Page 56 of Love on the Brain
Ryan chuckled. “Boy after my own heart.”
She smiled at him, a big, genuine grin that was so rare these days. If she allowed it, he’d plan to spend the rest of his days finding ways to make her smile like that.
Tonight, he’d make the most of every moment that they had together so that when he left Monday morning, she’d be certain to think of him as much as he thought about her when they were apart.
The party passed all too quickly, and staff arrived to move the tables and lay down the dance floor. Shelby arrived with Damon, and they fell into easy conversation at the bar while the room was resituated.
“Caroline said she reserved a table for us,” Shelby said, checking her phone. “Over by the kitchen entrance.”
He scanned the tables on the opposite wall and located a ten-top marked “reserved.”
Damon asked what Ryan had been thinking. “So the four of us, Caroline and JC, and—?”
Shelby frowned. “Kat’s in Boston with Easton this weekend, so I’m guessing Britney and Kieran and maybe—oh shoot!” She beamed. “Look! Lexi is here with Lt. Blakely!”
Jane squealed, and Ryan instantly recognized the couple from the dedication ceremony. “I didn’t know they were a couple,” he said.
“They’re not,” Jane said. “At least, not yet. Or not anymore?” She exchanged a glance with Shelby. “He doesn’t know the story.”
“They were high school sweethearts,” Shelby explained. “They broke up; she got married, had three kids; husband turned into a psychopath and burned down their house. Now she’s here hiding out until she can figure things out. And our fire guy has made it his personal business to make sure she’s okay. All those years, he’s never stopped loving her.”
Jane sighed. “I love that. I hope they get a happy ending when the time is right.”
Shelby darted a glance at Ryan and fixed her gaze on her sister. “It’s always about the timing, isn’t it? It’s the hardest thing, waiting for God to let you know when the time is right.”
“It is.” Jane leaned against him, and her arm slid around his waist. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, wanting to take off her hat and lean his cheek against her head.
Whoever designed the cowboy hat didn’t take into account the awkwardness it would present when trying to romance his girl.
“Let’s go drop our stuff at the table and get out onto the dance floor,” Jane said. “It’s been too long since I’ve line-danced with someone who can keep up.” She gave his side a playful pinch and winked up at him. “You got your dancin’ boots on, cowboy?”
“I reckon I never took them off.” He caught her gaze and held it.
“Are you two going to stand there mooning at each other or actually get on the dance floor?” Shelby asked. “C’mon, Damon.” She tugged him, and he tipped his hat with a grin.
Jane laughed. “Let’s go wipe those smirks off their faces and show ’em how it’s done!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Ryan stepped away, sliding his arm back across her shoulders and down her sleeves to capture her hand. Thinking quickly, he lifted their linked hands above her head and twirled her in a circle.
“We are so winning the dance contest!” she shouted as the music volume increased.
“There’s a contest?” Ryan settled in line next to her as they boot-scoot-boogied.
“Between me and my sister!” she shouted. “For best dancing date!”
“Oh, we got this!” Ryan didn’t know Damon well enough to know what kind of moves he had, but he’d do his best to dance circles around the other couple.
“That’s what I like to hear!” Jane replied.
Effortlessly, they stomped their feet, pivoted on their heel, and quarter-turned to repeat the sequence. Jane was in front of him now, Shelby next to her, and Damon next to him. JC and Caroline joined them midway through the song. JC was hamming it up as they danced the steps and turned again, so Ryan decided to add some flair. An extra spin here and turn there, with a clap or two thrown in for good measure.
Jane picked up on his moves, and soon he’d forgotten all about trying to outdo anyone. It was just the two of them, doing their thing, like they used to do.
They’d spent many a night in their college days dancing at the country-western bar within walking distance from campus. Ryan had taught Jane all the steps to all the dances since there hadn’t been any place like it in Crane’s Cove when she was growing up and she hadn’t spent her free time watching the how-to videos like Sunny and her sisters had. Ryan had learned from them at various youth group events, and like Jane, he’d caught on to the choreography easily.
When the song faded out, he was barely winded, but Jane’s face was red from exertion. Never gladder for a slow song, he pulled her into his arms to sway to Kenny Chesney’s “I Go Back.” The lyrics were wrong, but the sentiment fit how he was feeling at that very moment.
“This is a new position for us,” Jane said. “I like it.”
