Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Derek
A mber returns from the bathroom with a slight furrow in her brow, and I swear there’s something off. Her smile is bright but doesn’t reach her eyes in the way it usually does when she’s around me and the kids. But as she takes a deep breath, smoothing her hands over her dress, her shoulders relax, and she slips back into her usual warmth. I figure I’m just imagining things.
“You ready to cut loose again?” I ask, leaning in close so she can hear me over the rising chatter.
“Only if you are,” she teases back, her eyes sparkling as she takes in the scene. “But don’t think I’ll let you off easy on the dance floor.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to keep up.” I chuckle, earning an eye roll that’s a touch too sweet to be serious.
We spot Teddy and Sofia. Teddy is in his usual button-up, and Sofia’s dressed in a bright, flowy dress that matches her energy. They’re already talking with Amber’s parents, Linda and Bill, who wave us over the moment they see us.
“There they are!” Bill greets us, reaching out to shake my hand. “Good to see you, Derek! Amber, you look stunning tonight.”
She blushes a bit, smiling. “Thanks, Dad. It’s great to see you both! Mama, you look gorgeous!”
Her mom waves a hand, but she’s beaming. “Oh, stop, you. It’s so wonderful to see you both! The dance feels like old times, doesn’t it, Bill?”
“Couldn’t agree more.” He nods. “I hope you two came ready to dance.”
“Oh, I don’t know if Derek’s got any moves left in him,” Amber teases, casting me a smirk.
“Oh, ye of little faith,” I say, feigning offense. “You’re going to be in for a surprise. I was just getting started earlier.”
Just then, Teddy nudges me, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Derek, you ever get lessons from this one?” He gestures to Sofia, who’s swaying her hips in rhythm with the music already. “She could teach you a thing or two, trust me.”
“Oh, don’t embarrass the poor man, Teddy,” Sofia chides with a wink.
Before long, Amber has pulled me back onto the dance floor as the band kicks into a lively tune. I spin her around, and we fall into a rhythm, laughing and catching our breaths between steps. Her face is flushed, her eyes lit up as she twirls back to me, and at this moment, nothing else exists but the beat, the people around us, and the warm weight of her hand in mine.
Sharon used to hate stuff like this, and I’ve never been much of a dancer either, but Amber makes everything so easy.
When the song finally ends, we make our way off the dance floor, finding Amber’s parents sitting with Teddy and Sofia again, all of them grinning like they’re in on some private joke.
“You two looked like you were having a ball out there!” Sofia exclaims, patting the chair beside her.
“Oh, they were tearing it up, weren’t they?” Teddy chuckles.
“Absolutely!” Linda agrees.
“Where’s Bree and Charlie tonight?” Sofia asks, looking around.
“Bree wasn’t feeling the greatest, so they stayed home. She’s so stressed about the wedding that I think she’s giving herself ulcers,” Amber says.
“Been there.” Sofia giggles.
A softer tune starts, and Amber’s eyes meet mine with a questioning lift of her brow. Without a word, I take her hand, leading her back to the dance floor for something a little slower. She settles into my arms, and I pull her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. For a moment, I’m aware of how everything feels right.
I press a kiss to her temple, wanting to tell her that I love her, but I refrain. It’s too soon, and I don’t want to scare her off.
She tilts her head to look up at me, her eyes glowing. “I’m having the best time,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
The music continues, and we sway, letting the world around us fall away as we share this quiet moment. When the song ends, she leans up to kiss me, just a brush of her lips, but it’s enough to make me feel like the luckiest guy in the room.
“Do you want to stay the night with me tonight?” I ask her as I help her into the truck at the end of the night.
“I want to, but…are you sure? It’s a big step with the kids at home.”
“They’re okay with it, and I don’t want to sleep without you tonight.”
She chews the inside of her lip in concentration before she smiles softly and nods.
“Can we stop by my house and get a change of clothes?”
“Absolutely,” I tell her.
I kiss her gently before closing her door and climbing into the truck myself.
If it were up to me, I wouldn’t let her ever go home.
* * *
The following morning, I wake to the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the house. It’s like I can smell the love Amber puts into little things like this. I throw on a shirt and jeans and pad down the hallway to the kitchen, where I find her humming softly as she pours coffee into a thermos, carefully measuring in a spoonful of sugar the way I like it.
She turns when she sees me, her smile lighting up her face. “Good morning! I made coffee. Thought you might need it since you’ll be out on the farm for most of the day.”
She glances over her shoulder toward the stove, where something delicious smells like it’s already in progress.
“Amber, you really didn’t have to do all this,” I say, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.
She leans back against me, her body fitting perfectly, like this is exactly where she’s meant to be.
“I know. It’s…is it weird? Is it too much? I like cooking, and I just want to take something off your plate.”
“It’s not too much. I like seeing you moving around the house like it’s your own.”
Casey and Eric stumble into the kitchen next, looking like they just rolled out of bed. They both mumble their good mornings and head straight for the plates Amber set up for breakfast.
They give her a one-armed hug and thank her for making breakfast before walking to the table. Seeing them walk in and hug her as if it’s the most normal thing in the world makes my heart swell.
As we all sit around the table, Amber falls into conversation with the kids. I catch myself watching the three of them. The way she knows how to get them to open up to her and make them smile. It feels…right.
As I get ready to head out to check the orchard, I pull her into my arms.
“I don’t expect you to cook for us or any of that. Don’t feel like you have to.”
“I know. I like to do things like that.” She shrugs nonchalantly.
“What do you think about staying the night again tonight?”
“I…I would love that, but…is that too much?”
“I don’t think so. We’ll play it by ear.”
Amber stays the night with us that night and then again on Wednesday night. It’s nice to see her in a rhythm with the kids and just with us as a whole.
“I made myself lunch from last night’s leftovers and thought you could use it too,” she says Thursday morning. “I hope that’s not weird.”
“It will never be weird that you consider me while you’re doing things. I really appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.”
Later, I’m out at the orchard, going through the trees, checking for early signs of harvest readiness. As I reach into the lunch bag Amber packed, I’m surprised to find a small note tucked next to my sandwich that says Don’t work too hard, handsome . I can’t help but grin. It’s such a simple gesture, but it means the world.
I make sure to leave little things for her, too—a handwritten thank-you on a sticky note or a flower from the garden set in a small glass by her place at the table. She always gives me that soft smile in return, one that says she understands without needing to say a word.
On Friday night, there’s a knock on the door. Willie stands on the front porch and gestures for me to walk outside.
“Did you ever hear anything about the charges on David?” he asks as he comes up behind me.
“No, they’re still working the case. The judge approved the restraining order, but he hasn’t been served with it yet.”
“He showed up here just a bit ago. Josiah caught him and ran him off, but he got video of him pouring something into the horse and the alpaca feeders.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. He’s cleaning it all out now.”
“I’ll call the sheriff and get him out here.”
“Josiah has one bin roped off so nothing can get to it. Maybe that will give the sheriff the proof they need.”
“Send it to me. I’ll call the sheriff.”
“Sending now.”
I glance down at the phone, watching the video. There’s no denying it’s my father-in-law, and I’m worried about what we’ll find. I’m grateful we’ve finally caught him in the act, though.