Page 73 of The Sweet Part
Mackenzie hugs May. “Congratulations. Again, so sorry for that one time.”
“Already forgiven and forgotten,” May says.
Harper hugs May. Then both cousins kiss my cheek and congratulate me.
“Mackenzie, Harper, this is Cal Davis, the new lawyer in town,” Aunt Hailey says. “He used to be a minor league ball player.”
Mackenzie looks Cal up and down with a sparkle in her eye. She likes what she sees. Harper notices and whispers something to Mackenzie, who promptly looks away.
“What position did you play?” I ask Cal.
“Catcher. Too hard on my knees. They got screwed up. Then I went to law school, got some experience in the city, and now I’m ready to run my own practice. I like small towns. I’m from a small town in Minnesota.”
Aunt Hailey wags her finger at Mackenzie and Harper. “But don’t get any ideas about the new single guy in town. He’s a player. Definitely not the marrying type.”
Harper holds her palms up and takes a step back. Mackenzie leans in.
“More of a baseball player,” Cal mumbles, embarrassed.
“His live-in girlfriend broke up with him for not wanting to commit to marriage,” Aunt Hailey adds helpfully. “Well, enjoy yourselves! Come on, Cal. I’ll introduce you to more people.”
“I can do it, Mom,” Mackenzie says with an innocent look.
Aunt Hailey smiles tightly. “I promised to help him get acclimated to his new hometown. We’re good. Right, Cal?”
Mackenzie digs her heels in. “I’ll get him acquainted with the under-forty crowd since he’s clearly under forty.”
Cal looks from Mackenzie to Aunt Hailey, unsure what to do.
The music changes to a slow song.
Aunt Hailey sighs dramatically. “Okay, but whatever you do, don’t slow dance with him. The last thing I need is my daughter getting drawn in by another player. No offense, Cal.”
Cal keeps his mouth shut, nodding once. Guess he doesn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with such an influential person in town.
Mackenzie tilts her head at Cal, and he follows her. She stops on the dance floor and wraps her arms around his neck.
Aunt Hailey whirls, facing us with a look of glee. “He’s not a player at all. I haven’t lost my touch.” She turns to Harper. “Now what about you and that nice Nathan?”
“Nice?” Harper echoes, nearly choking on the word.
“Yes,” Aunt Hailey says. “Let’s get him over here.”
Harper points across the room. “Uncle Josh wants to slow dance with you.”
Aunt Hailey smooths her hair. “That’s the only kind of dance he does. I’d better go. It is Valentine’s Day, after all.”
She hurries across the room to a surprised-looking Josh. He goes with it, leading her onto the dance floor.
I want a dance with my fiancée. I look over at May scanning the room for Sophie, who’s talking excitedly to my cousin Viv. Viv and Sophie tore up the dance floor at Shayla and Owen’s wedding. I point Sophie out to May, and she relaxes, wrapping an arm around me and leaning into my side. I tip her chin up and kiss her. We met at just the right time for us. When May was ready to open her heart again, and I was ready to be a husband and father. I didn’t think I’d get there so soon, but May and Sophie make it feel right.
“Dance?” I ask.
She nods with a big smile. I take her hand, leading her on to the dance floor, and draw her close, starting a slow sway. She feels so good in my arms, smells so good, too. Desire stirs.
Other couples start to dance around us. Viv and Sophie appear next to us. Viv twirls Sophie left and right.
“Can Viv babysit me tonight?” Sophie asks.
