Page 50 of Hands off his Dudette

Piper was next, and after her speech, the two newlywed couples went for their first dance, bypassing the father of the bride’s turn, given the fact that Lucy’s father wasn’t alive.

“Dance with me.”

Anna rolled her eyes. “I have two left feet.”

“Who cares? It’s not a TV show. I’m asking you to dance with me because I want to hold you.”

She wouldn’t have hesitated if it had been a normal song, but the band had been asked to start with some classical stuff for the older guests. Arabella had probably bribed the band.

“I really can’t waltz. How about the next dance?”

Finn nodded. “All right. Fancy checking out the gardens? We’ve been sitting for a couple of hours.”

He seemed a little fidgety. “Sure.”

Stretching her legs couldn’t hurt.

He led her out the doors using the French windows behind the main table. Anna hugged herself, wishing she’d taken her shawl with her.

“Cold?”

Before she had time to reply, he wrapped his tux’s jacket around her shoulders.

“Thank you.”

“Did you get your coat to the dry cleaner yet?”

She winced. That kind of errand so easily went out of her mind. “Not yet. I will before it snows, I promise.”

Finn rolled his eyes. “No, you won’t.”

He was probably right.

“But that’s fine, because you got me a new one for Christmas,” she said, confidently, although they hadn’t opened their presents yet.

Finn glared. “Did you cheat?”

“Nope. You’re just that predictable.”

“Am I, now?” he asked. “What do you think I got you, then? Other than a coat.”

There had been five presents from him under their gold and red tree. Anna tilted her head.

“Something to do with Fantastic Beasts.”

He laughed. “All right. Two out of six. Go on.”

“Six? I only counted five.”

“The last one is small,” he replied.

She took a moment to think it through. “A new pen, a bookmark, books, and a new game.”

Finn grinned. “All right, you’re good. Very good. Five out of six.”

She frowned. “Which one did I get wrong?” He bought her a pen every year, because she always lost it. Books and games were a given. “The bookmark?”

“Yes. It’s a little smaller. Slightly more valuable too.”

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