Page 54 of One-of-a-Kind Bride

“I’m sure we will,” Taylor said.

After she walked away, Taylor asked, “A friend of yours?”

“She is, I suppose. I’ve done some work on this place. Helped her out of a jam when her contractor messed up on a renovation.”

The waiter came by with their wine, opening the bottle and pouring it for them. Then he took their order.

Afterward, Coop held his goblet up. “To friends,” he said.

Taylor clinked her glass to his. “To friends.”

They looked over their glasses and sipped wine together. “Mmm, it’s delicious.”

Coop kept his eyes trained on hers. “It is.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Was he flirting with her? After all their talks, he was sending mixed signals and driving her crazy. Didn’t he just say in his last breath he wanted to be herfriend?

During dinner, Taylor managed to steer the conversation to Julie’s she-shed. Coop explained about the two rooms inside, with an open air feeling so that she didn’t feel closed in. One room, separated only by a wall partition, would be her library where she could sit and read comfortably, the other one would be a craft room. It was going smoothly, which Taylor could tell. She complimented his work and they moved on to Cassie and how she was doing at Honeysuckle Elementary.

“It was a hard transition for her, leaving her school friends, coming to a new town, only to start first grade here in Last Stand. I remember feeling helpless and having to give her freedom to be sad and lonely. It was the hardest thing, seeing Cassie hurt and not being able to make it right for her. Luckily, my dad was the voice of reason. He helped both of us adjust.”

“I’m sorry you two had to go through that.” Her heart ached for them.

“You know what? Tonight’s not about the past. Let’s not dredge it up.” He rose from the table and offered her his hand. “Dance with me?”

Baffled by his offer, she glanced around. She’d been so deep in conversation with him, she hadn’t noticed other couples were up and dancing to an upbeat tune. She took his hand and rose, taking his lead, ready for a quick dance on the garden lit floor. And just as she faced him, the song ended and another slower ballad took its place. They stared at each other for a second, then Coop shrugged and drew her up close. She placed her hands on his broad shoulders and he took her waist.

They moved slowly, in step with each other, swaying to the music, getting lost in it. There was no awkwardness or reluctance, just a natural fit. For her, it was the prom she’d never gone to with him, the spring flings and parties they’d never attended together. Coop’s hand moved up her back, drawing her closer, and she flowed into him willingly, relishing the moment, remembering the past and enjoying the present.

She breathed in fresh soap and lime aftershave and her senses came alive. Tingled.

“You smell like strawberries and cream,” he said softly in her ear.

She chuckled and admitted, “I was just going to say I like your aftershave.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“So will I,” she murmured.

He stopped dancing and studied her, his eyes soft and gleaming, and her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t look away from his striking gaze. She couldn’t deny something was happening between them that was more than friendship. Then he drew her up close again and they fell back in step with the music.

“You’re a good dancer,” she whispered.

“It’s easy with you in my…with you. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

They’d been apart for twelve years, but it didn’t feel like that now. It felt like they were right back where they’d started from. And it was exciting and comfortable, which was hard to figure. She was feeling all sorts of emotions. Mostly good ones.

The sun clung to the last vestiges of light, creating a golden blast on the horizon, the music surrounding them soulful and romantic, and instinctively they moved closer to each other. She laid her head on his shoulder, breathed in his scent, and her eyes slowly closed.

He cupped the nape of her neck and whispered, “Taylor.”

When she lifted her head to gaze at him, his mouth came down on hers, softly, gently, and she closed her eyes, absorbing every wonderful sensation she was feeling. It was a beautiful kiss, a lovely meeting of the lips. Right there on the dance floor, Taylor realized how much Ryan Cooper meant to her.

The music ended and he released her, but the bond was still there, in the smile on his face, the gleam in his eyes. She wanted to say something. Ask him if that kiss meant anything to him. Ask him if he felt the same way about her as she felt about him. But the words wouldn’t come, her throat dry with fear. Was she insane to hope? To attach any credence to what had just happened between them. Or was it simply a kiss?

Turmoil entered Coop’s eyes, a mixture of pain and confusion. As if he hadn’t planned on kissing her. As if he just now realized what he’d done. He took her hand and led her back to the table. They both took their seats.

---