Chapter 13
Ivy finished up a tasting session with a couple about five-thirty. No one else was waiting. She had already told Sarah that she needed to leave at six because she had plans.
“I doubt anyone else will be coming in, Ivy,” Sarah said. “Why don’t you go ahead and take off, and I’ll stay and close out and get things ready for tomorrow.”
“You sure you don’t mind?”
“Not a bit. It’s a Friday night. Go have fun.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” she said since they were both working the Saturday shift this weekend.
Ivy drove home, glad she had a little bit of extra time to get ready. She took a brief shower and dressed in fresh clothes, donning jeans and boots with a black tank top. She freshened her makeup and dabbed on a bit of perfume, excitement filling her. Yes, she had gone out to dinner with Dax the other night but hadn’t thought of it as a date. This would be the first time they were out in public as a couple. They might or might not run into someone from Lost Creek but if they did, word would certainly spread that they were together.
Ivy didn’t mind that a bit.
It surprised her how much she was already invested in this relationship with Dax. Though they had only known each other for a few days, she believed she knew him better than most of her other friends. He had opened up to her from the beginning. She knew what was important to him, and she had also shared more of herself than she usually did with others. Tonight would be a test, of sorts. She would observe him in public. Most of their time together had been only in each other’s company, and not everyone presented the same face to the world that they showed in private. Something told her, though, that Dax was who he was, an open book to others, even though he had quickly let down his walls and allowed her in.
She wondered if she would be able to do the same with him. Not that she’d been hiding any part of herself from him, but she had never really trusted any man after Jay’s betrayal. If any man could change her mind, it would be Dax Tennyson.
She brushed her teeth and applied a fresh coat of lipstick in a soft rose shade and then removed her driver’s license and a credit card from her wallet and slipped both inside her phone case. Her car key went in a pocket. That way, she wouldn’t have to keep up with a purse at the dance hall. She had already texted Braden earlier in the day to let him know she wouldn’t be home for dinner this evening, but she went to the kitchen now just to say goodbye, having heard him in there earlier.
He stood at the stove, stirring something which smelled delicious, but looked up as she entered.
“You look nice,” he said. “Going out with Dax Tennyson again? Harper said you had barbeque with him the other night.”
She felt the blush tinge her cheeks. “Yes. We’re going dancing. He’s never been, and I promised to teach him how to two-step.”
Braden shook his head, laughing. “I don’t even know what that is, but I hope you have a great time with this guy, Ivy.” He paused, studying her a moment. “You really like him, don’t you?”
“I really do,” she said aloud, owning it.
“You know Harper and I will want to meet him.”
Hesitation fluttered through her. “I want that, too, Braden, but I’m not ready for that to happen just yet. This may seem hard to understand—especially because I share everything with Harper—but beginning a new relationship with Dax? I want something for myself. I don’t know if Harper has told you, but it’s been eons since I dated, much less had a serious relationship. I don’t want to mess this up.”
“I get that. You’re being protective of something new and fragile. Right now, it’s something blossoming between you and Dax. You don’t want outside interference. You aren’t looking for anyone’s opinion. You need to feel your way with him and decide if it’s something you want to pursue. Something that might have a chance to last.”
Ivy nodded. “You get it. Not many people would have that kind of insight.” She hesitated. “I also don’t want to steal the spotlight from Harper and you. She went through such a rough time and was gutted by everything that happened with Ath. The fact you came along and seemed to wash away all the ugliness in her life has really made all the difference. I want Harper to enjoy her relationship with you. I want her to heal emotionally with your help. Between Harper starting her own event planning business and seeing you, I’m watching as she blossoms. Right now, I don’t want to put anything else on her plate. When the time is right, I’ll tell her about Dax and me. For now, though, I want to keep things simple. And quiet.”
Braden smiled wryly. “You do realize you’re living in Lost Creek again. Even though I’ve only lived her a short time, I understand the gossip which is churned at the mill here. If you’re seen in public with Dax, word is going to get back to Harper.”
She thought of how Shelly Blackwood at the diner knew Dax had brought lunch to Ivy and was surprised the gossip generated with that hadn’t already reached her sister’s ears.
“I know that,” she admitted. “And I promise I’ll talk to her about it. I’m glad I was able to share what I could now with you, Braden. You’ve become a good friend to me, and I value your opinion.”
“Then I think I might need to get to know Dax. Outside of his relationship with you. After all, we’re both the new guys in town. Maybe we’ll bond, and I’ll make myself a new friend.”
Her brother Todd used to be the one who checked out the boys interested in Harper and her. At this moment, a wave of sadness dropped a shadow over her, thinking how Todd’s life had been cut short. How he would never dance at her wedding or be an uncle to her children. She looked to Braden, and Ivy saw he was gently stepping into Todd’s shoes. That he was not only a friend but a big brother figure to her. Harper was a lucky woman to have Braden Clark in her life.
