Page 68 of The Stone Family Warrior

“Nice to meet you, Tatum,” Liberty said.

Trent took Liberty’s hand and led her onto the dance floor. “Well, you heard the pastor. Let’s dance.”

It wasn’t that Liberty couldn’t dance; on the contrary, she liked dancing and she was good at it, or used to be. But she was nervous. She was stiff. “Just give me a little bit to acclimate myself, okay?”

As luck would have it, the music turned slow, and it was easy to take Trent’s hand and feel his hand on her hip. She put her other hand on his shoulder, and they fell into an easy rhythm.

“Are you sure you’re okay dancing?” Trent gave her an uncertain look.

She nodded, feeling butterflies in her stomach and all the usual sensations when she was this close to Trent Stone. There was so much attraction and so many other feelings that she was surprised to feel about a man. So many things that she wasn’t even sure she felt with her first husband. Not that she liked comparing them, but how could she not?

“You’re doing it again,” Trent chided with a chuckle. He spun her out and then back against him.

This Christmas song was a country Western singer. Surprised at the turn, she exclaimed, “What am I doing?”

He spun her again, beaming. “You were thinking about something that you weren’t sure you wanted to think about.”

“No, I wasn’t.” She was baffled by how easily he could read her. They hadn’t been in each other’s presence for very long, yet it seemed like Trent knew her so well already.

Trent moved her through some complicated moves, twisting her in and out until she found herself laughing. “Were too.” His hand rested on her back so he could hold her against him. “You don’t have to tell me what it was, but don’t deny the fact that you were thinking about something you didn’t want to think about. I know that look now.”

She sighed. “I was thinking how you are a much better dancer than Will.”

He sputtered out a laugh. “I would hope so."

“Not that it matters.” She felt freer than she had in a long time.

Trent spun her out and in a circle. “It matters.”

She let herself get caught up in this man’s competitive aura. For a few moments, she thought about what an amazing guy he was, and then her thoughts turned to the other women he had dated. “Do you compare me?”

He sobered. “All I can tell you is that you have always exceeded my expectations, and therefore you are incomparable.”

Warmth filled her heart and flowed up into her cheeks. “You’re good.”

Trent chuckled and pulled her into him. “I speak truth.”

The song reached its end, and before she knew it, Matt was tapping her on the shoulder and asking if he could have the next dance. She noted that Lucy was lingering by Trent’s side in hopes of something similar, so Liberty agreed.

Matt grinned at her as the next song started up, and she couldn’t help but grin back, feeling like they were kids again. “Liberty Grey or …?”

“It’s fine,” she said.

He cleared his throat. “Well, the point is that you’re back in town. Clearly, our little Trent has a crush on you.”

“Really? You’re still going to tease me like that after all these years?”

Matt wasn’t a flashy dancer—he was more the type to spin in a circle—but he was still the silly guy he’d been all those summers ago. “Hey, it’s about time he has a crush on you. That way you don’t have to have a crush all by yourself.” He winked at her.

Liberty’s face heated. “Fine, you’re right.”

Matt chuckled. “Hey, it’s about time for Trent, that’s all I’m saying.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Liberty spotted someone interrupt Lucy and Trent. The woman was young and flashy, wearing a spaghetti-strapped dress and releasing a laugh that started with a squeal. “Trent Stone!” The woman threw her arms around his neck.

To say that Liberty was a bit jealous would be putting it mildly, which was a surprise to her.

“Don’t mind her,” Matt whispered. “That’s Missy. She works construction with me. She’s a lot of drama, but that’s all.”

---