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She sat at the head table and watched them swirl around the floor once more, this time in the company of many of the other guests, and she smiled, too. Theirs was the way weddings should be. For once she didn’t compare it to her own wedding. Barely even thought about it.
“Dance with me.”
Startled, Holly turned and looked up.
Lukas stood behind her, a somber expression on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” His tone was almost curt.
“But...the Plaza? The mayor—?”
“The mayor is charming the first MacClintock Foundation grant winners and their extended families. Probably enough people to win him the next election. He couldn’t be happier. Dance with me,” Lukas said again and held out his hand, waiting for her.
But even as he did the music ended. The next piece was moody, almost plaintive, with lots of soulful clarinets. It touched a chord deep in Holly’s breast. Echoed the way she felt.
One last dance. One more memory. Savor it, she told herself, and she put her hand in his and stood.
Effortlessly, Lukas steered her onto the dance floor and took her in his arms. It felt warm and right. The place she ought to be. And Holly couldn’t resist. She let herself be wrapped in his embrace.
More than let. Relished it, drew strength from it, sustenance. So much for weaning herself away. She laid her cheek against the smooth summer wool of his jacket, felt the easy glide of muscle beneath, and gave herself over to the music, to the moment.
To the man.
When it ended, Lukas said, “Let’s get out of here.”
“I’m the bridesmaid!”
“They’re married,” Lukas said impatiently. “Your job is done.”
And once more he drew her with him, this time toward Althea and Stig, who were in conversation with Althea’s parents. Matt’s parents.
“Say goodbye,” Lukas instructed her.
But before Holly could open her mouth, Matt’s dad, Joe, stuck out his hand to greet Lukas. Then Laura wrapped him in a warm embrace. “We’ve missed you,” she murmured. “So glad you’re back. You must come out and see us.”
“I will,” Lukas promised, the huskiness in his voice telling Holly that his promise was more than perfunctory. “Soon. We have to leave now.”
All four—Stig and Althea, Joe and Laura—turned their gazes from Lukas to Holly. Four sets of eyebrows lifted. Althea was, of course, the first to speak.
“Of course you do!” she said with every bit of warmth of which Althea was capable—which Holly knew from years of experience was a lot.
“I don’t have to,” Holly began. “If you need me to stay...”
“I think I am the one she’ll be needing now.” Stig gave her a grin and a wink. “Nice dress, don’t you think?” he said to Lukas.
“Very nice.” Lukas’s voice was clipped, his arm possessive around her. I can hardly wait to get her out of it. Holly heard the words as if he’d spoken them aloud. She was sure Stig did, too.
“Go,” Althea said, making shooing motions. “I’ll call you when we get back from our honeymoon.”
Holly nodded. She wouldn’t be here, but Althea was a smart woman. She’d figure it out.
Lukas had brought his Porsche. He tucked her into it wordlessly, then went around and got in the driver’s side. If Holly had thought the cab of his truck shrank when he got in, it was nothing compared to the suddenly minuscule confines of the Porsche. She looked over at him, willing him to smile.
But he’d gone into one of his distracted moods. He put the car in gear and they were off.
Another night he would be regaling her with stories of the event with the mayor and the grant recipients, charming her, making her laugh as she saw it through his eyes. Lukas could do that. He’d done it millions of times. Notably, she recalled, the night of her senior prom.
But tonight he drove straight through Saturday-evening midtown traffic, jaw tight, eyes straight ahead.
Fingers knotted in her lap, Holly didn’t speak, either. But by the time they reached union Square, her nerves were beyond frayed. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” But there was an edge to his voice.
“Tell me.”
“Not now” His fingers flexed on the steering wheel. He stared straight ahead, focusing on heavy midtown traffic.
Holly turned in the seat to see him better. “Lukas, what’s going on?”