“You need to go,” he urged. “But I will be stopping by the coffeehouse and making Dax Tennyson’s acquaintance.”
She smiled. “Then I hope he receives the Braden Clark seal of approval.”
Ivy went to her car and texted Dax that she was on her way. She pulled up outside Java Junction and found him waiting. Her heart fluttered wildly, seeing how handsome he was in a tan shirt and jeans molded to his legs and butt.
He got in the car and beamed at her. “You look amazing, Ivy,” he complimented.
“You clean up nicely yourself, Dallas,” she told him. “I’ve only seen you in shorts and T-shirts up to this point.”
“Hey, I told you I kept a couple of my business suits and a sports jacket. If you like this look, you’ll go crazy for me in a tie.”
She laughed aloud, feeling sheer joy being with this man.
“So, tell me where we’re going. You mentioned Boerne? I actually drove through there when I was hunting for a place to settle. From what I recall, it seems like a nice town.”
“It is. Boerne is similar in size to Lost Creek, with about twenty thousand residents. The dance hall we’re going to is probably four or five miles north of town, so we won’t be going into Boerne itself.”
“Okay, educate me on what I need to know tonight, Professor. What should I expect?”
“It’s a Friday night, so Renegade Roadhouse will have a decent crowd. They usually have one band which plays both Friday and Saturday nights. Those are the only two nights you can listen to live music there. The rest of the time, they play canned music.”
“With a DJ?”
She nodded. “Last time I was there, they did have a DJ, but that was quite a while ago. I’m not sure what the setup is these days, but Renegade Roadhouse is the closest place to go dancing.”
“Who are some of your favorite country artists?” he asked. “I need to start boning up on my country music knowledge.”
“They’ll always be those classic artists and songs. Johnny Cash and Ring of Fire. Brad Paisley’s Whiskey Lullaby. Garth Brooks singing Friends in Low Places. Guitars, Cadillacs from Dwight Yoakam. Since this is Texas, though, George Strait is absolutely King. You might have heard his All My Ex’s Live in Texas.”
He shook his head. “I’ve heard the title but not the song. What are some of his songs that you like?”
She reeled off several without hesitation. “Carrying Your Love With Me. Check Yes or No. Carried Away. You Look So Good in Love. Honestly? There’s not a bad George Strait song. I’m sure you’ll hear some of his music tonight. No band worth its salt would play at Renegade Roadhouse and not play George Strait.”
“I guess that means the bands which play there are cover bands?” he asked.
“For the most part. They may play a song or two which is original, but people like to dance to the tried and true.”
“I’m familiar with some country artists’ names. Dolly Parton. Tim McGraw. Who are some more recent country singers you enjoy listening to?”
Ivy noticed he’d taken out his phone and jotted down a few songs she’d mentioned. She liked that about Dax. He was thorough. Prepared.
“Once again, being in Texas, I would have to mention Miranda Lambert. Some other contemporary acts that I follow are Dierks Bentley, Big and Rich, Chris Stapleton, Rascal Flatts. And definitely Pat Green and the Zac Brown Band. I also absolutely adore Darius Rucker’s voice. That man can sing anything and give you the feels.”
“Hootie? Now, that’s a name I know. Cracked Rear Mirror is a classic album to me. As a DJ, I’ve played a ton of Hootie and the Blowfish songs.”
“He may have been a pop star first, but he’s got a solid fan base in country now,” she told him. “If you’d like, I can put together a playlist for you.”
“That would be terrific,” he said. “As you said, if I’m going to eventually perform here, I need to add some country songs to my repertoire. See which acts have songs suited to my voice and range. It’ll be different if I play ones in the coffeehouse as a solo act versus if I’m able to pull a band together.”
“I did a little research on how to locate local musicians when we hit a lull in the tasting room this afternoon.”
Ivy went on to tell Dax how people advertised on community sites within Craigslist and Reddit, looking for others to add to an existing band or creating one from scratch.
“There’s also a website which is a national musicians’ finder site. It was a lot more specific, looking for exact types to add to an existing group, for the most part. Like a left-handed bass player for alternative rock, for example.”
“What I want is something a lot more loosey-goosey,” he said. “Just a group who gets together and enjoys playing music. Maybe performing at a wedding or small club on the weekends, if that. Frankly, I think I’m going to put the whole band idea on hold for now, so I can focus on my own singing and songwriting and these fusion nights.”
“I was also fiddling around with names for those nights,” Ivy said. “If we’re going to advertise this on your website—which we’ll put together these weekend—we should call it something other than fusion night.”
“What do you suggest?”
“I played with a few names. If you don’t like any of them, it’s fine.”
She named five or six ideas she’d toyed with, gauging his reaction to each.
“You put a lot of thought into this,” he said. “I liked Sips, Strokes, and Songs, but that might be a little too much of a mouthful. The two I liked best are Harmony Hues and Brushstrokes Beats, but I’m leaning toward Harmony Hues.”
