Page 66 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

I opened my eyes and met his curious gaze. I should have been talking to him about Lena and Larry, and Grandma. I haven’t mentioned them once to him since they died, worried I’d make him upset.

“Your mommy and I danced with our eyes closed, and we bumped into each other and fell on our butts,” I told him, smiling. “Then Grandma taught us dance steps and how to dance properly. But she told us one secret that day.”

His blue eyes got wide and somehow we both stopped dancing. “What did she tell you?” he asked in a whisper.

I took a deep breath. God, how I missed them. This time I crouched down, ignoring the dress and everyone’s eyes on us, and whispered back. “She said that when you can close your eyes, and dance to a song without crashing into your date or falling down, it is your true love.”

We watched each other, his expressive eyes reflecting all the emotions going through that little body. He raised his eyes above me, and I followed his gaze, meeting Alexander’s eyes.

He kneeled down too, ignoring everyone around us. “Is everything ok?” he asked both of us.

I nodded, but before I could say anything else, Brandon leaned closer to him, closing our circle.

“Livy said that Grandma told her how to find true love,” he whispered to him.

Alexander looked curiously at him, a little smile on his lips, making my heart skip a beat.

“How?” he asked in a whisper.

“You have to dance to your favorite song with your eyes closed with Livy,” he told him seriously. “If you don’t knock each other down, it is true love.”

“We will have to try that,” he told him.

“Don’t do it now,” Brandon suggested in a whisper. “Everyone will laugh if Livy falls.”

Brandon didn’t even realize how perceptive he was. There were quite a few nasty looks being thrown my way by women who, I guess, desired Alexander. He didn’t pay attention to any women and made me wonder if he was aware of their lingering looks thrown his way.

“Okay, we’ll do it when we are alone,” he promised. He stood up and offered me his hand. I took it and he wrapped his arm around my waist, helping me get on my two feet.

“Livy,” Brandon started, “why was that Grandma’s favorite song?”

How odd that he asked the same question I asked my mother. It was one of the saddest songs I had ever heard, the type of song that gave you goosebumps with its sad lyrics.

“I don’t know, baby,” I told him. “She wouldn’t tell me.”

“What song was that?” Alexander asked.

I gazed into his blue eyes. “It’s a country song,” I murmured. “Whiskey Lullaby.”

Maxim interrupted the moment and hugged me. “Now, you are my sister,” he exclaimed. “Brother, can I have a dance with your wife?”

“Make sure you bring her back in one piece,” he commented, his eyes lingering on me.

“Promise.” Maxim smiled as he pulled me away from them.

Just as his brother, Maxim was a good dancer although I found myself wishing I’d have another dance with Alexander. Then a dance with Layla and Brandon together. After that, it was his grandfather’s turn who gushed proudly at our marriage. It made me feel horrible that we were deceiving him, but I just smiled and nodded, reminding myself I was securing Brandon’s future with me. That was all that mattered.

I had no idea how many dances I had, till I finally had to excuse myself. I needed some water and fresh air. I went through the wide terrace door, and fresh air swept through me, cooling off my skin. It was an odd day. So many memories coming back.

“Liberty,” Callen’s voice was close and I turned towards it, seeing him merely two feet away.

“Hello, Callen.”

Odd silence stretched on, all the past and unspoken words lingering between us.

“You were always stunning, but today you are so much more than that,” he uttered softly, as he brushed a piece of hair away from my face. There was nothing but kindness in his eyes.

“Thank you,” I whispered back. He never called me stunning before and I wished he wouldn’t now. “Did you come with your family or is it just you?” I asked.

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