by Cate Beauman
“I want to dance again, Mama.”
Sarah brushed a soft blonde curl back from Kylee’s forehead. How did she explain that this was a special moment only for little girls and their fathers? Although Kylee remained blissfully unaware, Sarah’s heart broke for what her child would never have.
“You can dance again soon. Let’s go to the bathroom and make ourselves pretty before the fast songs start. You can put on some of my lip gloss if you want.”
“O-tay.” Kylee clapped.
Sarah turned toward the lobby, stopping short as Ethan stood before them.
“I want to take Kylee out to dance.”
Sarah’s eyes watered as they stared into Ethan’s. “Ethan, I—” Emotions choked her, leaving her unable to finish. How did she thank him for such a kind gesture?
Ethan stepped closer, skimmed his fingers along her cheek. “Let me take Kylee out to dance.”
Sarah pressed the warmth of his palm to her face, holding him close a moment longer. She nodded over the lump in her throat, set Kylee on her feet. Ethan took her hand as he guided her to the dance floor, never taking his gaze from Sarah’s.
She wished for her camera, wanting to capture every detail of this sweet moment in pictures. Ethan wore his white button-down rolled halfway up his muscled forearms. His maroon necktie, loosened hours before, matched the ribbons woven through the ringlets curled into Kylee’s hair. Ethan’s big hands swallowed Kylee’s as he moved her in slow circles, talking to her while she smiled up at him. Kylee said something and he grinned.
The dim chandelier light accentuated his broad shoulders, his arresting face, and Sarah’s pulse quickened as a wave of heat coursed through her system. Surprised by her reaction, she averted her gaze to the floor. Ethan’s striking looks were nothing new, so why was she suddenly affected?
She glanced up again, studying her best friend. She was being silly, that was all. Ethan was her pal. She’d gotten caught up in the emotions of the day, in the moment of tenderness between him and her daughter.
When the dance ended, Ethan picked Kylee up, kissed her, and headed back. “Special delivery for one Sarah Johnson.” He tossed Kylee high, making her laugh, before he caught her and placed her in Sarah’s arms.
Sarah shook off her foolishness and beamed. “This is a special delivery indeed. Can I keep her?”
“I don’t know. Can she keep you, kiddo?”
“Yes, Mama tan teep me.” Kylee’s eyes widened. “Gamma’s here. Bye, Mama.” She wiggled down and ran. Kylee blew her a kiss when Sarah’s mother picked her up.
Hailey wandered over, holding two overnight bags and a piece of paper with a number on it. She glanced toward the college boy, back at Sarah, wiggled her eyebrows.
Sarah chuckled as the DJ asked the wedding party to join the bride and groom on the dance floor.
Ethan grabbed her hand. “We’re being paged.”
“I want to say goodbye to Kylee first.”
“I’ll come with you and then we dance.”
Sarah stared down at Ethan’s hand, remembering her earlier reaction to a simple smile. “I don’t know. I should get the gifts together so I can bring them over to Morgan and Hunter’s house after the reception’s over.”
“You haven’t danced at all tonight, and the DJ’s calling us. The best man and Matron of Honor should give it a whirl at least once.”
Stuck, she conceded. “Just one dance. Give me a minute.” She broke contact with Ethan, walked to her mother, enveloping her in a hug. “Hi, Mom. Thanks so much for helping me out. I don’t know how I would’ve been able to do this without you and Hailey. As it is, I’m going to have to make two trips with all of the presents. That would’ve been difficult with Kylee in-tow, and I didn’t want to leave Hailey home alone with the crimes being reported in the area, even with my security system.”
Her mother frowned and tsked. “I’m always happy to help out, but what about you? It’ll be late by the time this party’s over.”
“I’ll be helping her out, Janice,” Ethan said from behind Sarah.
“Bless your heart, Ethan. Well, you have yourselves some fun. I know I’m going to.” She nuzzled Kylee close and turned to leave.
“Wait. I didn’t say goodbye.” Sarah moved forward, kissing Kylee. “Bye, sweet girl. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”
“Bye, Mama. I gonna play with Gamma and Gampy and Hailey.” With that, they turned to leave again.
