Page 51 of Gossip Game

“Mmm,” he replied, keeping his focus aimed at the women in his life who were dancing with one another in the middle of the VFW hall. Maisy spun around the dance floor like a whirling dervish. Ainsley chortled as she swayed side to side with her feet balanced on Noah’s mom’s shoes, while Alex and Charlotte tried to teach Meemaw the latest line dance.

Charlotte didn’t need a ball gown to look like a princess. Even dressed in a simple black jersey dress, she enchanted everyone around her. Meemaw guffawed when Charlotte twirled her around. How had he ever doubted she would fit in?

“She acts very down-to-earth.” His father nodded in Charlotte’s direction. “Not that I’ve gotten to exchange more than two words with her. You two must have made a day of it, exploring the area.”

Noah tucked his chin so his dad wouldn’t see the telltale blush warming his cheeks. They had made a day of it. Exploring each other, as well as the surrounding mountains and waterfalls. He’d had the best intentions when they started out this morning. It was Charlotte’s fault for disarming his plans when she’d teased him about taking her to all the area make-out spots. It would have been a shame to disappoint her.

His father patted him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’ve found something besides football to focus on. I don’t remember ever seeing you looking this happy.”

“You sound like Meemaw.” His grandmother had been smugly basking in the fruits of her manipulation all weekend.

His father chuckled. “Today I’ll take that as a compliment. And while you stand here admiring the view, I’m going to take this young lady of yours for a spin around the dance floor.”

“I was just about to do that,” Noah grumbled.

“You snooze, you lose,” his dad called over his shoulder while making a beeline for Charlotte. “It’s your grandmother’s birthday. Dance with her.”

His father’s words had Meemaw arching an eyebrow expectantly at Noah. Charlotte’s blue eyes sparkled with delight when his father began circling her around the dance floor to the tune of a Bobby Darin ballad. With no graceful way of getting out of it, Noah held out his hands to his grandmother.

“I’ll take my thank you sooner rather than later,” she said once they began dancing. “I’m not getting any younger, you know.”

“Gloat much.”

She had the nerve to laugh. “Admit it. I was right. You followed my advice and brought Charlotte. She showed her true colors, just like I said she would.”

The woman in question was chatting animatedly with his father, as though the two were long-lost friends. Noah couldn’t keep the smile from his lips. She had shown her true colors. He’d guessed she was nothing like the spoiled woman the headlines made her out to be. And he was glad his family got to see the low-maintenance, unassuming side of her, too.

“The girls from the garden club were all clutching their pearls when Charlotte began clearing the empty paper plates and cups into the trash.” Meemaw donned a proud smile, as if Charlotte had just won an Olympic gold medal or something. “She’s good people. And she’s good for you.”

“Mmm.”

Meemaw smacked him on the shoulder. “Don’t you dare spoil it by doubting yourself. You’re good for her, too. She needs someone like you to center her. That poor girl has been chasing after normalcy all her life. You can give her that.”

“Wow, Meemaw, is that your way of saying I’m boring?”

His grandmother glared at him. “More like impossible. You are going to mess this up, aren’t you?”

He pulled her in for a hug just as the song ended. “I won’t mess it up, Meemaw. I promise. Happy birthday.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I told you to dance with her. Not make her cry,” his father said when he and Charlotte made their way over to them.

“Oh hush, you.” Meemaw dabbed at her eyes. “These are happy tears. Now, are you going to dance with your mother tonight, or what?”

Noah’s dad shot him a long-suffering look before steering his mother in the other direction. “At Last,” by Etta James wafted from the speakers. Charlotte smiled as she stepped into Noah’s arms.

“Appropriate,” she murmured, snaking her arms over his shoulders.

“Mmm.” He leaned his forehead against hers and they began to sway in place to the music. “Have I thanked you yet for coming with me this weekend?”

“Let’s see. I recall several times when you thanked me last night. And again, today at the falls, followed by a spectacular reenactment in the shower once we got home.” She inched her hips closer. “But if you’re still feeling grateful, I’ll let you thank me again tonight.”

He let out a tortured groan before burying his face against her neck.

Charlotte had the nerve to laugh at his discomfort. He was just about to drag her into the utility room at the back of the hall where he could thank her properly, when two hands wrapped themselves tightly around his legs.

“Uncle Noah. Mommy says you’re not doing it right.”

Maisy smiled up at him with the certainty of a four-year-old who would likely rule the world one day given the genes flowing through her veins. His sister shot him a saucy grin from across the dance floor. Chris shrugged his shoulders, already whipped by the women in his household. Not to be denied, Ainsley toddled over, punch drunk with exhaustion. Waving her arms up to Charlotte, she unleashed a pitiful wail.

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