Page 23 of Save the Dance

“What do you think of her so far?” Mildred’s face wrinkled as if she was dealing with a thorny problem. “Is she here with our best interests at heart?”

Jason stopped to think about that for a moment. If there was one thing he was certain of, it was that Tara Stewart was a little bit in love with Heart’s Landing. Besides, according to what she’d said this morning, she was up for a big promotion at Weddings Today and needed to do an excellent job with this assignment. That could only work in their favor. It followed that he needed to do everything in his power to help her achieve her goal.

“Yes,” he said, putting all his assurance into it. “I think she’s on our side.”

Tara inhaled the fragrance of the hyacinths she’d discovered in her room when she’d returned to the Captain’s Cottage. The familiar smell eased some of the tension that had sunk its claws into her shoulders after she and Jason had toured Heart’s Landing this morning. One thing was sure, she had her work cut out for her. She hadn’t spotted any evidence to support Regina’s claim that the town had grown complacent. The three shops she’d visited couldn’t have been more perfect. She supposed someone could complain about the three-month waiting list at The Memory Box, but wasn’t that actually a good sign that their stock was in high demand?

Her time in the library hadn’t been any more fruitful. She’d spent hours poring through the ship’s logs without finding a thing that might tarnish Thaddeus’s reputation, much less disprove his love for Mary. In nearly every entry, the captain had described his progress on the stone heart he’d planned to give her at the end of his journey. Only a man in love with his wife would do that.

Standing at the window overlooking the Cottage’s gardens, she bit her lower lip. She’d read enough about tall ships to know that a real captain’s quarters looked nothing like those on TV and in the movies. In all likelihood, Thaddeus had bent over a work table in a cramped, dimly lit cabin. The air would thicken as his dark hair worked loose from its leather binding to frame his face. With the floor constantly shifting beneath him, he’d tap the chisel with the mallet, again and again, until at last he was satisfied. Only then would he take a long pull from the tankard that waited at the end of his desk.

She must have pictured that scene in her mind a dozen times while she studied the logs this afternoon. But whenever the good captain looked up from his task, she saw Jason’s face in the flickering light from an oil lamp.

What was that all about?

She sank onto the edge of her bed. She wasn’t attracted to Jason. She couldn’t be. Okay, she’d admit he checked all the boxes for tall, dark, and handsome. He was well educated and an excellent tour guide. But she had a job to do while she was in Heart’s Landing, and falling for the owner of the Captain’s Cottage was definitely not on her agenda.

She shook her head, determined to dislodge the idea before it could take root. There was nothing going on between her and Jason. The attention he’d paid her, the interest he’d taken in her—that was all simply part of being a good host. As for the shiver of emotion she felt in her chest, well, she was smack dab in the middle of a town devoted to love and happy-ever-afters. It should come as no surprise that being here stirred thoughts of finding her own Mr. Right. She refused to make anything more out of it than that. Especially when doing so might jeopardize the very thing she’d come to Heart’s Landing to accomplish.

The soft murmur of people gathering on the floor below reminded her that it was time for the cocktail party. Maybe she’d stumble across some hint of trouble there. She crossed her fingers. Her first twenty-four hours in Heart’s Landing had flown by. The rest of her visit would pass just as quickly. With so much to accomplish and so little time to do it, she’d have to keep her eyes and ears open.

Grateful that the superb housekeeping staff had steamed and aired her clothes while she was out, she thumbed through the hangers. In honor of the flowers that had been delivered to her room, she chose a purple frock that always gave her an extra boost of self-confidence. A light dusting of powder and a quick swipe of her lipstick, and she was ready to go.

At the top of the stairs, she paused the moment she caught a glimpse of the Green Room through an open doorway. She hadn’t expected much of a turnout. Apparently, she’d been wrong about that. Musicians tuned their instruments on the small stage erected in one corner of the room. People in business attire stood five or six deep around tall tables that had been draped in white linens and topped with black accent pieces. The rest of the crowd moved about the room, stopping here to talk, there to exchange a greeting.

Butterflies swarmed through her chest. The fluttering wings sent a rush of nervous energy through her. Even though it had only been a game, she’d meant it this morning at I Do Cakes when she’d said she wanted a small wedding. She’d never been good with crowds or public speaking. At least, she hadn’t been since the fourth grade, when she’d forgotten her lines in the holiday play and had been so embarrassed she’d run from the stage. Now, though, it looked and sounded as if the entire population of Heart’s Landing had turned out for the party. And every person there would be looking at her.

It was a good thing no one knew the real reason she was here. If they did, she suspected the mood in the room below wouldn’t be nearly so festive. Her grip on the banister tightened. Prying her fingers loose, she pressed damp palms to her skirt. A thousand reasons why she should head downstairs floated through her thoughts, but she remained rooted to the spot. How was she supposed to face all those people, knowing what she knew and what they didn’t?

She didn’t know how long she might have stood there, unable to move, if she hadn’t spotted Jason at the edge of the crowd. An instant later, their eyes met. Almost as if he’d been waiting for her, he broke away from his group of friends. His footsteps sure and even, he strode to the newel post at the base of the stairs. With a flourish that brought a smile to her lips, he came to a halt and bowed deeply. When he straightened, his grin settled her nerves. She still wasn’t quite sure how she made it down the stairs, but a few seconds later, she stood on the bottom step, face-to-face with the man who might have been her Mr. Right if circumstances had thrown them together anywhere but in Heart’s Landing.

“You look especially lovely tonight,” he said, his voice deep.

“Thanks.” Jason’s appreciative glance made her doubly glad she’d chosen her favorite dress. “Thanks for the flowers, too. They’re perfect.”

“My pleasure. Shall we?” He tilted his head toward the room behind him.

“Do we have to?” She scanned the faces in the crowded room. “I have to confess, I prefer smaller groups.”

“You said something about that at the bakery this morning.” His smile deepened.

“You were paying attention.” At the time, she’d thought he’d seen her protest as part of the game, but he’d taken her words to heart. The realization ignited a warm glow in her chest.

“The first rule of being a groom—listen to your fiancée,” he quipped with a grin.

Recognizing the line as a take-off on Nick’s patter earlier that day, she let her smile widen a smidge. “Do you think anyone would notice if I just hung out right here for the rest of the evening?”

“What? And miss all the food and drinks? I have it on good authority that the sausage balls are not to be missed.”

“I could eat a bite or two. It’s been a while since that cake tasting this morning.” Beyond Jason, black-suited waiters offered trays of champagne and goodies to guests.

“Aw, they’re just friends and family who want to welcome you to Heart’s Landing. You’ll be fine.”

“I don’t know.” She shifted her weight from one foot to another while she fought the urge to bolt up the stairs to her room. “I don’t have to give a speech or anything, do I?” The thought turned her stomach positively mutinous.

“Nope. This is all fun and no business. No speeches, no toasts, no long-winded introductions.” He stopped himself. “Well, there’s always a toast, but you won’t have to give it. Come on.” He backed away a step. “You’ll enjoy this. I promise.”

Looking into his gray eyes, she trusted him enough to let go of her grip on the banister. And he was right. For the next hour, with Jason lending her his quiet strength, they worked their way from one end of the ballroom to the other. They were halfway across when a pleasant, middle-aged couple introduced themselves as the owners of the pretty bed-and-breakfast Chuck had pointed out on Union Street.

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