“Call if you need anything,” Sarah said, but Hailey, her mother, and Kylee were chatting it up as they left the ballroom.
“Well, I guess I’ve been forgotten.”
“Let’s go have fun, then.” Ethan took her hand again and pulled her to the dance floor. The thumping beat had the wedding party dancing to the hoots and hollers of the crowd. Ethan tugged her against him as they both found their rhythm.
Hunter cut in. “Scram, Cooke.” With Ethan out of the way, he wrapped Sarah in a hug. “What an awesome day. Thanks for all your help.”
“You’re absolutely welcome. I’m so happy for you, Hunter. Be happy.”
“I am.” Hunter’s eyes changed, softening. “Even though I’m married now, I’ll never forget my promise, Sarah. You and Kylee still mean everything to me.”
Sarah blinked back tears as she brushed her hand down his cheek. “Oh, honey, I know that.”
“Are you going to be okay while Morgan and I are in Italy?”
She took his hand, squeezed. “Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Enjoy your honeymoon with your wife. Don’t worry about me and Kylee. We’ll be fine. Ethan’s never far away. Have fun.” She kissed him. “I love you. Now go dance with Morgan.” She hugged him again and let him go.
The music changed, slowing down. Usher’s smooth voice crooned through the speakers. Sarah walked to the deck, stepping from the noisy ballroom, breathing in the salty air. She rested her arm against the cool metal of the railing, pulled off her heels, let out a deep sigh as she closed her eyes. The day had played with her emotions, bringing so many highs and lows.
“There you are.” Ethan leaned on the rail next to her. “I turned around for a second and you were gone.”
She kept her eyes closed. “The song was over, and I have so much to do, but I needed fresh air first.”
He brushed his fingers over her naked shoulder. “You’re upset.”
Sarah shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
He took her chin in his hand until she met his gaze.
“Mostly I’m not,” she amended. “I’ve been thinking of Jake a lot the past couple of days, especially today, but you already know that.” She let out a deep breath. “I wish he could’ve been here with all of us.”
Ethan pulled her close, locking his arms around her waist. “Let’s dance.” He moved her in a circle, and she clasped her hands at the back of his neck. “I thought of him a lot too. I think we all did.”
“I go for long stretches where I’m able to find peace with the way things are, but then there are days like today when I don’t know how I’ll get through the rest of my life without him.”
“I think that’s pretty normal, Sarah. Tomorrow will be better.” He kissed her forehead. “And if it’s not, you call me, and I’ll be right there.”
Hadn’t he always been? She stared into Ethan’s eyes for a long time before she smiled. “Jake would’ve gotten a kick out of Kylee in her pretty dress.” She laughed. “And the way her little butt wiggled on the dance floor.”
He grinned. “She sure can move.”
“I need to get her lessons. I think she would love dance class.”
As they circled around, she glanced into the ballroom, spotting Morgan and Hunter. “They look spectacular together, don’t they?”
Ethan turned his head. “Yeah, they do.” He turned back and Sarah met his stare as he nestled her more truly against him. Ethan’s hard chest brushed her breasts, his gaze wandered to her lips, and her heart thunder
ed as she wondered what it would be like. What would it be like to feel his mouth pressed against hers in passion instead of the typical casual meeting of lips?
Sarah tried to pull away as guilt swamped her. What was she doing? Where was this coming from? Moments before she’d yearned for Jake, now she was thinking of Ethan in a way she never had before. “I should probably get back inside and check in with Morgan. They’ll be leaving soon. She’ll need help getting out of her dress.”
Forks clinked against glasses and a cheer went up when Hunter laid a hungry kiss on Morgan’s lips.
Ethan chuckled, never loosening his grip. “I think Morgan’s busy right now.”
Sarah stared at Ethan again—her friend. Her friend, she reminded herself. They’d been through so much over the years. You’re being foolish.
Smiling, Ethan shook his head. The gesture was so casual, so Ethan, she admonished herself again for being silly and the weight of her guilt subsided.
Forks clinked once more. This time Morgan bent Hunter back in a kiss.
