Page 81 of Under A Sicilian Sky
He leaned closer. ‘Aye, to be honest, it’s one of the easier ones. Wait till it’s time to strip the willow.’
‘Will you dance that one with me too?’ she asked with a sweet smile.
He raised his brows, evidently surprised by her request. ‘Of course.’
Another sweep of the room and she spotted Dougie dancing with her mum, and her dad on the arm of Morag. Her dad was all left feet, but her mum was dainty, and Ruby couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. Having them here was so wonderful and it was all thanks to her dance partner.
The Gay Gordons finished, and everyone applauded. The Toilichte Hens announced a break in the dances but kept on playing so people could grab a drink.
Mitch took her hand and led her to the bar. He ordered two more Skye single malts from Joren and handed one to her.
‘Signor Miceli Adair, are you trying to get me drunk?’ she asked with a tilt of her head.
‘Chi io?’ he asked with an innocent smile.
‘One of these says I’m going to learn Italian and surprise you,’ she told him, eyes narrowed.
‘Questo ti renderebbe ancora più bella,’ he replied softly, and her insides turned to jelly.
She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. ‘For all I know, you could’ve just told me my face looks like a smacked arse and my breath smiles like a toilet.’
He shook his head slowly and leaned closer. He opened his mouth to speak, but over the PA the Toilichte Hens announced the next dance would be Strip the Willow and before Mitch could speak, Jules and Reid appeared beside them.
‘You two have got to dance this one with us!’ Jules insisted, grabbing Ruby’s hand. ‘Come on!’
Still wondering what Mitch may have been about to say, she let herself be pulled to the dance floor once more as the music began.
Mitch took her hand again. This time she was passed down a line to different partners who spun her around in time with the music, and for a dancer she felt rather flat-footed, and the Skye single malt had gone to her head, meaning she giggled at each mistake she made – and there were several. She hadn’t had as much fun in what felt like years.
Ruby didn’t want to the night to end. She danced with Evin, who was light on his feet and beamed up at her the whole time, and she met a lovely old chap called Hamish whose items she had seen in the museum. Archie took her for a spin around the floor, then Dougie, then her dad, then Mitch’s dad, Cullen, and finally Mitch, several more times. Every person she danced with, and every person she met, treated her like part of the community, not some movie star whom they were in awe of, and she thought her heart might burst with happiness and gratitude.
31
At the end of the night when the bands had packed away, someone put slow tunes on the PA system and for a few moments Ruby stood at the edge of the room, nursing her glass of whisky as she watched loved-up couples descend on the dance floor and move together. In that moment her heart ached a little. She wished she had someone in her life; someone genuine. Someone who would love and like her for the real Ruby Locke, not Ruby Locke the movie star. She knew she was a little drunk and had a tendency to overthink at times like that.
Cullen and Rosa’s taxi had arrived, and they had hugged her goodbye with instructions to visit soon before Mitch saw them out. Then her mum and dad walked over to her. ‘Hey, love, we’re going to head back to Morag’s. We’re bushed,’ her mum said as she removed her shoe and rubbed her foot.
‘Aye, I’ve not laughed as much in ages. They’re a great bunch of folks this lot,’ her dad said, nodding towards the crowd on the dance floor.
‘Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow before you set off for your train.’
Both parents hugged her tightly.
‘Love you, sweetheart,’ her dad told her. ‘I can see why you love this place so much.’ He gave her a knowing smile.
‘I wish we could stay longer but I need to get back to the shop. Night night, love. Sleep well. I know I will,’ her mum smiled and kissed her cheek.
‘Night, you two. Love you both.’
Once her mum and dad had gone, she too contemplated leaving and returning to Glentorrin House and glanced around to see if she could spot Dougie. He was engrossed in conversation with a woman on the other side of the room. She didn’t have the heart to break that up. Shelby was, once again, nowhere to be seen.
‘I knew I’d convert you to a whisky drinker,’ Mitch said as he appeared beside her.
She glanced at her glass and then at him. ‘Yes, but I should’ve stopped a few glasses ago. I don’t want to repeat the embarrassment of the last time.’
He shrugged. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I think I got to the see the real, unfiltered you that night. I liked it.’ He smiled and she thought he seemed a little bashful.
She placed her drink on the closest table. ‘Look, I think I’m going to head back. I’m worn out from all the dancing.’
