Page 41 of Secrets at Sunset

“You don’t stand a chance,” I told him. “She’s not your type.”

“Maybe so. But that girl can dance.”

Right then, Anna and Emma sidled over.

“Your ears were burning?” Jonah asked Emma.

“What were you saying?”

“That you could dance, and I expect one when we go to the Drunk Pelican tonight.”

“It’s Thursday, dipwit.” She flicked him in the ear.

“Ow!”

“No dancing tonight.” Then Emma’s eyes lit up excitedly as she rubbed her hands together. “It’s trivia night, and I’m kickass at trivia.”

“I thought it was margarita night,” I aimed at Jonah.

“It is,” offered Emma. “They like to get us good and sauced before trivia. It makes the competition a little rowdy and boisterous. Trivia night can be brutal.”

“Boisterous,” repeated Jonah, pulling out his phone. “I like that word.”

“You’re collecting words?” asked Anna, grinning as she wrapped an arm around my waist.

I pulled her tighter against me.

“Yeah. When I hear a word I like, I add it to my phone notes so I can use it later in my manuscript.”

“You’re manuscript?” I chuckled. “My, aren’t we getting with the author lingo.”

“Fuck off, Reed. You’ll be laughing it up when my book is a total hit.”

“You mean bestseller,” added Hale. “They’re called bestsellers. Songs are called hits.”

“Shut up, asshats. Anna, wrap this shindig up so we can go.”

I pulled her to face me and cupped her cheeks. “Happy?”

“Utterly blissful.”

“Blissful. Hmm. Might want to give that one to Jonah for his manuscript.”

She laughed and tipped up onto her toes. I met her halfway and kissed her mouth sweetly then stepped back, squeezing her waist.

“My students told me they’ve got even more friends who want to sign up for classes after seeing the routine.”

“The ones from summer camp that Emma posted to your social media pages?”

“Yep. Emma is a lifesaver with promotion.” Her brow lifted with excitement. “I think this is really going to work.”

“I know it is, baby.” I pressed another kiss to her forehead. “Everything is going to be amazing because you’re amazing.”

She took my hand and shook her head, cheeks turning pink. She walked me toward her parents to say goodbye. “You’re going to spoil me, Reed. I’ll expect you to say things like that the rest of my life.”

The rest of her life? My heart hammered faster. Yes, indeed, we were on the same page.

I laced our fingers and gave her hand a squeeze, tugging her closer as we walked. “I’ll be telling you how amazing you are when we’re old and gray and rocking in our chairs on the porch.”

“Promise?” She shot me that shy look she often gave me when she wasn’t as confident as she seemed.

“Cross my heart, Anna. Always.”

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