“That was my first choice, Dallas,” she said, smiling at him.
“Then let’s go with it.”
They talked a few minutes about the website’s design. The colors he wanted to feature, along with the vibe he wanted it to have. Ivy told him she had a couple of fonts in mind to show him, and based upon the color scheme he favored, there would be a nice palette of colors which would be easy to draw from and complement one another.
They arrived at Renegade Roadhouse, where the parking lot was already two-thirds full at seven o’clock on a Friday night.
Dax came around and opened her door for her, and Ivy thought in all the times she’d been with Jay, he had never done so a single time.
“You’re still going to make me dance, aren’t’ you?” he asked.
Grinning, she asked, “What’s the point of visiting a dance hall if you don’t dance? Don’t worry. We can grab a table if one is available. If not, we can stand on the sidelines and let you observe some of the dancers while we enjoy the music and a beer. But I am determined to get you out on the dance floor, Dallas.”
Ivy hoped since Dax enjoyed music so much that he would have a feel for the beat. That made all the difference in dancing.
She slipped her cell into the back pocket of her jeans, and they entered the venue. The band was playing a tune by the Chicks, and the dance floor had two dozen couples moving about it.
“Okay, wine snob. What kind of beer do you drink?” Dax asked.
“I’ll take a Shiner Bock.”
They moved to the bar, and he ordered two Shiners, paying for them as the bartender handed over the bottles.
Dax threaded his fingers through hers and led them to one of the few empty tables left.
“Who is this?” he asked, and she knew he meant the song the band was playing.
“It’s Save a Horse. Ride a Cowboy. By Big and Rich. A real boot-scooter.”
Taking a sip of his beer, he nodded. “I like it.”
They listened to three songs, and Ivy saw Dax observing various couples dancing, his eyes following a particularly good pair.
He turned and met her gaze. “I don’t know what they just did. I doubt I’ll ever be able to pull it off.”
Laughing, she told him, “That’s the pretzel. And I won’t ask you to even try it on your first night.”
“I think I’ve picked up the basics. Run me through what I should know before I get out there and make a fool of myself.” He took another sip of his beer.
“Pretty much everything you see out there is called the two-step, the most popular country dance. Basically, you’ll be the leader. I’m the follower. Your left hand will join my right, and your right hand will go around to rest on my shoulder blade.”
Dax glanced back at the dance floor. “Not every guy’s hand is on a shoulder blade,” he commented drily.
“Well, that’s where it’s supposed to be. Sometimes, couples who are a little more familiar with one another? The guy’s hand dips down to the girl’s hip. Or even her ass.”
He gave her a wicked smile. “I’ll start in a proper position, but I can’t guarantee where my hand will wind up by the end of the dance.”
Ivy laughed, loving every minute she spent in Dax’s company. She skimmed the dance floor and picked out a couple.
“See the girl in the white blouse and the guy in the red shirt? Follow them for one complete turn around the room.”
Dax watched the couple intently. After they’d made a circle around the ballroom, he said, “Talk to me, Professor. Give me the color commentary as I watch them make a second pass.”
“You move your feet four times. Quick, quick then slow, slow. Quick, quick. Slow. Slow.”
She repeated the phrase several times, matching it to the rhythm of the couple he watched.
“Okay. Got it.”
“Notice how he’s not directly across from her. He’s slightly to her left. That’s so as they slide their feet, they’re staggered and won’t bump into one another.”
“Ah, I get it. A way to protect toes. Smart.”
“More experienced couples keep to the outside of the circle, while other, less talented ones stay in the middle.”
“Got it. We’re definitely middle people tonight. I see everyone goes counterclockwise,” he noted.
“Yes. You don’t want to alter that and be a fish swimming upstream, fighting the crowd. That’s really all there is to it. The two-step is pretty simple. If you get that down tonight, I’ll be happy.”
“Show me some other stuff couples are doing.”
She pointed out a woman wearing a purple blouse and said, “That’s a sweetheart dip.”
The man dipped the woman several times, and then Ivy chose another couple. “That’s called behind the back. Green shirt at nine o’clock? That’s the spin out.”
“Okay, I won’t try anything fancy tonight, but it actually seems pretty simple. All except that pretzel.” He pretended to shiver. “That one’s beyond me.” His smiled turned wicked. “Of course, if you give me private dance lessons, I might be able to figure it out. All that getting twisted and untwisted could prove interesting.”
“That’ll cost you,” she said, laughing.
He waggled his eyebrows. “Can I pay off my bill in kisses?”
Although he was teasing, a rush of desire shot through Ivy.
Flirting, she said, “I will definitely hold you to that.” She drained the last of her beer and set the bottle on the table. Standing, she said, “Come on, Dax. It’s time to put on your dancing shoes and take a twirl about the room.”