Page 34 of The Awakening
“Tyler texted. The guys will be here in about an hour.” She linked her arm through mine, and we headed in.
Jessica scoped out a table where a group of people were putting coats on and heading for the doors, so we made a beeline for it.
Once we were settled, Jessica took drink orders from us and was off to the bar.
Couples swayed on the dance floor, each in their own bubble, like the world around them didn’t exist. I had never seen anything more mesmerizing.
“Here are the drinks.” Jessica returned carrying the beverages. She set them down without spilling a drop and lifted her glass. “To our first girls’ night out.” We raised our drinks in unison and clinked glasses.
“Care to dance?” Turning to look at where the voice came from, I stared into the face of a brown-eyed cowboy with a sweet shy smile and dimples that would charm the pants off any woman.
“I’m sorry I don’t dance,” I replied.
“I’ll teach you.” There were those dimples again. “All you have to do is put one foot behind the other.” He took my hand and guided me toward the dance floor.
How bad could it be? He seemed nice enough, and the girls hadn’t objected, so he was probably an all right guy.
“All you have to do is remember quick, quick, slow, slow. See? Easy. And don’t think too hard about it. That’ll will mess you up. Ready?”
I nodded, but I was nowhere near ready. The next song started, and of course, it was something quick. This cowboy, whose name I hadn’t caught, twirled me around the dance floor like a pro. I was obviously not the first girl he had taught to dance.
When the song ended, I was winded, and he walked me back to my table. “Thanks for the dance. I might just find you for another. You did great.” He tipped his brown hat and walked off toward the bar, his Wranglers hugging his ass in an exceptional way.
“You looked like you were having a blast.” Kate said as she leaned over to me.
“It was fun.” I shrugged and took in our surroundings. “Where’s Jess?”
“She went to line dance over on the other side of the dance floor.” She pointed. and
I caught a glimpse of Jessica’s blond hair as she twirled. “Why don’t you go dance?”
“I’m only interested in dancing with one cowboy, and he’ll be here shortly.” She beamed. I wondered what it would be like to love someone as much as she loved Tyler.
The man I’d danced with earlier reappeared at our table a couple of songs later. “Hey, Kate, mind if I take your friend off your hands for a few minutes?”
“Not at all, Lee, go right ahead.”
He held his hand out to me. Before I knew what I was doing, I took it, and he led me out to the dance floor.
Again, the music started, and we whirled around and around.
Suddenly the man let me go and I was staring into the eyes of my husband.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gavin
Ellie and I danced until the song finished, my arms wrapped tightly around her. I didn’t want to cause any more of a scene by walking off in the middle of a song, but I was livid. When the music paused between songs, I guided her through the crowd and outside the bar.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” I asked when we were a safe distance from the door.
“Dancing. Having a good time.” She shrugged and grinned.
My blood boiled at her cheerful response. “You’re my wife.” I emphasized wife and pointed at my chest. “You don’t go around dancing and flirting with other guys. I saw you dance with Lee. You couldn’t keep your eyes off each other.” I was clenching my jaw.
“Lee, was that his name? He was really nice.”
“Elyse, you’re mine.”