Sarah’s laugh mingled with Ethan’s. They grinned at each other, and everything was all right.
The song ended and rolled into the next.
“Thanks for the dance.” She hugged him and moved through the doors to the ballroom. “Are you coming?”
“I’ll be in in a few minutes.”
Sarah walked to the bathroom, thinking about her dance with Ethan. The easy feelings she’d left the balcony with were quickly vanishing as butterflies invaded her stomach and doubts snuck through. No matter how she tried to convince herself that things were status quo, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. He’d looked at her…differently somehow. Had his thoughts veered in the same directions as hers? No, of course not.
Fed up with herself, Sarah blew out a frustrated huff and pulled open the door. She stepped in front of the mirror, examined her flushed cheeks, her pulse hammering away in her throat. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed the fitted waist of her maroon dress, pulled the gloss from her small purse. As she rubbed the clear liquid together on her lips, Nicolette stepped from one of the stalls.
Calling on her manners, Sarah smiled. “Hello, Nicolette. Are you enjoying your evening?”
“Not as much you seem to be.”
Her tone was unfriendly, but Sarah ignored it. She opened her purse, put the tube back in her bag before she turned for the door. “See you around.”
“You surprise me, Sarah.”
Sarah paused with her hand hovering over the handle. “Oh, why’s that?”
“You come across as virginal, yet you’ve been all over both the groom and my date tonight.”
Sarah whirled. “Excuse me?”
“Are you not ashamed of yourself? Allowing Ethan to dance with your daughter as if he were the child’s father? This is pathetic.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “Ethan and Kylee are very close.”
“Ethan and Kylee are close, eh? Is it not Ethan and Kylee’s mother that are very close? Do you walk on the beach and dance in the moonlight with many men, Sarah? Do you think I do not know what you do? If you think I will not be watching, think again.”
Sarah’s hand trembled as she pulled the door open and left Nicolette casually powdering her nose. She made her way through the mobs of people to the small room where Morgan and Hunter’s gifts were stacked on and under a table. Shutting herself in, Sarah threw the lock in place and sat in a chair as she took a deep breath.
Nicolette’s words ran through her mind as she thought of the way Ethan held her while they’d danced, the way he’d stared into her eyes. Had something changed between them? Did she rely on him too much when it came to Kylee? She didn’t know.
She glanced at the digital clock hanging on the wall and swore. Morgan would be looking for her. The limo was due to arrive in less than half an hour. She rushed to the suite.
In the cheerful yellow room, Ilene, Morgan’s mother, was unzipping Morgan’s dress.
Taking a deep breath, Sarah moved forward to help. “I’m so sorry. I’m running behind. What can I do?”
Morgan frowned in the mirror. “Are you all right, Sarah? You’re pale.”
She glimpsed her white cheeks, cursed herself, smiled at Morgan’s reflection. “Oh, I’m fine, absolutely fine. It’s been an amazing day. You’re such a beautiful bride. What will you and Hunter do first when you get to the resort?”
“Sleep for twenty-four hours and then…we’ll see.” Her green eyes glittered with mischief as she grinned into the mirror. Morgan met her mother’s gaze and winced. “Sorry, Mom.”
“Morgan, do you really think I don’t know that you and Hunter have sex? Perhaps while you’re in Italy you can start working on my first grandbaby.”
“We’re just going to practice, at least for a little while.” Morgan pulled on creamy white slacks and a maroon colored top.
“Some girls have all the luck,” Sarah breathed wistfully, smiling.
Morgan and Ilene chuckled.
A knock interrupted their girl talk. Sarah opened the door, and Ethan stood before her. He’d changed into jeans and a black long sleeve shirt that accentuated his broad chest. “Limo’s here. Is Morgan ready?”
“Give us five minutes.” Nicolette’s words plagued her mind. She felt uncustomarily awkward in front of one of her closest friends. “We’ll be out in five minutes.”
“I’m going to time you. Everyone’s waiting with their bubbles.”
“Start your watch,” she said as she closed the door again.
Morgan stood in front of her, fresh and beautiful. “I think I’m ready. Thank you so much for helping me. It’s been such a special day.”
