Page 79 of Halstead House

“Who do you have your eye on tonight?” I asked her.

She pulled a face. “No one here who’s worth my time.”

“You and I could dance, though.”

“Are you asking me to waltz, Grace? Because I like you, but I’m not slow dancing with you.”

I chuckled. “No. But just so you know, I’d have let you lead.”

Ana rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure.”

“I meant when a line dance starts, or a fast song, or whatever.”

“I am so darn proud of you lately. You don’t even know what the dances are, but you’re ready to get out there and do them.” She pretended to wipe a tear from under her eye, and I swatted at her arm.

“You’re an idiot.”

“True. Still, it’s validating to see that I’m such a skilled therapist. Maybe Marshall will let me work with him next. He’s got a few quirks to hammer out.”

“Something tells me that if he can get Olivia to see him as a love interest, she’ll take care of it.”

We both looked over to where Marshall was sitting, chatting animatedly with the pretty woman I remembered from the boat. She was watching him and laughing, adding to the conversation and definitely engaged, but I couldn’t tell for sure if she was still seeing him as just a friend.

“How do you know when someone is interested in you?” I asked quietly.

“He likes you,” Ana stated.

My head whipped back toward her. “What?”

“Mr. Lucas Halstead. He likes you.”

“I... I wasn’t... I meant that as a general question,” I stammered as my face warmed under her steady look.

“No, you didn’t. You’re wondering if Lucas is interested in you or not. He is.” She popped a fried mushroom in her mouth and chewed calmly, as though she hadn’t just made everything terribly uncomfortable for me.

“Ana, I...”

“He’s kissed you, hasn’t he?”

My face felt so hot that I covered it with my nerve-chilled hands and bent forward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No lies to your best friend, Grace. I know things. Look, I’m sure you’re wondering about him. Time will prove me right. You need to try to relax about it and let things come together in a natural way.”

“Relax? That’s your advice to me?” I dropped my hands and looked back to her.

She nodded and popped in another mushroom. Without waiting to swallow, she spoke around it. “Yep. I know that patience isn’t your best trait, but you’re going to need to chill. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to happen.”

“I go home soon,” I reminded her breathlessly.

“Mmm. Maybe.” She swallowed and took a sip of her drink.

“What do you mean ‘maybe’?”

“Just what I said. Maybe.” Another big gulp of her drink and she stood up. “A line dance is starting. You in?”

My mouth opened and closed a few times, my mind unable to track anything that had just happened. She grabbed my hand and tugged. I stood and followed her on shaking legs out to the floor, my mind still whirling.

“Grace.” She said my name in a firm tone that snapped me back to attention. I looked over to where she was standing next to me. “Tonight is about blowing off some steam and having some fun. Leave it all at the door.” I nodded. “Good. Let’s shake it.”

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