Page 4 of The Girls of Pearl Harbor
‘Evening,’ Grace murmured back each time, feeling her cheeks heat up when one of them let out a low wolf whistle.
‘Can I get you ladies a drink?’ a flyboy asked, his uniform catching Grace’s eye.
‘Certainly,’ April answered for both of them. ‘So long as you have a handsome friend?’
‘You look after those girls!’ Teddy hollered from behind them.
Grace shot him a quick glare, not about to let Teddy get overprotective and tell them who they could and couldn’t drink or dance with. He’d chosen Poppy, and as far as she was concerned, that meant he didn’t get a say in what she did or didn’t do.
‘Who owns this house?’ Grace asked as they followed the pilot past groups of people, all standing along the walls to make way for dancing.
‘Some wealthy family who’ve told us to enjoy their holiday home!’ the flyboy said, passing them each a cup of something alcoholic from the smell of it. Grace took it and held up the paper cup to April’s. ‘Folks around here love us—they don’t seem to mind opening their houses up.’
‘To Pearl Harbor, then,’ Grace said.
‘To Pearl Harbor,’ April replied as the pilot clinked both of their cups too hard and made them spill right away. She jumped back, cup extended in front of her to avoid the splash.
‘Want to dance?’ he asked as another man in uniform appeared nearby.
‘Sure,’ Grace said as her sister was whisked away by the hand to dance too.
She gulped down her drink to quell her nerves and then set it down, before letting him lead her away from the wall and to the center of the enormous living room. It struck her that she didn’t even know his name, but the small band in the corner was playing so loudly now, and she didn’t want to lean in any closer to ask him.
Grace placed her hands on his shoulders as he touched her waist, his palms as warm as the balmy air brushing her shoulders. With so many bodies inside it was stifling, and she was already looking forward to finding some cooler air outside as sweat tickled her neck and forehead. She wasn’t used to such high temperatures in the fall.
‘You know, I think I fell in love with you the moment I set eyes on you back there,’ he said into her ear.
Grace tipped her head back and laughed, only to realize when she righted herself that the expression on his face was serious. ‘I don’t even know your name! You can’t be in love with me!’
‘Sam Chapman,’ he said. ‘Saying hello to you was ...’
‘Whoa, stop right there,’ she said as his hands moved lower and skimmed her bottom. ‘Waaay too low!’
He kept hold of her, smiling away as if he thought she liked having his paws all over her. Grace struggled and yanked at his wrists, trying to force his hands away.
‘Hey, back off, flyboy,’ a loud female voice commanded. ‘Now!’
He jumped back as if he’d been caught red handed by his own mother, looking back sheepishly at Grace. She didn’t take her eyes off him, her burning cheeks betraying her as she stared defiantly at him, not about to run away upset. How dare he!
‘Go,’ the young woman said, appearing from behind the officer. ‘And touch a lady like that again, and I’ll make sure you regret it.’
A warm palm found its way into Grace’s, but this one was welcome, and she held on tight to it. She found herself looking into dark-brown eyes that belonged to a woman easily half a foot taller than her, with a mane of red hair that fell most of the way down her back and over her shoulders.
‘You need to be firm with them,’ she said. ‘They’ve all been away from their mamas too long, and they’ve forgotten their manners.’
Grace laughed, grateful for the joke, and squeezed the hand she’d ended up holding.
‘Thank you. He was getting ...’
‘Frisky?’ The redhead laughed. ‘Because trust me, I could see that.’
‘Grace Bellamy,’ Grace said, shaking the hand already in hers.
‘Eva Branson,’ she said, letting go and touching Grace’s shoulder, leaning in as the music became even louder. ‘Want to find someone else to dance with?’
Grace shook her head, suddenly not as confident as she’d been earlier. She saw her sister being twirled around and smiled, happy that April was having fun, and then she saw Poppy, folded into Teddy’s arms like she was never going to let go of the man. Her heart skipped a beat, imagining what it would be like. Why did Teddy always have to be so perfect?
‘Maybe a drink and some fresh air?’ Grace suggested instead.
