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It was extremely creepy.
He fed himself and Lara, alternating bites until the tart was gone. A bizarre sense of satisfaction filled him at feeding her.
“Good girl,” he whispered. “That deserves a reward later.”
She wiggled on his lap, and he had to hold her hips still.
Killing him.
He wrapped his arms around her as Chandler waxed on about how wonderful Emily was.
“I think it’s safe to say that both her mother and I are very proud of our beautiful daughter, Emily. And we’re happy to welcome Geoffrey to the family. He’ll be an amazing addition, I’m sure.”
Emily preened while Geoffrey looked like he was asleep. Hmm, he wondered why Chandler was so willing to overlook Geoffrey’s obvious drinking issues.
Then Chandler’s gaze turned to them. He smiled that too-white smile. Jesus, he was like an alligator, lying in wait and waiting to drag his prey down to the bottom of the river. “This is also an extra happy day because, as many of you will probably have noticed, our other daughter, Lara, has returned home to the flock.”
17
This was her worst nightmare.
Having everyone staring at her while she was wearing a hideous pumpkin dress.
Okay, maybe not her worst nightmare. That was forgetting to get dressed and going shopping naked while having everyone stare at her.
But this was close.
And what was Chandler up to? He was making it sound like she was home for good.
Butch squeezed her lightly, lending her his strength.
Which she desperately needed.
“Please, all of you, raise your glasses for the bride and groom!”
She stood with Butch’s help and put on a fake smile. When everyone sat, the music started up and a few younger couples got up onto the dance floor.
“What was that about?” Butch asked her as the other people at the table got up to go talk to their friends.
“I don’t know. But I don’t like it.” She turned in his lap to look up at him, brushing up against something hard that made him hiss. Her mouth dropped open. “Was that . . . are you . . .”
“Really pleased that you’re sitting on my knee?” he murmured. “Yeah, baby. I am.”
Heat filled her cheeks and she squirmed, pressing her thighs together. He grabbed hold of her hips. “You’re going to have me embarrassing myself in thirty seconds. Stay still for me, baby.”
“Maybe I should get off and sit in my own seat?” There were plenty free now.
“Or we could dance.”
“You dance?” she asked. “Why do I feel like I’ve tried to get you to dance with me before?” This strange sense of déjà vu hit her.
“Because you did the other night when you were drunk.”
“I wasn’t drunk. Urgh, maybe a little bit. Shoot, what else did I do?”
“Nothing that wasn’t super cute.”
Shit. She could only imagine.
“And I do a mean two-step.” He gave her a wicked grin.
“I don’t think they do that sort of dancing here.” The couples on the floor were dancing in a rather formal, stiff way. There were a few younger ones pressed close together, but the music was pretty boring.
“I can dirty dance too.”
“I know they’re definitely not going to have that sort of music here.”
“Let me take care of that. Want to dance?” he asked.
Be pressed up against his body? Uh, hell yes. “I do. Yep. Very much.”
Stop rambling, Lara.
He lifted her off his lap and took her hand, leading her toward the dance floor. He stopped by the edge. “Wait here. I’m going to go talk to the band.”
Thankfully, the music was so loud over here that if anyone was saying anything about her, she couldn’t hear them.
Then Butch came back, grinning. He took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. This music was so slow and tedious. She didn’t know how they were going to do much more than sway.
But Butch simply held his arms out and she moved into them. Then he started twirling her around the dance floor.
Whoa. He really could dance. Although he was completely out of tune with the music. They probably looked ridiculous. But as he spun her out, then back into him, she found herself laughing.
Screw what everyone else thought.
Then the song ended and one of her favorite country songs came on.
“Oh yeah, baby!” Butch cried, flinging her around.
She laughed so hard as he moved her around the dance floor, dipping and spinning her that her cheeks hurt. As he moved her, he was careful not to pull on her sore arm. Not that she really noticed it being painful.
The song ended abruptly. She guessed her stepfather had made the band stop. But she didn’t care. And Butch kept dancing like he didn’t even notice.
When he came to a stop at the edge of the dance floor, she placed her forehead against his chest, sucking in deep breaths.
She didn’t care who was watching or what they were saying. She could just feel the joy of that moment.
