Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Sayla
“Have you seen my date?” Dexter comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my body. I spin around to face him, looking up into his dark eyes.
“Maybe.” I flutter my lashes. “What does she look like?”
His lips curve. “She’s a beautiful blonde with sparkling eyes and a killer smile.
She’s also incredibly smart, and kind, and generous.
Just an overall superior human being.” He glances around the room.
“I thought she might be around here somewhere, dressed like a sexy elf. Think you could help me out?”
I take a step back, and he twirls me around, admiring the view.
In lieu of the elf costume my mom originally proposed, I’m wearing a floor-length dress in emerald satin with a plunging back.
As for Dex, he’s in a dark tailored suit in an athletic cut, naturally.
His hair is just the right amount of mussed.
Beard recently trimmed. And he smells like expensive cologne.
“You know what? You’re pretty cute.” I arch a brow. “I’ll be your date.”
“Nice.” He offers me a dapper bow. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Resting his hand at the small of my back, he sweeps me out onto the dance floor. My mom’s already there with Eugene, swaying to “The Lady in Red.” The two of them sidle up next to Dex and me, and the four of us dance side by side for the rest of the song.
I can’t remember ever being happier.
Not that life is perfect. Nothing is ever one hundred percent blemish-free. But as of today, Colleen Kroft is married for the first (and hopefully only) time, and I honestly think she and Eugene might just be the lids for each other's pots.
Then there’s the fact that plans for our new theater are already underway, and the whole school’s excited about the prospect.
I even have a couple of football players who claim they want to try out for the spring musical.
Since the theater probably won’t be ready yet, we’ll repeat the routine we established for the fall play and use the auditorium at city hall.
You can add this to my Nothing’s Perfect list. But improvisation has always been a part of theater life.
And these days, I’m leaning into spontaneity.
Dexter pulls me in close, swaying with me to the music. “So how was it?” he asks. “Being a maid of honor, I mean.”
“This is my first time in a wedding party,” I tell him, as he glides me across the floor. “I’ve never even been a bridesmaid before. I was supposed to be Loren’s maid of honor but …”
“Yeah. Right.”
That’s another number on my Nothing’s Perfect list.
Still, Loren’s finally getting over the worst of the heartbreak, and I think she’s going to be all right. Oreos and ice cream help a lot. So does not watching The Proposal.
“Well, you did a great job for your mom,” he says. “And as predicted, you look stunning.” He bends down to nuzzle my neck. “I had no idea it was possible for any human being to be this gorgeous. But you, Sayla Kroft, are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“Shhhhh,” I put a finger to his lips. “Don’t let my mom hear you. She was already worried about me upstaging her today, which I told her I couldn’t. Obviously. She’s the bride.”
Dexter chuckles. “What did she think was going to happen if you’d agreed to dress up like a sexy elf?”
“Stop.”
“Can’t stop, won’t stop.” His face breaks into a crooked smile. “But let’s go somewhere more private.”
He guides me off the dance floor and over to a quiet corner of the room. We’re surrounded by silk trees draped in fairy lights. Candles flicker everywhere. Wedding music wafts overhead. The effect is breathtaking.
Dex is breathtaking.
“So I have some news,” he says. And I’d almost be nervous except the look on his face is too excited to be anything terrible.
“Good news?”
“Very.” He glances around, like maybe no one else is supposed to hear this.
“Okay.” Now I am nervous.
“I still need more details, and this is all brand-new information, but Wilford told me some anonymous donor forked over a big chunk of cash so we can rebuild the theater and gym with all the bells and whistles. No cutting corners with insurance. We’ll get everything on our lists.”
“Wait. What?” My eyes go wide. “Dex!” I throw my arms around him, and he spins me around until I’m almost too dizzy to stand.
“Crazy, right?” He grins at me. “I didn’t want to take away from your mom’s big night, but I just had to tell you.”
“I’m so glad you did.” I grab his hands, my heart pumping with excitement. “Who do you think the donor is?”
“If I had to bet, I’d say Lincoln James and Hadley Morgan.”
“That’s a good call.” I nod, still processing the news. “I could totally see those two wanting to help out with the storm damage. Either way, no matter who the donor is, this is incredible!”
Dexter pulls back, and he seems to examine every detail of my face, like I’m a canvas and he’s an art student. “You’re incredible.”
“Hey.” Heat blossoms in my cheeks.
“Hey.” He lifts his finger and draws a trail from the tiny scar at my temple, down along my cheek to my chin.
“You’re making me shy,” I say.
“How do you think I feel?” His fingertip slides over to my lips, then he drops his arm. “Being in your orbit … It’s like staring at the sun. You’re so dazzling and bright, even when I close my eyes, the shape of you still glows behind the lids.”
“Whoa.” I shake my head, laughing. “That’s … that’s very poetic of you, Dex.”
“Yeah?” He gifts me with a cheeky grin. “I practiced that speech, you know.” His gaze drops to my mouth, and his midnight pupils dilate. “You ready for more?”
“Always.”
“All right. How about this?” He swallows deeply, and his eyes drift shut for real. “Sayla Kroft, I do love nothing in the world so well as you.”
“Dex.” I gape up at him, a little breathless, waiting until he opens his eyes again. “That’s a line from Much Ado About Nothing.”
“I know. Next year’s fall play,” he says. “I memorized the whole scene.”
“Seriously?” I swat at his chest. “You memorized Shakespeare for me?”
“I did.”
I try feigning a pout, but I’m too happy to pull it off. “You know, having a super awesome boyfriend isn’t as easy as you might think. For instance, I sometimes find it very hard to compete with him.”
“Interesting.” He glances around. “Where exactly is this super awesome boyfriend of yours? Because I think he and I need to have a little talk. You see, I’ve got some pretty big plans for his girl, and I’ll steal her if I have to.”
I hike a brow. “Big plans, you say?”
“The biggest.” Something flickers across his eyes. “I just hope she’s ready.”
“Why wouldn’t she be ready?”
“Well, we’ve only been together a few months, so she might think I’m rushing things.”
“Hmm.” I roll my lips. “She also might think that on time is late.”
“Now that you mention it, she is fond of those exact words.”
“Is she also fond of telling her super awesome boyfriend to just stop talking and give her a kiss?”
Dex slowly lowers his head. “Patience, Kroft,” he murmurs. “Your wish is my command.”
His lips whisper above me, and shimmers of desire spark between us. I’m a powder keg ready to explode. And as his mouth finally claims mine, I no longer care about anything in the world besides being in this man’s arms.
When we finally come up for air—five minutes or an eternity later—my heart is singing like the wedding music overhead. “Well, super awesome boyfriend.” I tip my chin up to face him. “You sure know how to give your girlfriend the perfect kiss.”
“And what if I told you I want to give you the rest of my life?”
“Me?” I draw in a breath, and his beautiful mouth slopes sideways.
“You.”
“Why, Dexter Michaels.” My smile breaks free. “I’d say it’s about time.”