Page 109 of Choosing Forever
“I can’t dance,” Delaney argues, her voice loose and soft as she rolls her head to the side to stare at Poppy. “Darren can’t either.”
I stroke her back with my thumb, testing my limits like thegreedy bastard I become around her. The responding twitch of muscle feeds my desire to never let her go.
“I’ve learned how.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Poppy glances back at me. “Actually, he’s gotten better. I think me being a better dancer than him was too much of a punch to the ego.”
“Well . . . I don’t like to dance,” Delaney says, stubborn as hell despite her loosened inhibitions.
My sister turns up the pressure with a killer set of puppy dog eyes. “Just one song, Della. That’s all I want.”
Selfishly, I want her to say yes. A dance floor isn’t the best spot for a conversation, but it’s somewhere we can be together. She’ll be in my arms, and I’ll have her hands on me in a way that I’ve been dreaming about. I bet I could convince her to give me more than just one song too.
Delaney stares forward again. “I’m not drunk enough.”
“Uh, yes, you are. Wait until you stand up again.”
“Poppy.” She groans, lifting her arms to rest across her chest.
“Delaney.”
“Let me get another shot first.”
“Fine, but then—Garry!”
Poppy stumbles off her stool and into Garrison’s arms. He wraps her in his arms and then stares at me above her head, dragging his eyes to Delaney, his curiosity burning bright. My sister grabs his face in her hands and pulls him down for a kiss, so I take that as my sign to look away.
Brody and Johnny come in next, followed by Rory and Anna, who are pressed together and laughing about something I know better than to ask about. My oldest friend meets me beside Delaney’s stool and slaps me on the back.
“It’s good to see you back in here,” Brody announces.
Johnny joins him, glowing with that same impenetrable happiness that sticks to him like a second skin. His black hair is damp from the rain that was just starting to sprinkle when Iarrived, and he shakes it out like a dog, water splattering my arm. It’s always odd seeing him without his cowboy hat, but considering Rory’s become quite a fan of it, it’s only a matter of time before he has to bite the bullet and finally buy another one.
Steele Ranch’s favourite ranch hand smirks at me. “You’ve been hidin’ from us, Darren. Both of you.”
“Don’t start, Johnny. If you miss me that much, you can visit me at my house.”
“See, you just want more commitment than I’m up to these days, D-man. I’m a busy man with only so many hours in the day for my groupies.”
“You make yourself that busy,” Brody corrects.
Johnny hits his shoulder. “You’re one to talk. And it’s your goddamn grandpa that’s keeping me this busy. I blame you for that, by the way.”
“You like it. Grandpa’s gettin’ ready to hand you the ranch, and you damn well know that,” Brody says.
“Don’t get my hopes up. He’s been more of a hard-ass than usual lately.”
“You couldn’t have expected him to go easy on you now, Johnny.”
“Eh, I’ve got Eliza on my side. She keeps him in check when he gets too growly. And if he doesn’t, Rory does.”
“Welcome to the Steele life, man,” Brody cheers.
“Hey, we’ll see you in a bit,” I say, picking up on every slight jerk of Delaney’s body. It’s not necessarily discomfort, but it’s close enough to have me urging us away from everyone.
Delaney’s been around these people before, but never like this. Overwhelming her right now could be my downfall.
