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They danced, and Brad kept trying to spin her in some complicated twirl, until Steph finally said, “Thanks so much. I’m parched, so I’ll see you a little later.”
It didn’t take long for him to find another dancing partner.
She headed to get a drink, and when she finished, she stood outside the main dancing area, watching. The sun had set, and the lights strung about the yard glowed against the twilight sky, making everything feel magical and dreamlike.
Everly and Austin danced several times together, then with other people as well, including little Jessica. The DJ switched to slower songs, and couples formed across the dance space. Maybe Steph should sit with Pops. Get off her feet and keep him company.
Before she could turn away from the dancing couples, an arm slipped around her waist and turned her inward. She was too startled to react at first. Looking up, she gazed into familiar brown eyes.
“Cal.”
“Sorry I’m late.”
Goose bumps raced across her skin, and her heart felt like it had flown away. Cal wore a full suit—the most formal she’d ever seen him—and her expectations were more than met. Suits definitely worked for this man. He drew her closer, and somehow, she was dancing with Cal, his hands at her waist, her hands at his shoulders.
They moved slowly to the music, and a dozen questions went through Steph’s mind. Why was he so late? Had he gotten her message? What did he think?
Well, it was obvious he wasn’t annoyed too much, because he was holding her rather close and pretty much staring at her.
“Were you working?” she asked.
“There was a huge accident, and both sides of the highway were closed for a couple of hours.”
“Oh, that’s terrible.”
He nodded, but only kept gazing at her.
“You’re staring,” she finally said.
“I’m trying to read your mind.”
He said it with such seriousness that she laughed, which might have something to do with her jumping nerves. “You can ask me any questions, you know.”
He leaned close and spoke low against her ear. “Was your voice mail the real deal?”
Her skin buzzed with warmth. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Every word?”
“Yes.”
Somehow he’d maneuvered them to the edge of the dancing, so it didn’t take long for him to lead her around the gazebo, out of sight of everyone. He pulled her to a stop, his hand still holding hers. “So I’m out of the friend zone?”
Steph’s pulse hammered. The twilight sky made his eyes seem even darker, and his white shirt collar a stark contrast to his olive skin. “Yes, if you want to be out of the friend zone. I mean, I’m not going to presume—”
Before she could finish, his hands cradled her face and his mouth found hers.
Her breath fled her body for an instant, but then she was kissing him back. His hands slipped behind her neck, then down her back, creating a rippling sensation. Her heels lifted from the ground as he drew her tightly against him, and every part of her body heated in response.
He wasn’t changing his mind or rejecting her offer.
He was here, solid, real, living, breathing, and kissing her like she meant something to him. She locked her arms around his neck because she was pretty sure she was about to float away.
His mouth moved along her jaw, then to her neck, and she closed her eyes, letting the sensation of his touch and taste take over all of her senses. Somewhere in the background, music played, and people chattered, but it all felt so far away. Steph only wanted to focus on the here and now, and the man who held her in his arms.
THE SILK OF STEPH’S DRESS gleamed silver in the moonlight, and she looked absolutely ethereal. Cal had spotted her at once when he’d joined the wedding celebration. He’d watched her for a few moments from the other side of the yard. Getting here had been aggravating to say the least, but he’d listened to her voice mail several times. Maybe even a dozen times. And he wasn’t going to turn around no matter how many hours the road was closed.
So it was fortunate to arrive before the wedding was over, and now that he’d made it clear that he was accepting her offer to get out of the friend zone, he knew it was time to return to the wedding festivities. The DJ had just said something about the cake cutting. And he overheard a woman say, “Where’s Steph? Has anyone seen her?”
