Page 87 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

I glanced at my mother, who was grimacing as she moved some of my clothes out of the way.

I clicked PURCHASE.

∞∞∞

I let guilt eat me up for much of the quiet plane ride. Despite the obvious drawbacks (literally, the danger) of staying here with my family and hence flying out in a storm a few days later—or worse yet, stuck here because flights were cancelled—the news that I was leaving early hadn’t gone over well. My spirits sank after seeing the sadness on my dad’s face and the agitation in my mom’s tone when I’d held firm and asked for a ride to the airport.

But now, walking into the baggage claim area after the uneventful flight, I felt a strange sense of calm and anticipation. I’d made it through a difficult, albeit short holiday visit with my family, and I was coming home to the place I loved and the people I loved. Maybe someday, they’d even love me back. I actually had a few friends in Shipsvold now. Maybe even something more …

No, there wasn’t anything more. It didn’t bear thinking about. Did it?

Undeniably, things felt different between Jeff and me lately. His sharp edges had softened, and he was a lot more complex and interesting and evenkindthan I would’ve guessed. And he gazed at me almost as if …

As if he wanted more.

I had to be hallucinating. Or wishfulthinking, because I couldn’t deny he was attractive. And interesting. My heart beat faster when he was near, and not just from irritation anymore. I didn’t hate working with him now, and I even felt a little dismayed that our close collaboration was at an end.

But then there was Danny. It definitely felt likesomethingcould develop once we met. Why else would he want to meet up? And why else would I have saidyes?

Surely I couldn’t have feelings forbothmen, could I? I was not that kind of woman.

It didn’t matter anyway because both Jeff and Danny probably saw me only as a friend. That awkward friend they occasionally found funny or smart.

After pondering the situation throughout the entire flight, I’d then rambled on about it to Julia over the phone for the past half hour, ever since we were allowed to turn our phones back on after landing.

“Rox, I know this is hard for you because it’s, like, yourlife, but I am loving this diversion. I want to live vicariously through you!”

I laughed. “Diversion?”

“It’s just nice to get my mind off everything.”

“Uh-oh. Is it the neighbor again?”

“He is a pain in the butt, Rox. I can’t even—no, I’m not going to waste this phone call talking about him. So not worth it.”

“Aww, that’s not fair. I just blabbered on about my stuff for ages—”

I stopped short, drawing in a quick breath.

There he was, on the other side of the baggage carousel. Looking tired and annoyed but still just as effortlessly handsome as always, Jeff was scanning the area, his eyes slowing when they reached the crowd I was standing in. I averted my eyes quickly, but the damage was probably done.

“I think he spotted me!”

“Who?” Julia asked.

“Him!”

“Which him?”

“Jeff,” I mumbled, hoping he couldn’t read lips. “Oh crap, he’s walking straight toward me. Julia, I’ve got to go. So sorry—”

“Go on and talk to him. And text me later, or else!”

I ended the call and stuffed my phone in my purse.

“Hello,” he said, stopping in front of me with uncertainty on his face.

“Hi,” I said, shifting from one foot to the other and back again. “What are you doing here?”

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