Page 67 of A Rancher's Vow
“I assume we’ll hear some teasing tonight,” Charity warned.
“As long as it doesn’t involve stud talk, anything that links us together is a good thing.” He squeezed her fingers. “When you want to call it a night, though, let me know.”
“Okay.” Her lips curled upward. “I owe Shim a dance. And I know Fern will grill you for information. She’s attempting to track down your doxxer.”
“Won’t that be fun?”
Charity snorted.
“On my side, in terms of updates, Luke gave me a heads-up that he and Kelli plan to be there tonight. Offering a bit of family comradery.” His turn to grin. “In other words, since Ginny is out of commission until after the baby arrives, us going to the pub was a great chance for Kelli to hold Luke’s feet to the fire and get him to take her out.”
Getting to be with members of the Stone family in small amounts was easier than the entire group of them. She felt frozen in place when there were more than two gathered. “I like Kelli.”
“Me too. Plus, I always enjoy the chance to hang with my brothers outside of a work setting. I helped Tucker move his and Ginny’s stuff to the new house today.”
“The place is ready?”
“Mostly. The main floor is completely done, including the baby’s room. Means they won’t have to move after the kid arrives.”
They were headed up the boardwalk now. A casual acquaintance from the community grinned at them as the man pulled the door open and gestured them forward. “If it isn’t our own homegrown celebrity. How’s it feel to be famous?”
“Famous or infamous?” Dustin asked with a wink, tucking Charity closer as he guided her in the entrance.
The place was hopping, but with enough room to move so that it didn’t feel like a trap. He waved across the dance floor at Luke and Kelli, who were already twirling to a fast two-step.
“No use trying to find a seat if we’re just going to give it up.” Charity swirled into Dustin’s arms, ending in the perfect position like magic.
He spun her onto the floor. “You move well.”
She laughed. “You say that as if you’re surprised.”
He blinked.Shit. “Well, hell, that came out wrong. Of course you move well—ballet and the rest of it. And we’ve danced before.”
“Vertically and horizontally.” Her naughty wink sent a shot of fire through him.
“Tee,” he scolded. She laughed as he whirled her then dipped her backward.
They did move together well. Both Luke and Tucker had previously shared with Dustin that they liked dancing because it was a great way to spend time alone with their wives even in the middle of a gathering.
The upbeat song ended and switched to a romantic ballad. Dustin tucked Charity in tight and enjoyed the sensation of her pressed against him. “My brothers are geniuses.”
“What’s that?” Charity traced her fingers over the back of his neck. Her body swayed against his, and all sorts of naughty plans for later came to mind.
“Remembering some advice they gave me that I appreciate more and more the older I get.”
“Nice to have family moments like that. My grandmother told me once to never date a man who drove a fancy truck and didn’t offer to wash the dishes.”
Dustin frowned at the change of topic. “Good thing I don’t have a fancy truck.”
She shook her head. “It's thecombination. If he has a fancy truck but doesn’t volunteer to help around the house, she figured he’d be the kind of man more focused on what made him look good than sharing the chores involved in living a life.”
Oh, now he got it. “Your grandma sounds awesome.”
Charity pressed her cheek to his and sighed contentedly as he guided her around the floor.
She felt so right in his arms. He couldn’t wait to take her home, but he was also really liking this time together in public. A chance to show her off—
Yeah, it was to make sure the girlfriend ploy caught on, but Dustin knew it was for more. That made it more…and a moment to truly appreciate.
