Page 23 of Family Forever
He glanced at Cole. His brother’s smile couldn’t grow any wider as Marissa continued to talk about his photos, including the ones he took yesterday of their boat ride with Jake. Everything Marissa was telling him was true and correct. He had a way of bringing photos to life which was probably the reason Dylan had been so affixed to the photos he viewed of Marissa the night before on his computer screen.
Pastor Jahn came by and pinned a blue ribbon to the photo of Dylan feeding the calf. “Nice work, Cole.”
“Thank you, Pastor.”
Marissa leaned toward Cole and hugged him. “Congratulations.”
Cole leaned into her and lingered a bit longer than Dylan liked.
Now that they had checked out all their contest entries, Aric, Braden, and Nate disappeared to be with their friends. He, Cole, Marissa, and Luke returned to the big tent and mingled with the other parishioners. A local country music band started playing tunes on the raised wooden platform located in the corner of the large tent. A few brave souls danced as others ate.
Cole’s friend, Jake waved them over. He had taken a seat by his grandmother, Mrs. Moore, who they had been sitting by earlier. Jake’s gaze ran the length of Marissa from top to bottom, then up again. Dylan stepped in front of her, intentionally blocking Jake’s view of her slim, shapely legs darting out from her jean shorts, her tiny waist, and breasts held snugly by her fitted hot pink tank top. He recalled how he hadn’t noticed her breasts before he viewed the photos of her that Cole had taken yesterday. Now suddenly, whenever he looked at her, his eyes, as if they had a mind of their own, zoned in on her breasts. It was like she had gotten implants the night before last.
They sat. Marissa flung her long blonde hair over her shoulder as Jake ogled her across the table. Jake’s hungry look irritated Dylan as he listened to him and Marissa make small talk about the boat ride they shared the day before. And then Jake invited her to go along again. She easily accepted his invitation. Too easily.
Jake rose from his seat, scooted around the table, extended his arm toward Marissa and asked her to dance. She instantly smiled and placed her small hand in his. He led her to the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her waist. She reached up and placed her arms around Jake’s neck.
Blood rushed through Dylan’s veins at the speed of light as he watched Jake pull Marissa firmly to his body. This wasn’t right. They shouldn’t be pressed against one another like that. She hardly knew him.
Dylan fought to pull his gaze from them but couldn’t seem to do so. He just kept staring at them like some jealous madman.
Luke audibly slurped from his soda can pulling Dylan’s attention away from the swaying couple. He looked across the table and caught Cole’s knowing gaze, accented by a slight smirk.What’s that for?
Mrs. Moore’s knowing gaze landed on him as well. Was he really that easy to read? She smiled at him and winked. “Come on, good looking. Push this old lady around the dance floor a bit,” she said as the next song started.
He couldn’t very well resist the nice woman, and a quick glance over his shoulder let him know Marissa and Jake were going for another round.
Dylan glanced at Luke, and then at Cole. “Keep an eye on him.”
Cole nodded.
Dylan held his hand out to Jake’s sassy little grandmother and led her across the ground to the makeshift dance floor.
Reaching up, she placed her frail hand to his cheek. It was eighty degrees out yet her hand was cool, or maybe his cheek was just that hot.
“You’re a fine young man, Dylan Jacobs.” She shot a glance over her shoulder toward Marissa and Jake. “The Lord works in funny ways sometimes, and things just don’t happen, they happen for a reason.”
He nodded at her even though he didn’t really know what she meant by her last statement. She must have read his mind and she continued on. “Marissa’s a sweet, kindhearted young lady. She didn’t deserve the upbringing she had.” The woman’s warm gaze filled with sympathy. “And you, it breaks my heart about your parents and the responsibilities dumped onto you at such a young age. But the good Lord never gives us any more than we can handle. And he has a way of uniting people for a particular purpose.”
Though this type of conversation always made him uncomfortable, he worked to keep his attention on the compassionate woman who suddenly broke from his hold and reached over to tap Marissa's shoulder.
“Sorry, Marissa, but can I cut in and dance with my handsome grandson?”
Marissa stepped back and gestured toward Jake. “He’s all yours.”
“Thank you, dear,” Mrs. Moore replied as she pointed at Dylan. “I got this one all warmed up for you.”
Marissa stepped toward him. Her captivating, big blue-eyed gaze drew him to her like a magnet, yet a sense of awkwardness overcame him. He couldn’t seem to figure out where to put his hands or how to hold her. It was like he never danced with a woman before. She took another step toward him. He knew he’d better figure things out pretty quick or he’d look like a complete idiot. He wrapped his right arm around her waist and raised his left hand to her. She placed her warm palm against his and then he pulled their hands to his chest.
* * * *
Butterflies fluttered in Marissa’s stomach the second Dylan’s dark gaze zoned in on her. She’d have to remember to send Mrs. Moore a thank you card for the gift she’d just given her. Dylan would never have asked her to dance on his own. He’d have to stop treating her like a little sister, or a wounded puppy first. She wondered if that day would ever come. Would the handsome man holding her now ever be able to see her as she wanted him to, as a woman? She didn’t seem to have a problem getting Jake or Cole to look at her that way, but Dylan was another story.
She leaned into him, not as hard as she would have liked but hard enough to let him know how she felt. His muscles stiffened against her. Excellent, she got his attention.
Though she wasn’t sure if it was his intention, his hand splayed across the small of her back and he pulled her closer to his firm body. Her breath hitched, and his masculine scent intoxicated her. Sure, she’d smelled him before, but never at this close proximity. She inhaled slowly and deeply, taking in his cologne, sending her on a natural high. The array of sensations rising in her were more than she bargained for. Her heart raced, and her blissful mind soared to a divine place much like she imagined heaven would be. Her body felt light as Dylan swayed her to the music. Were her feet even touching the ground? She wasn’t sure.
Dylan stepped back, removed his arm from around her waist, and released her hand, but his gaze held hers for a moment longer. It took her a second to realize the music had stopped completely. The band was taking a break. How could they? Didn’t they know every cell in her body needed them to keep playing slow country songs so she could enjoy the comfort of Dylan’s arms?
