Page 135 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
Now her cheeks were turning red too as she murmured, “That’s an impossibility.”
“For now,” JJ added under his breath as he slid a hand around her waist, steering her toward the aisle, where the guests were beginning to file out to head to the reception.
For now.
Dahlia’s head felt much too light, and she was grateful for JJ’s arm helping to hold her weight. All at once, all the dreams she’d denied herself, the future she’d thought she couldn’t have…
She would have tripped if JJ hadn’t caught her and held her to his side. “You all right?” he asked. “Is it your shoes? Because I can carry you if you need—”
She stopped him with a kiss, not caring who saw. “It’s not my shoes.”
His brows drew together in a question, but there was laughter in his eyes. “Was it my comment about kids?”
She nodded, a warmth unfurling in her chest so sweet and so precious, she wasn’t sure if she could put it into words. “I think I want that,” she whispered. “With you. All of it.”
And because he was JJ, and he’d always been able to understand her even better than she understood herself, he got it. There was nothing but love in his eyes as he leaned down, his voice low in her ear. “And you deserve it all, Lia. You deserve everything.”
He pulled back, his gaze expectant as if to ask,Do you know that now? Do you understand?
She nodded and was rewarded with a grin.
“What do you say we get to that reception?” he said as he took her hand. “We can show ’em how it’s done.”
She laughed as she let him lead her into the crowd. “Don’t tell me you can dance too. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“I guess you’ll just have to find out.”
The reception room was a converted barn decked out to be the most stunning venue Dahlia had ever seen. Lizzy had pulled out all the stops, and Dahlia smiled up at the lights hanging from the rafters. The tables were swathed in white linen with glowing centerpieces that gave the space a magical quality. They’d taken this rustic place and turned it into a fairy tale.
Musicians were starting to play on the far side, and a handful of kids were already on the dance floor, chasing each other around in a circle.
“I’m afraid to say at least one of those little devils is mine,” a voice said from behind them.
They both turned, and JJ grinned. “Levi! Good to see you, brother.”
The dark-haired man was slightly older and had a weary look about him, but his smile was kind as he turned to Dahlia. “Welcome back. I didn’t think you were gonna make it for the wedding.”
“I had a change of plans.” She smiled at JJ while he wound his arm around her waist.
His smile couldn’t have been brighter. “Yes, siree, you’re gonna be seeing a lot more of my plus-one around here.”
“Oh really?” He shared a look with JJ and started to chuckle. “Well, can I just say… I’m a little jealous. My plus-one is off sulking somewhere because I wouldn’t let her wear a skintight dress that barely covered her butt.”
Dahlia followed his gaze to a pretty, sullen teenager nearby. She was decked out in a modest red gown that looked beautiful on her, but yes, she was indeed pouting. Dahlia winced. “I know a thing or two about raising teen girls, so you have all my sympathy.”
“Dahlia! Over here!” Lizzy’s voice interrupted them. She was waving at them from a round table in the corner.
“We’ll see you around, Levi.” JJ navigated them through the crowd to join Lizzy, Kit, Cody, Rose, and Dex.
Dahlia also recognized Nash’s sister and her husband standing nearby, along with Nash’s parents, who were in deep conversation with another couple that she had to assume were Lizzy’s folks.
Dahlia hesitated next to Lizzy. “Isn’t this section for the wedding party?”
“And family.” Lizzy nudged her with her hip.
“Maybe JJ and I should go—”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Lizzy interrupted. “What do you think you are? You’re our sister, which means you’re family.”
