon. Being with Emma was easy. Comfortable. But I still wanted to seduce her out of that little yellow sundress.
“She’s a sweetheart,” Addy agreed. “But sometimes the girls with the biggest hearts get overlooked. I’ve never understood it. Oh, here’s my Luke. Looks like he’s stealing me from you.”
“I’ll let you go only because I don’t want a fight.”
Emma was with her uncle, and they both heard and laughed. Addy sashayed to her husband and gave me hope that chemistry stayed strong in the golden years.
I held my arms out. “You’re left with me again.” My gaze swept over the flush in her cheeks. Her eyes were bright from laughing with her uncle, and she grinned.
But she hesitated, her gaze straying to the table. “I hate to turn you down, but I think I made an error wearing new sandals tonight. I wasn’t prepared for such an active partner.”
I could be fucking active with her—in a way that’d have her feet in the air and locked around my waist. Before lust could choke me, I put my hand lightly on the small of her back to lead her to the table we’d been sitting at. “The DJ just called last song. Why don’t we drain the water left at the table, and I can get you home?”
When I glanced at her to see if my idea worked for her, I couldn’t identify the flicker on her face, but she nodded.
She pulled her sandal off and winced. “Damn. I should know better, but my dates aren’t usually this exciting.”
“Except this isn’t a date.” I could show her a better time. Did she like seeing the wide open sky at night, full of stars? I knew all the constellations, thanks to all the late nights and early mornings calving. There were always romantic dinners, maybe a quick trip to Billings for a bigger bar and grill than what King’s Creek offered.
“No,” she said, her tone flat. “Not a date.”
Did I insult her? How?
