Page 46 of Collide (Collide 1)

Emily smiled and shook her head.

"Ah, yes, brother-in-law, take all the credit. " Melanie laughed, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Emily, be forewarned that all the males in the Blake family try to take credit for anything they can. " Emily quirked a brow in Gavin's direction, and he laughed. "But, for right now, this Blake woman is about to take credit for teaching her husband how to dance. " Melanie rose from her seat and reached for Colton's hand. "Aren't I right, sweetie?"

Standing up, Colton curled his arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her head. "I have two left feet, so yes, I'll give you credit for trying to teach me how to dance. "

"Don't fall flat on your ass, brother," Gavin yelled out as the couple moved to the dance floor.

Colton turned around, effectively flipping the bird in Gavin's direction.

"Hmm, do I sense sibling rivalry?" Emily asked.

"All-out sibling rivalry," he answered, motioning one of the waiters over. "I revel in any chance I get to make him look like a clown. "

"You're too much," she laughed.

Gavin smiled mischievously. "I know, but he deserves it. "

The waiter approached the table with a bottle of expensive bubbly in tow and a towel draped over one arm.

"What would you like to drink?" Gavin asked.

Knowing she and Gavin didn't mix well with liquor, Emily figured she would keep it light. "Actually, I'll just take an ice water. "

He creased his brows. "Are you sure?"

With an answering smile, she nodded.

After ordering himself bourbon on the rocks, Gavin leaned back in his chair and looked at her. "I'm happy to see you're no longer sick. "

"Thank you. That was a rough few days. "

"I'm sure it was," he replied, knowing they were hard enough for her without adding illness to it. "I stopped by the restaurant to check in on you, and Fallon said you'd already left. "

"I know. I meant to call you, but it completely slipped my mind. I'm sorry about that. "

"No need to apologize. I just wanted to make sure you were doing alright. "

"Well, thank you for checking on me," she smiled and placed a napkin over her lap. "I truly appreciate it. But I'm okay, honestly. "

She may have smiled, but Gavin couldn't see a trace of happiness in her eyes. Throughout the evening, he kept the conversation with her on lighter topics, staying as far away from anything that had to do with Dillon. Gavin learned that, although her teaching position was supposed to be full time, it fell through, and she would only be working part time as a substitute for now. Either way, she seemed happy about it. He ribbed on her a little more regarding his Yankees making it into the World Series, promising her that by the end of her lifetime he'd turn her into a certified fan. She begged to differ, but nonetheless, it made her laugh, and that's all that mattered to him.

After everyone enjoyed dinner, Gavin's parents approached the table. The stately couple's arms were locked together, their faces flushed from dancing and champagne.

"Olivia," Chad said with a smile. "My beautiful wife's given me permission to dance with you. "

She cocked an incredulous brow. "Oh, has she?"

"Indeed, she has," he laughed, reaching for her hand.

"Are you sure, Lillian?" Olivia smirked and stood up. "I just may steal him from you. "

"He's a very debonair man," Lillian smiled, her green eyes shimmering with delight. "He just might sweep you off your feet, kiddo, so I'd be careful. "

"Can't say I'd disagree with you on that," Olivia laughed and strolled over to him. "Come on, old man. I'll show you how we younglings do it. "

Chuckling, Chad placed a kiss upon his wife's cheek and led Olivia out onto the dance floor.

"You look beautiful this evening, Emily," Lillian said, taking a seat next to her. "I hope you're enjoying yourself. "

"Thank you, Mrs. Blake, so do you. And I am enjoying myself. Everything's spectacular. "

"Tsk-tsk," she laughed, patting Emily's hand. "Remember, Mrs. Blake makes me feel old. But I'm happy you're having a good time. "

Emily smiled. "Thank you, Lillian. "

"You do look beautiful tonight, Mom. " Gavin rose from his seat and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I may have to keep an eye on you to make sure no other man steals you away from Dad. "

Looking up to him, she cupped her hand over his. "You've always been my biggest fan, Gavin," she trilled with an adorning smile. "But, really, sweetheart, after thirty-five years of marriage, I'm not going anywhere. It's pretty safe to say your father doesn't have to worry about that. "

"Doesn't have to worry about what?" Colton asked, approaching the table with a drink in hand.

"Oh, it's nothing. Your brother's just being overprotective," she laughed, rising to her feet. "Where's Melanie?"

Colton pointed over his shoulder. "She's out in the lobby, calling the babysitter to check on the kids. "

"Perfect timing then," Lillian replied as she locked arms with Colton. "Care to dance with the woman who brought you into this world?"

"Certainly. " He tossed back the rest of his drink. "I'll try my hardest not to step on your toes. "

As son and mother whisked off to the dance floor, Gavin looked to Emily. "Would you like to da

nce?"

Biting her lip, Emily glanced around the ballroom and then back up to him. "Dance, huh?"

"Yes, dance," he chuckled. "I promise I'll be good. "

"That I highly doubt, but I'll trust you this one last time. " He laughed as she removed the napkin from her lap. Standing up, she smiled. "But I must warn you, I'm probably no better than your brother is. "

"That's impossible," he said, smiling. "Just wait here a second. I'll be right back. "

She nodded and watched as he strolled over to the band. He spoke with the lead singer for a few moments and then made his way back over to her, a mischievous smile running across his face.

"Why do you look like you're up to something?" she asked, cocking a brow.

His dimpled smile widened as he reached for her hand, tucking it in the crook of his arm. "That would be because I am up to something. "

"And what would you be up to?"

Leading her out to the dance floor, he remained silent, but the smile on his face never faltered.

"Gavin," she laughed.

"Emily. "

"What are you up to?"

He waited until the band struck up the chords to his request. "Do you listen to jazz?" he asked as he placed a hand on the small of her back. Lacing his other hand with hers, he tucked it against his chest and drew her into him.

Taken aback by their very close proximity, it took her a second to gather her thoughts. "Umm, yes, I have before. My grandmother used to listen to it while she cooked. "

"Mmm, are you familiar with this song?"

"I don't know the name of it or the singer," she answered, fighting to ignore how enticing he smelled. "But I do recall remembering how beautiful it was the first time I heard it. "

Looking down at her, he smiled as they swayed back and forth. "It's called 'La Vie en Rose,' and the singer's Louis Armstrong. "

"It's beautiful. "

"It is. And this is what I was up to," he whispered into her ear.

Trying to catch her breath, she bit her lip. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I've pictured us dancing together to this very song. "

"You have?" she asked, attempting to hide any hint of shock in her voice at his confession. She then inwardly laughed at herself, considering the confessions she'd made to him.

"Yes, I have. So thank you very much for this dance. "

"You're welcome. " She could see the look in his eyes - the same one that nearly drowned her into him every time he stared at her like that. She averted her gaze over to his parents where they, too, were dancing. "It's amazing that they've been together so long. It's almost impossible to believe a love that strong exists. "

Gavin studied her face as she watched his parents. Something in her voice and eyes ached to have something deeper than what she had with Dillon. It was then that Gavin knew he needed to wake up with her lying next to him, longing to see what shade of green her eyes were when they were still lazy with sleep. He wanted her hair tangled in a mess and draped over his strong arms when he woke up to her smiling up at him. In the coldest of winters where blankets didn't provide her body enough warmth, he wanted to be that warmth. Most of all, he wanted Emily to fall in love with him. It was more than a desire for her body; it was his need for her heart and soul. If he could have one night with her, Gavin was sure he'd be able to convince her that they were made for one another.

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