Page 30 of 5 Golden Flings

The reception was held indoors, instead of on the beach. That suited Molly fine, especially since the wind had picked up a little after the bride and groom had said their vows. There were tables and chairs all along the back and sides of the room, cake and champagne, soft lighting.

A small band set up on the other side of the room. Soon there would be music, a first dance for the bride and groom, theneventually everyone would join in. She really hoped Ben wasn’t one of those guys who didn’t dance.

He stood too far away, talking to a small group of guys she didn’t know, men who’d come in for the wedding but hadn’t been here all week like the wedding party. Judging by their ages and how in shape they were, she’d guess more baseball players.

If this thing with Ben went anywhere, was she going to have to pretend to like baseball? Natalie said so, but…

She was tired of pretending. Tired of pretending to like a job she hated. Tired of trying so hard to make one guy or another bethe onewhen he obviously wasn’t. She was tired of not taking what she wanted from life. What did she want?

Ben.

Could she have him?

Still to be determined.

He joined her as Nat and her new husband cut the cake. Thank goodness neither of them crammed cake and icing into the other’s face! She hated that so-called tradition. No, they were gentle with one another, easy, smiling, in love. Ben took her hand and held on, not too tight but not entirely casual. His touch was just right. He led her back a bit, away from the crowd.

“I never should’ve pushed Tristan about the prenup,” he whispered.

“No, you shouldn’t have,” she agreed.

“Maybe romance isn’t for suckers.”

“Even Ben Crusher can be wrong now and then,” she said.

“Now and then.”

If he felt, as she did, that last night hadn’t been a one-night-stand or an aberration, if he hadn’t just been killing time with her because she was convenient, if there was more…

Before she had a chance to say something stupid and ruin the moment, the music started. The bride and groom had a first dance to their favorite song. Nat danced with her dad; Tristanled his mother around the room. Soon others joined them. She didn’t even have to ask. Ben led her onto the dance floor. The wild, fast dancing would come later. This was a sweet, slow dance. He held her in his arms and they moved.

Molly didn’t get many chances to dance, but moving to the music with Ben didn’t seem at all awkward. She didn’t step on his toes. They fit together perfectly. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to just feel, to move, to enjoy.

How early could they leave the reception without raising eyebrows?

Did she care about a few raised eyebrows?

“I’m so glad I found you again,” Ben said.

Molly’s heart leapt, but she tried to keep the conversation casual. “I didn’t know I was lost.”

“Neither did I,” he whispered.

She rested her head on his shoulder. This was happening so fast! Too fast. Fast or not, she liked it. It felt right.Reallyright, this time.

Someone poked her in the shoulder three times, hard. Molly turned her head to see who it was. She expected Rosie, but found herself face to face with a heavily made-up redhead who said, “Can I cut in? I’d like a dance with my husband.”

“Ex-husband,” Ben said when he recovered from the surprise of seeing Kayla.

“Whatever,” Kayla muttered.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. Where’s Mark?”

She glanced around, then answered. “I don’t know. Probably trying to bang one of the bridesmaids.”

This was the woman who’d jaded him on marriage, on love, who made him declare whenever possible that romance was for suckers. This was the woman who’d made him press his friend to insist on a prenup. There had been a time when just seeing Kayla was enough to send him into a tailspin. At the moment she was right here and he felt nothing. Nothing at all.

“I never should’ve left you,” she said.

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