Sarah pulled Morgan into a hug. “You’re absolutely welcome. I couldn’t be happier for you. I’ll take care of everything on this end. Have a great time. We’ll get together for lunch when you get back.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I know Ethan’s timing us, and we have three minutes left. Go put on comfortable clothes and come see me off.”
“I can wait.”
“No, you can’t. I can hear your feet screaming for help.”
Sarah nibbled her lip before she smiled. “Okay. I’ll be quick.” She grabbed her overnight bag, ran to the bathroom. She stepped out of her pumps and sighed. Reaching behind her back, she pulled her zipper down, tugged off her stockings, her garter belt, slid into comfy jeans and a pale blue sweater. “Much better,” she sighed again. She took an extra second to add a bit of blusher to her cheeks. Her time with Morgan and Ilene had soothed, ironing out most of the rough spots after her confrontation with Nicolette.
Ten minutes later, Morgan and Hunter’s white stretch limo drove down the long drive of the resort to bubbles and cheers. When the car was out of sight, Sarah went back to the suite she and Morgan had shared and gathered all of their things. With an armful, she retrieved her sedan from the parking lot, pulled up to the walkway the resort manager told her she could use to load Morgan and Hunter’s gifts.
She took the steps two at a time to the small room she’d locked herself in not even an hour before, began to organize boxes and bags, trying to figure out how she could manage it all in one trip. As she approached the door, loaded down with large packages, Ethan moved forward. “Let me get those.” He took the boxes from her, and their hands brushed. “I said I would help you with all of this.”
Nicolette stood behind him with her pencil-thin brow raised.
“I’ve got it, Ethan. You should take your date and go.” Sarah pulled the boxes back and made her way down the stairs. As she approached her car, she spotted Ethan’s Rover parked behind her. “Damn it.”
He came down behind her with an armful while Nicolette swung a small gift bag between two fingers. Sarah clenched her jaw as her temper began to stretch. Out of patience, she walked over to Ethan as he placed cheerfully wrapped presents in his trunk. It was time for him to be on his way with the witch. She wasn’t about to spend t
he next half hour fending off Nicolette’s nasty looks. “Ethan, I said I’ve got this. I don’t need any help. Just take Nicolette and go.”
Ethan stopped with a package halfway in the trunk and stared.
“I’m serious. Please, just go. There isn’t as much as I thought,” she lied. “I can get it all in one trip.” With that, she turned and made her way up for another pile.
Just as she was about to pick up the next stack, she was whirled around.
“What was that?” Ethan’s gray eyes snapped with temper. “I said I would help you.”
“Maybe I don’t want it. No matter what anyone thinks around here, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. This is my responsibility as Morgan’s Matron of Honor, so I’ve got it.”
“What are you talking about? I never said you couldn’t take care of yourself. If it wasn’t the middle of the night, I’d let you have at it, but I’m not about to leave you alone to deal with this when there’s a fucking rapist running around the Palisades. He’s attacked three women within a ten mile radius of your house.”
A chill ran down Sarah’s spine as she thought of how far back Hunter and Morgan’s home sat from the road, but Nicolette’s words still stung. “Then I’ll leave them in my car and take them over in the morning.”
He snagged her arm as she turned toward the table. “Goddamn, Sarah. What’s gotten into you? You’ve had more mood swings in the last twenty-four hours than...ever.”
“I don’t know, okay? But I want you to leave me alone. I—”
“Ethan, darling.” Nicolette stood in the doorway. “This is taking entirely too long. Are you ready?”
“No,” he said with heat.
Nicolette’s full lip turned in a pout. “Fine. I will just go.”
Ethan scrubbed his hands over his face as Nicolette stalked off. “Son of a bitch. Sarah, don’t you dare leave. Nicky,” he called as he went after his supermodel.
Incredibly confused and on the verge of tears, Sarah picked up the packages and took them to her vehicle. She came back with her third round, watched Ethan kiss Nicolette before opening a cab door for her. Surprised by the hurt, Sarah turned, more determined than ever to have the damn gifts situated by the time Ethan came back.