Page 83 of Stay this Christmas
“We’d probably better follow through on that.”
She slipped her hand in mine, and nothing had ever felt so right.
I led her onto the dance floor, taking her right hand in my left, my other hand at her back just below her arm. I moved us around the space in a slow two-step, mesmerized by the way the light played across her face and hair, making her look otherworldly.
“I thought you didn’t dance.”
“I don’t line dance,” I clarified. “Two-step is easy.”
To prove it, I encouraged her into a twirl before pulling her back into my arms. She laughed against my chest, her hand on my shoulder holding me tight.
“I’ve missed this.” She sounded as though the confession surprised her.
“I don’t remember us ever dancing.” Would say nothing of the jackass way I’d thwarted our prom back in high school.
“Then I guess I mean I’ve missed you.”
Her voice came out so soft, I couldn’t be completely sure I’d heard her right. My heart swelled anyway, her words soothing even as they thrilled.
“I’ve missed you, too, Harper. So much.”
“I wasn’t sure you ever thought about me when you were out there traveling the world.”
I pulled her closer, my two-step slowing to a back-and-forth sway.
“All the time, Harps. The first time I saw the Atlantic Ocean, I wished I’d had you with me. When I stood on top of Arthur’s Pass in New Zealand, I thought of you. Every time I looked out across the never-ending bright blue sky in Wyoming, you were on my mind.”
We moved together beneath the lights, the rest of the dancers forgotten.
“You were always with me, Harper.” Pouring all my sincerity into a few short words, my voice broke. “I never stopped thinking about you.”
She leaned closer until our breath mingled, her hand moving to the back of my neck, her gaze stuck on my mouth. Finally, she pressed her lips to mine in a kiss so gentle and sweet, something in my heart seemed to snap in place like I’d found what I’d been missing all these years.
Like I’d found my home.
Her soft, lingering kiss laid all my former fears to rest, confirming with every touch I was where I was meant to be. I still didn’t have everything sorted out, but this—this wasn’t in question.
“You two are sweet and all, but y’all have to clear the floor.”
We broke apart, turning to find one of the gray-haired women smiling up at us. In our enthusiasm, we’d missed the song change, and now stood surrounded by line dancers trying to keep time in spite of us blocking their path.
“I’m so sorry,” Harper said, pulling out of my arms. “We just got a little…”
“Oh, I know,” the woman said with an impish smile. “It’s easy to get carried away. Save some for the next slow dance, though.”
Harper nodded and offered another apology, but the woman had already started up her line dance routine, her friends circling around to join in.
We moved to a secluded spot along one wall, ignoring the knowing looks that followed us. Harper put her face in her hands, but I wrapped her in my arms anyway.
“After that, line dancing in front of them will be a piece of cake.”
She laughed, relaxing into my embrace. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”
“That’s what makes it so perfect. Not everything has to be planned out and written on a list somewhere.”
She glared, twisting her lips into a scowl. Too bad her mouth was so distracting, or I might have felt the weight of her silent reprimand.
“Okay, then,” she said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s not plan.”
