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She resisted, causing him to pause. “Actually, I don’t think I could eat if I was starving.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “I’ve been working myself up far too much all day and I don’t think I could keep anything down.”
He glanced toward the hostess, then nodded. “Let me go cancel our reservation and we’ll head out.”
She stopped him again. “Head out? That’s not what I said.”
Lucas gave her a funny look.
“I didn’t say I wanted to leave. I still want to go dancing.”
“You do?” He didn’t sound convinced.
“You made it sound so… entertaining.” She pulled him closer so she could put her arms around his neck. “I have to see your moves, right? How else will I be able to brag to the girls in town that the handsome Lucas Keagan took me dancing?”
He rolled his eyes. “First of all, no one is going to care.”
“I think you greatly underestimate your ability to charm the women within a twenty-mile radius.” She made the offhanded comment, but even she could hear the strain of her voice. Hopefully he didn’t notice. Ella released him and nodded toward the hostess. “Go cancel our reservation and I’ll meet you in the dance hall.”
Maybe by the time he got back to her side, she’d be able to shake off these feelings of inadequacy.
Ella turned quickly and headed into the room where all the music was coming from. The song was playing, but only a handful of people were dancing as couples. Everyone else was either mingling on the edges of the room or dancing in groups.
Her gaze followed a couple who were doing the tango. They were clearly very practiced at the dance, full of confidence. He was light on his feet and able to spin her around like she didn’t weigh a thing.
And maybe she didn’t. Her waist was tiny and she practically floated on a pair of stilettos. It was strange to see a couple dancing like this in a country club, but the sight was mesmerizing. She took in a deep, shuddering breath, then exhaled. An arm slipped around her waist, and she jumped.
Lucas’s voice murmured behind her ear, “We’re all set. You ready to get out there?”
Ella shook her head. “Maybe we could ease into it first? Something slower?”
He took both of her hands, his grin practically sweeping her off her feet. “Now, what’s the fun in that?”
In mere moments, she was flung into moves she had never thought possible. Her heart fluttered within her while everything around her became a blur. Her laughter rang out louder than the music that played in the room. Every few seconds, she caught a glimpse of Lucas’s face and knew she’d remember this moment for the rest of her life.
All too quickly, the music faded and a new song came on over the speakers. This one was slower than the first one, and Lucas didn’t even miss a beat as he pulled her against him.
His hand came around her waist while the other held her hand. He swayed back and forth, his lips coming closer to her ear once more. “I don’t know what you were talking about. You’ve got to be one of the easiest partners I’ve had.”
She rested her cheek against his shoulder, still fighting to catch her breath. There was nothing she could say that wouldn’t water down how she felt at this moment. Ella was simply content to live in the moment.
This moment.
There was nothing that could take away how she felt being in Lucas’s arms.
“Lucas? Is that you?” A deep voice intruded on her thoughts and Lucas stiffened.
She pulled away, immediately regretting that decision.
“Taven,” Lucas said in a flat tone.
19
Lucas
“Ithought you moved to Montana,” Lucas ground out. It had been years since he’d seen his friend or even heard from him. And if he were honest with himself, he wasn’t sure how he felt seeing him now.
Though, that could be due to who he was currently dating.
Taven’s sharp, blue eyes shifted to Ella, sweeping over her from head to toe before returning to Lucas. He smirked but didn’t indicate what he thought of this current arrangement. “I did. I’m back visiting my mom. She’s selling the house and moving up to be closer to me.”
