Page 21 of A Crane Family New Year

“My brother’s an adult, but he’s younger than me, so I’ve taken on the role of big, bad protector.”

“That’s kind of you, but I’m guessing he can fight his own battles.”

“Yes. I’m still protective though.”

“Same. I try to be laid-back about it, but ‘laid-back’ isn’t really my style.” His dry delivery made her smile. “I’m sure your brother would gladly kick someone’s ass if they broke your heart.”

“I’ve had my fair share of bad dates but haven’t been close enough to anyone to have suffered a broken heart.”

“That’s very lucky.” He cocked his head. “And also unlucky.”

“To have loved and lost…” she started.

“Trite, but true.”

She could understand why he felt that way. “The last guy I dated was hung up on someone else.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t like him that much anyway,” she surprised herself by saying.

She’d gone to bed with him out of obligation more than attraction. They’d seen each other for most of the summer, she’d justified. At the beginning of this year, she’d wondered why she’d felt the need to justify it. Shouldn’t attraction be natural?

“I’ve dated enough disappointing men that I’m tempted to swear off dating forever.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” He scratched his cheek. “I think our date’s going well, don’t you?”

She felt her eyebrows lift. “Is this a date?”

“Well, so far you’ve swiped my champagne, sent me on a wild goose chase to find you, and have met a good chunk of my family. I’m woefully out of practice, but that sounds like a date to me.”

“Maybe in a romantic comedy.”

“I like romantic comedies.”

“I wondered.”

His eyes held a question, but he didn’t ask her to elaborate. After he took another drink of his wine, he set his glass on a neighboring table. “Would you like to dance, Chloe Andrews?”

“I’d love to.” She set aside her own wineglass and then slipped her hand into his offered palm. His fingers were warm and strong as they closed over hers.

Zander had vowed to kiss a woman at midnight tonight—any woman, so long as she wasn’t married or on a date with someone else. Now, with Chloe Andrews-slash-CurlyQSue’s hand in his, that tall order was suddenly within reach.

He was going to tell her that he knew her secret identity. He couldn’t continue lying by omission. It wasn’t right. On the other hand, she’d ghosted him once before. When she found out he was HopperFan02, would she reject him again?

He sure as hell hoped not.

In the adjoining room, three couples swayed on the dance floor, including Tag and a very pregnant Rachel. He was curled over his wife protectively, her round belly between them. They didn’t look in Zander’s direction, having eyes only for each other—at least for the moment.

Zander was happy for them. While he and Emily had discussed children when they were first married, her actually getting pregnant hadn’t been on their radar. They’d both been busy—and of course, had believed they’d had plenty of time.

“Bear with me,” he murmured against the shell of Chloe’s ear as he pulled in a breath. Her cinnamon scent tingled his nostrils and made him hungry for more of her. “I’m not much of a dancer.”

“You’re in good hands. She tipped her head to look up at him, her red lips parting into a confident smile. “I’ve been in a lot of weddings and have guided more than one hapless groomsman.”

Zander would just bet they were hapless. He would also bet that they’d been gobsmacked by Chloe, who had no idea how alluring she was. “Perfect. You can lead.”

She’d loosened up since she’d fled from him earlier tonight. To be fair, he was also more comfortable around her. She’d sneaked past his defenses before he’d realized there were any.

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