Chapter 15 #2
He tugged her toward the bar where Poppy was working. “I’m giving you what you need. A VIP night at Honky Tonk Heaven.” He tapped a cowboy sitting at the bar on the shoulder. “Excuse me, but this barstool is reserved for friends of the owners.”
The cowboy jumped up. “Sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“No worries.” Huck called to his sister. “Hey, Pops! Give this guy a free beer.” He looked at Cadee and winked. “And give our good friend here whatever she wants.” He turned and walked away.
Cadee should have left, but she was primed to talk to him tonight and he’d have to take a break eventually. If she had to follow him into the men’s bathroom, she would.
She slipped onto the barstool and texted her mama to tell her she wouldn’t be home for dinner. Her mama seemed fine with that. In fact, more than fine. She immediately texted back.
Good for you. You deserve a night out. No rush getting home. I’ll get Cam to bed.
While Cadee was texting her mom about Camden’s homework, Poppy brought her a drink.
It turned out to be one doozy of a drink.
Poppy called it a Firebomb. It certainly felt like fire going down.
At least the first one did. The second went down much smoother.
She was feeling a lot less stressed. In fact, she was feeling pretty darn good.
The live band started playing her favorite Zac Brown song and she couldn’t help glancing longingly at the dance floor as she tapped her boot on the footrest of her barstool.
“You never could sit still when this song came on.”
She turned to see Huck standing there. Somehow, he’d gotten hotter since she’d seen him at the door. He’d taken off his cowboy hat and the wayward piece of hair stuck up in the back just enough to make her fingers twitch with the need to smooth it down.
“Dance with me, Cadee.”
It wasn’t a question. Just a simple statement he’d said a hundred times before. Back then, she wouldn’t have hesitated to follow him to the dance floor. Now, things were different. “I don’t think—”
He cut her off. “Just one dance.” His eyes softened. “For old time’s sake.”
She slipped off the stool and allowed him to take her hand and lead her out to the dance floor. She figured it was as good a place as any to talk.
But once he drew her into his arms, all thoughts of talking fled.
All she could do was enjoy the moment.
She had danced with a lot of other men, but none had made her feel like she did with Huck. With them, she’d had to focus on following and matching their steps. With Huck, she didn’t have to think. They had danced so many times before her body followed his of its own accord.
Which left her nothing to do but stare into his eyes and come up with something to say. Other than, I missed this . . . I missed you.
“I thought you couldn’t leave your station.”
“Dawson and Maggie are back from California, and he took over for me.” He lifted the hand he held and twirled her until she was dizzy. Once she was settled back in his arms, she glanced up to see him smiling. “When did we start dancing together?” he asked.
“I don’t remember exactly. Third or fourth grade? Although I wouldn’t call sliding around in our socks dancing.”
His smile got bigger. “Remember when you wanted to be like the couple skaters in the winter Olympics and asked me to lift you over my head.”
“And you almost dropped me on mine.”
“Only because you didn’t keep your body stiff. You were like lifting a wiggling, giggly worm.”
“I can’t help it if I’m ticklish under my arms.” When his eyes gleamed devilishly, she slapped his shoulder. “Don’t even think about it, Huck Hennessy.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” He twirled her again before settling back into the two-step. “So what did you want to talk about?”
She had to blame the Firebombs for the words that spilled out of her mouth. “What did you mean when you said you’d never forget that night?”
He didn’t look surprised by the question.
Just resigned. Like he’d expected it. He twirled her again before drawing her close.
Too close. They were no longer in the two-step hold.
His hands rode low on her hips and her arms rested on his shoulders, her fingers brushing the soft hair on the back of his neck.
His gaze was intent. His features serious.
“I meant it was too special a night for me to ever forget.”
“Which is why you ran off.”
“I ran off because I was a stupid, insecure kid who couldn’t deal with you looking at me after we’d made love like it was the biggest mistake you’d ever made.”
If he’d told her the sky was falling, she wouldn’t have been more stunned. She didn’t know if it had to do with him using the words making love or the part about her looking at him like it was a mistake. That was how he’d been looking at her not the other way around.
She stumbled and he steadied her by pulling her closer. Which didn’t steady her at all. And she felt even more off balance when he pressed his cheek to hers and whispered in her ear.
“I’m sorry, Catydid. I’m sorry I left. But I’m even more sorry for convincing you to do something you weren’t ready for.”
She drew back. “What are you talking about? I was the one who kissed you first.”
“And I’m the one who took it further.”
She could have left it at that. But whether it was the Firebombs or just the need to finally get the truth out, she didn’t.
“And I wanted you to take it further. You didn’t force me to do anything, Huck.
I thought I had forced you. I thought that’s why you ran off.
Because I’d made everything weird and scared the crap out of you.
That’s exactly how you looked at me that morning we woke up together. Like you were terrified.”
“I was terrified. I was terrified I’d ruined everything with the girl I was head over heels in love with.”
Cadee stopped dancing and stared at him. “You loved me?”
His eyes were direct and sincere. “Not loved. I love you, Catydid. And not just as a friend.”
She stood there feeling like she’d just been run over by a freight train.
Huck loved her? A thousand questions raced through her mind.
When? How? But mostly, why? Why had he kept it a secret for so long?
Why had he left? Why was he telling her on a dance floor surrounded by hordes of two-stepping Texans?
Before she could voice any of these questions, Dawson yelled. “Huck!”
Huck glanced at the door where Dawson stared down a group of rowdy-looking, drunk guys. Huck looked back at her, his hands tightening on her waist. “Don’t go anywhere, okay? It will just take a minute.”
Then he left her . . . once again.