Page 53 of Loving Decker

“Okay. Let’s grab a table.”

They hurried to the last remaining one. It was that kind of place. And then put their jackets down to claim it.

Deck waved to Caleb. “Hey, man. Can you get us drinks and queso? We’re heading out to the floor.”

“Sure thing, Deck.” Caleb high-fived them and took their drink order.

The music started up again, and they joined the line dance that was forming. Growing up in Willow Creek meant you knew every country line dance ever known to man. Their PE teacher had made sure of it. No one understood how learning line dances qualified for PE, but Mrs. Pence was bound and determined that they had a unit of dancing every year.

And so he and Faith stood side by side, showing off just a little bit. She would add some extra moves now and then, and he’d do them right back. Then they would turn with the whole group and repeat the sequence. Soon others were filling in the extra stuff too. And Deck laughed. “We’re creating a new dance.”

“The Willow Creek special,” she shouted back over the music.

It was so good to see Faith happy and carefree. The next song was more of a country swing dance, and he pulled her close. “You ready to fly?”

“You know it.” She grinned.

And so he wrapped her around and around his waist and then down through his legs, sliding on the floor before bringing her up high into the air. She landed back in his arms, out of breath. “Wow.”

He stared back into her eyes, close to his, “Wow.”

He held her longer than he needed to, but he didn’t want to let go. Then they moved through the normal swing moves, spinning, sidestepping, and then he didn’t want any of that anymore. He just kept her in his arms and slowed down their rhythm.

“So, what’s this?”

“I just want you right here for a minute.”

Her eyes widened, and she smiled up into his face. “Sounds perfect.”

He held her close, and the music switched to something slow, and he kept her right there.

Chapter Twenty

Faith didn’t think anything could be better than dancing in Decker’s arms while he looked at her just how he was looking right now. She suddenly felt more beautiful, more important, more cherished than she’d ever felt.

“What are you thinking?” His eyes drank her in, and his voice sent tingly rumbles through her.

Did she dare tell him she was wishing he’d just keep on looking at her like that for the rest of her life?

He turned them around while they danced, and held her closer. “I’ll tell you what I’m thinking first. I’m trying to get better at that.”

He was? That was great news. She half held her breath. His eyes flashed with a tiny bit of insecurity, and then a sparkle of confidence took over. She loved how well she could read him.

“I’m thinking right now that I would love to just hold you right like this while you look up into my eyes the way you’re doing now, forever.” He grinned.

And she gasped.

“So, I hope you don’t get tired of dancing.” He winked.

She laughed. “How could you know that’s exactly what I was thinking?”

“I didn’t, but I hoped it was.” He spread his fingers out over her back. “I really love you right here.”

“Me too.” She swallowed. Was this all her dreams coming true? Right in this moment?

“What I need to say, I guess I’ll just say right here. Faith, I’m all in. I’m here for you. Forever. I’m your friend, but I want to be so much more. You have quickly become the most important person in my life. And I just want you to know that. You might feel different. You might not be ready for this. And my feelings don’t in any way dictate your—”

She stepped up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. This was it. This was her moment, and he didn’t have a single thing to worry about. She smiled at his reaction as he fumbled for a moment, and then his hands closed around her back and she was so close she didn’t think there was any difference between where he stopped and she began.

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