Page 146 of Jack

“C’mon, guys. This is for Boo.” Jack turned to Harper. “Can you dance in socks?”

“Watch me.”

He took her hands, gestured with his head, and the guys followed him over to the side of the dance floor. Then he leaned down, put his voice to her ear. “Trust me.”

Oaken had taken his position, to the cheers of the crowd, Boo on the other side of the room. The music started, and Harper watched as Boo swung her cute little pink dress.

Who was this woman? Boo had found a peace inside herself, or maybe outside herself, that radiated through her body, her smile.

And when she looked at Oaken, the entire room lit up.

The deep tenor stepped up to the mic. “Now I’ve had the time of my life . . .”

Oaken turned to Boo, beckoning her just like Swayze, and she smiled, swung her dress, shrugged.

Laughed as he walked over and took her into his arms.

The crowd hooted.

Then he moved her in front of him, put her arm up, trailed his down her side, then grabbed her hand, and suddenly, the room exploded in wild cheering, as they started to dance. Crisp and sharp, every step nailed—the twirls, the shimmies, the turns, even the side lift.

“Wow,” Austen said, laughing, covering over her mouth.

Oaken kissed Boo’s hand, turned, and started dancing toward the wedding party.

Oh, Harper didn’t remember the moves.What?—

“Just follow me.”

She looked up at Jack.

He smiled, mischief in his eyes, then stepped in front of her. He glanced at Conrad, then Stein and Doyle.

They shrugged.

Oaken had danced over, turned, and then?—

What?Jack stepped out behind him, with the music. Step, step, step, step, to the side, back. Repeat. Julian’s instructions in her head, Jack and his brothers working it out.

She couldn’t move, watching them nail the steps.

Austen, behind her, also stilled.

London stepped back, giving Shep room, and Penelope sat at the table, laughing, an ice pack on her nose.

Step, step, step, kick, ball change. Glance over the shoulder. Jack winked, turned back.

The music swelled, and even Boo had her hands over her mouth, her dress swishing to the music.

Apparently, the Kingston boys—and rest of the groomsmen—could dance.

When they’d had time to learn the moves, Harper couldn’t guess, but Jack led them out, right, left, two little hip rolls, and then more steps, more hip rolls, a twirl, and Julian’s words simply flew right out of her head.

Instead, she watched Jack become everything she’d imagined. Laughing, leading his brothers, joining in with the family that needed him.

He and Stein walked over to Boo, pulled her toward Oaken, and Boo launched herself into Oaken’s outstretched arms.

Bam.

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