Page 22 of Win My Heart

“It means”—she pushes me back toward the dance floor—“you and Wade are the next to be married, and therefore, have to dance together.”

“Wait, what?” I stammer as I stumble at the edge of the dance floor.

“Wade!” she yells, but I’m staring at her like she’s grown an extra head.

“Wade, congrats! Link wanted that garter bad, so kudos to you. But you know, tradition means you have to dance with whoever caught the bouquet.” She nudges me forward, and warm hands land on my forearms, steadying me.

“I don’t think that’s a thing,” I tell Ruby, who’s avoiding eye contact and looks all kinds of up to no good. In front of me, Wade chuckles.

That’s when I look up at him. His smile is easy. His right hand slides down my arm and grasps my hand. Scorching hot tingles follow his touch, and I fight back a shiver.

“You heard her.” He pulls me gently to the middle of the floor, where others are starting to dance, and of course, the song is slow and sensual.Damn, where’s the dance music when you need it?

Wade wraps his arm around me much like Matt had done earlier, but he doesn’t move his hand out of the safe zone on my back. He does hold me closer than I expect, our hands clasped to his chest. My other hand dangles over his shoulder, still holding the small bouquet.

A few moments of silence stretch between us, and I welcome it. I’ve never been this close to Wade, completely enveloped in his scent, his body nearly wrapped around me. The thought makes me nearly whimper, but I bite my lip.

“You look stunning today, Bernadette.” I feel his words under my hand as it rests in his on his chest.

I mumble a thanks as I look around, trying not to get wrapped up in the moment. That’s when I see Billie standing nearby, chatting with Wade’s mom, Joan. Shit. She probably adores Billie.

“Billie is stunning,” I mutter, not realizing I say it out loud.

“She is,” he says hesitantly.

I feel him. I know he’s studying my profile, but I refuse to look at him. “You two make a ridiculously attractive couple.”

His reply starts with a chuckle. “Like I said yesterday, Billie and I are just friends.” He tugs me in tighter.

“Matt must be on cloud nine tonight, yeah?” His words take on a slightly bitter tone.

That does cause me to look at him. His eyes heat as they bore into mine.

“Sometimes you just gotta give a guy a chance.” I try to play it off. Now that I know asking Matt to help me tonight is working, I suddenly don’t like the farce.

“You mean you threw the pup a bone?” he mutters.

I sigh and look away from him, resting my chin on my wrist that’s on his shoulder. While this puts me further into his embrace, it also allows for some much-needed space between us.

“It’s harmless,” I breathe.

He grunts in response. We don’t talk the rest of the dance, which both feels like forever and incredibly too short.

I step away from him, offer him my standard, “You’re my friend, and I’m not secretly in love with you” smile, and he lets me go without preamble as I book it to the restroom.

I take my time in the restroom stall before exiting and washing my hands. I wash them slowly, staring at myself in the mirror. My hair is twisted up into a fancy style, which I adore, but it will never override my go-to messy bun. My cheeks are flushed from my dance with Wade. I shake the water off my hands as the door swings open.

In comes Billie in all her elegance. When she sees me, her eyes widen and sparkle with happiness.

“Bernadette? Oh my goodness, I’m finally meeting you,” she gushes as she walks over to me, opening her arms and coming at me for a hug.

Stunned, I accept and hug this gorgeous woman. “Billie” is all I say.

She leans back, her hands on my arms, as she studies me. Her gaze sweeps over my hair, my face, and then down at my dress. “You and Wade looked absolutely amazing out on that dance floor just now.”

She drops her hands and turns toward the mirror to fix her hair. “I told him earlier that I was completely gone for you the moment he pointed you out. I just had to come and introduce myself.” She glances around the restroom and suddenly cringes, “Oh my god, I totally just cornered you in the bathroom. How obnoxious of me,” she rambles on.

What the- what is going on right now?

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