Page 17 of California Love Songs
“Of course I will,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the collective gasp of joy from the family.
The table erupted into much wilder cheers and applause as Hersch slipped the ring on her finger. It was a large solitaire that glowed faintly blue.
“A blue diamond,” Betsy whispered, her voice catching.
“I chose it because it reminded me of the water, and Mila is a woman of the waves, a woman who taught me to get back into the water when I thought I wouldn’t be able to.”
Hersch had nearly drowned when his re-entry shuttle had gone astray in a storm on its return from space. Mila had worked with the traumatized astronaut until he’d overcome his fear.
Mila stared at the gorgeous ring on her hand, surprising everyone as the tears in her eyes overflowed. She was not a crier.
“It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen,” she said, staring almost in disbelief at her newly adorned hand. “I love it. And I love you.” She threw her arms around Hersch, who kissed her tenderly while the family cheered.
With a final sniff, Mila sat down at the table, her eyes shining. She looked giddy with surprise and excitement. She turned to Crystal and said, “Let me know when we can have our first wedding planning meeting, because you are the only one I trust to plan my big day.”
Crystal laughed, still amazed that the risk-taking, ocean-taming Mila was so ready to embrace being a bride. “I can’t wait!”
Chapter Seven
Following the bombshell, the family chattered happily. Everyone was in a good mood, especially Tessa, who loved a good romance story, and who had good news of her own to share. She had been invited to show her newest paintings in a group exhibition in London. Jay and Erin were still having fun working on their screenplay. Arch was excited about getting to work with his future brother-in-law. Finn was busy with work, as always.
Nick tapped the table with his fingertips, reminding Crystal of a smoker trying to quit, and then she realized he didn’t have his phone with him. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Nick Davenport without it. He’d made a fortune designing apps and was always using them, checking them, or presumably designing them.
Only Damien seemed quieter than usual, lost in his own thoughts. Crystal couldn’t help seeking out his face time and again. A couple of times he caught her eye and smiled. But there was something behind that smile. She just couldn’t figure out if it was good or bad.
As soon as everyone had finished eating, Howie told them to forget about the dishes and they’d have an impromptu engagement party in the backyard.
Happy to oblige, the whole family piled out into the sun-soaked garden. The light filtered through the trees in the backyard, casting dappled shadows across the big wooden deck. Howie cranked on the music and asked his wife to dance. Soon everyone was dancing. Crys would have liked to partner with Damien, but Nick got to her first. Which was fine—she liked him. He was tall and good-looking, but she just didn’t feel the thrill in his arms that she did in his brother’s.
About half an hour in, a salsa tune came on.
Howie said, “Your mother and I used to tear up the floor with the salsa—didn’t we, Betsy? But we could use a little refresher.” He looked at Crystal now. “We heard you and Damien danced up a storm at the birthday party last week. How about giving us a demo?”
Crystal felt herself flush, though there was nothing she liked more than dancing salsa. And Damien, with his flair for all things musical and his incredible rhythm, was just about her favorite dance partner in the world.
Damien, no stranger to an audience, stretched out his hand. She took it.
His palm felt perfect in hers.
She felt the familiar flutter in her stomach, but now it was sharper. More electric.
They had danced together countless times over the years, perfecting every step, every twist, every turn—but today felt different. It had to be the news of Mila and Hersch’s engagement, the sense of romance in the air. Or maybe it was the way Damien’s muscles moved under his shirt as he pulled her closer. Whatever it was, she could feel the tension simmering just beneath the surface.
“Ready?” Damien’s voice cut through the air, playful and smooth.
Crystal forced herself to shake off the nerves that had suddenly settled in her chest. They were just friends. She could handle this. “Let’s see if you can keep up,” she said with a playful smile.
He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been keeping up for years.”
Without another word, he pulled her into position, their bodies aligning with practiced ease. The rhythm of the salsa track began to build, and they fell into the familiar steps. Step, step, twist. A sharp spin, a quick dip, her feet following his lead with a fluidity that came from years of dance. But this time, his movements felt sharper, more insistent. He led with more strength, his hand at her waist, guiding her through the intricate steps with precision. She mirrored him effortlessly, but each time they touched—his hand at her back, hers on his shoulder—the touch seemed to linger just a fraction longer.
Her hips swayed in time with the music, her body moving as if the rhythm were a part of her, and each time she spun back toward him, the tension between them thickened. The brief moments of eye contact were electric, and she couldn’t help but notice how his gaze held hers just a bit longer than usual.
The next move was a fast turn, a quick shift of her weight that brought her directly into his arms. She could feel his breath on her neck as his grip tightened, pulling her in closer, almost possessively. The heat of his body against hers was undeniable. Every brush of his chest against hers sent heat rushing through her, every inch of their connection making her skin tingle, her heart beat faster.
“Focus,” she murmured, a teasing edge to her voice. But his grip was anything but teasing. He spun her again, the speed of the motion leaving her dizzy, and as she came back into his arms, his fingers slipped to the small of her back, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. Their bodies pressed together, the rhythm of the music pulsing through them in sync, and it was impossible to ignore how well they fit together. His hand rested at the curve of her waist, the touch just a little too intimate for a dance that was supposed to be social.
She met his gaze again, her breath coming quicker now. The look in his eyes made her pulse spike. There was something about the way he was looking at her—something far beyond social.
