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His hands clasp my waist, his thumbs lightly tracing invisible lines at the small of my back. His gaze digs all the way down into my soul, like he’s trying to uncover every secret I’ve ever kept hidden from him.
My arms come around him and his arms come around me and we slow-dance under the stars. There are dozens of people milling around us but Davis is the only one I’m aware of.
His eyes bore into mine. “The longer we stay here, the more I’m realizing how easy it would be for me to fall right back in love with you.”
Time grinds to a stop. And, is it just me, or do the stars suddenly shine brighter than they did just a minute ago? Christ. Out of nowhere, the sky is lit up like a Taylor Swift concert.
But before I can drunkenly admit that I feel the exact same way, Davis’s mouth meets mine. He cups the back of my head and tenderly tastes my lips.
His kiss is so familiar, yet I will never get enough of it. Like the melody of my favorite song. My heart is so full of adoration for this man I’m scared it might burst.
We kiss and kiss and kiss like the world is crumbling around us. And in some ways, it is. Because everything could be different tomorrow.
A murmur goes up in the crowd and Davis pulls out of the kiss, leaving me cross-eyed and dizzy. I try to focus my eyes on the police cruiser that is pulling up at the edge of the festivities.
Davis’s attention perks up when a large man with a thick mustache and a police uniform hops out of the truck. The people of Starlight Falls greet the man with jokes and banter.
“Sheriff—nice of you to join us.”
“Now that you’re here, the party canreallyget started.”
“Hope you brought your handcuffs tonight.”
The man chuckles heartily, tipping his hat to the crowd gathered around the campfire. He addresses the group surrounding him. From here I can’t hear what they’re saying. But it’s not long before a murmur is rising up in the crowd.
“The road is clear. The road is clear,” people are saying.
Davis clasps my hand, leading me through the crowd and moving in the police chief’s direction.
“Sheriff,” Davis greets the man with a handshake.
“This must be your lovely wife?” He asks, offering me a smile.
“Alana Westbrook,” I interject with my hand outstretched, not wanting to hear Davis lie one more time and say that I’m his. At this point, it’s painful hearing the lie.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Alana.”
“Likewise, Sheriff.”
We shake hands then the man turns his eyes back to Davis. “You’ll be glad to know that we were able to clear the road a little while ago. The highway is back open and the fallen tree is being mulched as we speak.” The police chief looks so damn proud of himself.
Davis’s eyes flash to me. His jaw goes stiff. And all he can manage is a muttered, “Oh…”
The sheriff nods, grinning wide under his thick mustache. “You’re free to get back on the road tonight, if you’d like.”
Jimmy strolls up to join the conversation. Rainbow attaches herself to her husband’s side.
“Well, that’s just wonderful news.” Rainbow beams, squeezing my shoulder. “Maybe you two will make it to the wedding on time after all.”
The crowd around us is beginning to scatter. The out-of-towners are eager to get on their way home now that access to the highway has been restored.
I try to smile. I do. But my jaw feels like it’s locked in place. I know I should be happy to hear those words, but instead of elation, all I feel is the boulder that drops into my stomach with a brutal splash. “That’s great news,” I manage to push out.
Jimmy shakes hands with the sheriff. “Thank you for the update. Starlight Falls can always count on you.”
The sheriff says his goodbyes to us then lets himself be lured off by the locals with promises of free hotdogs and hamburgers.
Jimmy immediately pulls his keys from his pocket and starts heading for his truck. “Come on, y’all. Let’s get back to the cabin.”
