Page 2 of Forever After All

Here she was, hanging out at the kids’ table with Ben–the only man who had asked her to dance. The eight-year-old had tried to swing her around a little too much for her liking before she convinced him to have some punch with her.

Punch and wedding mints. It was actually pretty good. Who knew?

“You want to dance, Miss Jess? I bet Jacob would dance with you.”

Jess caught sight of the pre-teen from church and quickly shook her head. “No, thanks. I don’t like dancing.”

“You sure? I could ask Mr. Linc to dance with you.”

Now that was funny. Linc wouldn’t be caught dead dancing at a wedding reception. She glanced over at Linc as he snuck out the door.

Did that mean she could sneak out too? There was probably some rule of etiquette about how long to stay and hobnob at a party, but Jess didn’t know the first thing about fancy parties.

“I’m good. Really. Thanks for hanging out with me.”

“I don’t mind.” Ben squirmed in his chair and tapped his fingertips on the table.

“Why are you being so jittery?” Jess asked.

Ben looked around the room. “Can I go play with Jacob?”

Jess quirked a brow at him. “I’m not your babysitter. Go do whatever you want.”

Funny, the kid assumed she was the responsible party here. His mistake.

“But won’t you be lonely?”

Jess threw up her hands. “Okay. I’ll go hang out with other people too. Happy?”

“Yes.” Ben jumped up from his seat and ran off toward his friend.

Jess stood and brushed her hands down the front and sides of her dress. She loved the olive-green color, but it was a little too snug in a few places. Why had Remi insisted the tight-fitting dress was “the one?”

Never again. Jess would be shopping for comfort from now on.

She scanned the room, looking for anyone who didn’t seem to be coupled up or already involved in a private conversation.

Too bad Linc had already skipped out. He was the one she could always count on to be available, mostly because he was one of the only single wranglers left on the ranch.

It hadn’t bothered her before to be single. Now that she and Linc stuck out like sore thumbs, it was a little hard to ignore the implication that they should just do as others do.

They weren’t the “relationship” types. She and Linc did well as loners and didn’t need anyone. She liked knowing they were alike in that way. They could even be alone together most days and enjoy it.

Now, she was alone in a room full of people, and why did it suddenly seem like everyone was looking at her?

Mrs. Scott was making her way over, waving one hand in the air. The other was dragging a man in a suit behind her.

Oh no. Not another setup. Good grief, the woman was persistent.

“Jess!” Mrs. Scott pointed at the man trying to keep his feet beneath him as she pulled him along. “Meet Hanson.”

Hanson. Was that his first name? It would have helped if Jess had paid a little more attention the first four times Mrs. Scott had tried to set her up with him.

Hanson straightened his shoulders and fixed his surprised expression into a friendly smile. “Hi. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Jess stuck out her hand before he got the bright idea to go in for a hug. “Hi.”

She wasn’t about to tell him it was nice to meet him too. The jury was still out on that.

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