by Marnee Blake
Again, Hunter met Will’s eyes, and his brother grinned, touching his brow in a salute, giving his blessing and assuring him there weren’t any hard feelings.
Maybe things would be okay between them, eventually. But if Hunter had learned anything this year, it was that he needed to take one day at a time.
Swallowing down the emotion, he kissed his mother on the cheek and joined Meg and Lance on the minuscule dance floor.
“Take it easy on my girl’s feet,” Lance said as he shook his hand. “I’ve seen you dance before.” He smacked Hunter’s shoulder good-naturedly, saying all the unsaid things that passed between men in moments like this.
Affection, admiration, some weird humble gratitude for friendship given and received.
He returned the pat. “Whatever, dick. I could have danced better than you when I was wearing a cast.” He snorted, and Lance chuckled, his hand at the small of Meg’s back.
“Seriously. You guys are trash-talking on the dance floor at our wedding?” Meg rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a smooth twist of some kind. The style was classic, as was her gown, a no-frills, elegant thing that fell to the floor. But there wasn’t anything plain about Meg, with her eyes shining with happiness.
The friends looked at each other and shrugged. “Yes,” they said at the same time, and all of them laughed.
Hunter offered his sister his hand. “Come on, Meggy.”
As he twirled her out into the middle of the now-empty floor and Lance joined Dak and Rock, Hunter reeled her close, leading her into a waltz.
“Let’s show them how this is done,” he said, and she grinned. Their father had taught all of them how to dance, pushing the coffee table to the wall in their living room and taking turns with all of them. Some of his earliest memories were of his tall, athletic father twirling his mother around the room. The sound of his mom’s laughter still echoed in his mind.
As he and Meg stepped into the old, familiar movements, they didn’t say anything, but it was as if they used this time to honor their father, in a moment that should have been his. But there was no sadness between the siblings as they laughed and spun—only joy.
* * * *
“Wow, I had no idea they could dance like that.” Heidi sat next to Charlie, watching as Meg and Hunter cut it up on the dance floor. As Hunter dipped Meg and pulled her up into a graceful spin, Charlie shook her head, grinning.
“Me either. But I don’t think there’s anything the Buchanans can’t do if they put their minds to it.”
“True enough.” Heidi spun her still-full glass of champagne in her hand before placing it on the table behind them.
“Don’t like champagne?”
“Love champagne, actually. But…” Heidi paused, glancing around before leaning closer. “Well, I shouldn’t drink in my condition.” Her lips tilted into a grin.
“Oh my God, you’re pregnant?” Charlie hissed, scooting closer in her seat.
Heidi pressed a finger to her lips. “Hush. It’s a secret. We didn’t want to tell everyone until after the wedding. But we have been working with a high-risk specialist in Portland, and he doesn’t think there’s any reason I shouldn’t be able to carry to term.” Charlie remembered that Heidi had lost a child, when she was younger. It must have been worrying her, that her past experience might make it hard for her to have children.
Charlie squeezed her hand, smiling. “I’m so glad to hear that, Heidi. I’m so happy for you.”
Her eyes found Hunter as he and Meg finished their dance. For not the first time, she wondered what it would be like to carry his child. She’d always wanted to be a mother, to have a family of her own, but she’d never allowed herself to attach that dream to anyone else before.
Now, though, she did.
Folding her friend into a hug, she squealed. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Charlie.”
“What’s going on here?” Dak arrived, handing Heidi a glass. “It’s ginger ale.” Maybe Charlie imagined it, but he seemed to scan his girlfriend as if taking inventory.
Heidi leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially. “A little bit of nausea.”
Charlie jumped up, hugging Dak who, as usual, seemed uncomfortable by the show of affection but touched all the same. “Congratulations, Dad.”
“You told her, then?” Dak said, lifting his eyebrows at Heidi.
She shrugged, sipping.
Dak rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide his excitement. “Now, to get her into a dress like that.” He nudged his head toward Meg, who’d found her way back into her husband’s arms.
“Wait, what?” Charlie’s head was spinning.
Heidi shook her head, waving him off. “I told you. After I’m not afraid I’ll spend the day throwing up, we’ll talk, pal. And you know you won’t catch me dead in a white dress like that.” She set her soda down. “The courthouse, small. Just our favorite people.”
“You rang?” Hunter stepped beside Charlie, tucking her against him. “You said you’re looking for your favorite people? I know you mean me, Heidi.”
“To go to Heidi and Dak’s wedding.” Charlie gazed up at him, unable to contain her grin. “They’re only inviting their favorites.”
“And apparently that includes you, Buchanan.” Dak grinned, offering his hand. “When I can finally get her to schedule it.”
“That’s amazing.” Hunter’s face lit up. “Congratulations, you two.”
“Right now, I need a walk outside.” Heidi had paled, and the smile swept from Dak’s face. Faster than Charlie had ever seen someone move, he’d reached down, cupping her elbow in his hand, and hurried her toward the sliding glass door. Dak rubbed her back the entire time.
“What was that?” Hunter asked, circling her in his arms, confusion on his face.
“I think it’s what forever looks like,” she said, lifting on tiptoes to kiss him.
He shook his head. “I disagree. I’m looking at that right here.” Dropping his head, he kissed her, and the music faded as they held each other. “Always.”
As they kissed again, she knew she’d found what she’d always wanted…a home here, with him.
Don’t miss the rest of this hot series!
TEMPT THE FLAMES
and
CRAVE THE HEAT
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Meet the Author
Award winning author and RITA® finalist Marnee Blake used to teach high school students but these days she only has to wrangle her own children. Originally from a small town in Western Pennsylvania, she now battles traffic in southern New Jersey where she lives with her hero husband and their happilyeverafter: two very energetic boys. When she isn’t writing, she can be found refereeing disputes between her children, cooking up something sweet, or hiding from encroaching dust bunnies with a book.
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