Chapter 26 Chase #2
Her grin softens as she places her hand in mine and steps closer.
“I’m not exactly graceful with this boot on,” she whispers, placing her other hand on my shoulder.
“I got you,” I promise, pulling her body against mine.
It shouldn’t feel new and different. Hell, I’ve memorized every inch of her these past couple of weeks. But this isn’t the same. I’m holding her as if I have some right to claim her. Like we’re a real couple. My heart and body have zero doubt that this woman belongs to me.
We don’t speak as we sway together, and I keep my hands at a respectful place on her back even though I want more. I want everything. Hell, for all I know, she’s going to kick me to the curb as soon as I’m not of use to her. But even the idea of rejection doesn’t tamp down my need.
The song ends, and she pulls away. “I should go check on…” She waves her hand between us. “Other things.”
“You do that, Molly. I’ll be here when you’re done with the other things.”
I pitch my voice low because I want her to understand what I’m saying. When her eyes darken, I think she might, but it could also be purely physical for her. Normally, that’s all I’d want, but damn, I really am a sap because my heart tightens as I watch her walk away.
I turn to do the same thing, but Laurel and Luke grab onto me from either side.
“It’s a line dance, Chase,” Luke says. “All cowboys know how to line dance, right?”
I swallow back a groan. “Knowing how and wanting to are two different things.”
“But you want to teach us, right?” Laurel asks, and it doesn’t sound like I have much choice. “That’s what a nanny does. We watched Mary Poppins during inside recess last week when it was raining.”
I rub a hand over my face to hide my grimace at the comparison. We’re surrounded by wedding guests, and the three of us have ended up in the front line.
“Shit,” I mutter, realizing there isn’t much hope for escape at the moment.
“You’re not supposed to say shit,” Laurel reminds me.
“You’re not supposed to say shit either,” Luke tells her.
“Start moving,” I tell the kids as I muster a smile for the people on either side of us.
I give them instructions that match up with the steps of the dance, because they weren’t wrong about line dancing.
Most people who spend any time on the circuit know the classics.
There’s always a barn dance or a party at a dive bar at the end of each evening.
For the life of me, I don’t know why the hell people like line dancing so much, but they do.
I’m pretty good, if I do say so myself.
“You’re terrible at this,” Laurel tells me with a giggle toward the end of the song, cutting me off at the knees when I was so impressed by my own skill. “Are you sure you’re a cowboy?”
“I’m a bull rider,” I clarify. “Not a dancer.”
She grins up at me. She lost a tooth last week and shoves her tongue into the gap. I have to admit, it’s cute as hell.
When the song ends, I step off the parquet tiles laid to form the dance floor. I’m not getting sucked into another dance. “The reception is going to be winding down soon. Let’s find your mom and see if she needs help with cleanup.”
They each grab one of my hands, and we weave through the tables and out of the tent until we find Molly standing with the bride and groom under the light of the stars.
“This was perfect,” the woman says, practically glowing with newlywed bliss. “I’ll have our photographer send everything over, and you’re welcome to use whatever photos you want on your website.”
“We’d be happy to give you a testimonial or be a reference for other clients, too,” the groom adds.
“I’m not to that point yet,” Molly says, but I can hear the excitement in her voice.
“She’ll definitely reach out.” I give Molly a pointed look, and she nods to the couple, her eyes sparkling. She needs to remember that she kicked ass tonight. She’s been kicking ass, and there’s no doubt in my mind that’s going to continue.
The bride hugs her, then turns her attention to Luke and Laurel.
“Thank you both for your help and for getting the party started on the dance floor. A good reception needs that.”
The groom reaches into the back pocket of his tux and pulls out a wallet, holding out two crisp fifty-dollar bills.
“Oh, no,” Molly says. “You don’t need to do that.”
“Your mom said you helped with the setup too,” he says to the twins, whose eyes have gone wide. “I’m guessing she couldn’t have done it without you.”
“That part is true,” Molly agrees. I meet her gaze and wink. “If you’re sure...”
“Oh, my gosh,” Laurel says. “This is the most money I’ve ever seen.”
Molly arches a brow. “What do you say?”
“Thank you,” the kids shout in unison.
Molly laughs. “Yes, thank you. I’m glad everything came together the way you pictured it.”
“It was better than we imagined,” the man tells her. He looks at me, then at his wallet.
“I’m all good,” I say, holding up my hands.
“Right,” he agrees. “We’re going to have one last dance before things wrap up.”
“Thank you again for trusting me with your big day,” Molly tells them. “It’s been so much fun.”
The bride’s eyes get a little misty. “You know, I felt like my dad was here today. There’s something about this place.” She squeezes Molly’s hand. “He would have loved seeing me get married here.”
“That means a lot to me,” Molly whispers.
As the couple walks away, the twins dance around us.
“We’re rich! We’re rich!”
Molly laughs and draws them close. “Okay, we’re going to talk about how much you want to spend and how much you want to save tomorrow.”
“Spend it all,” Luke says in a demonic voice.
“I want to save it,” Laurel tells her mother. “You can add it to the money we need to buy the farm from Nana.”
“Oh, sweetie.” Molly presses two fingers to her chest. “This is your money. As much as I appreciate that, I’ve got things under control with your grandma.”
“Does that mean we for sure get to stay?”
Molly’s gaze shutters. “We’ll talk about that tomorrow.” She tugs on Laurel’s braid the same way the girl did earlier. “But right now, I do need to finish wrapping up this party. Do you guys think you can put yourselves to bed tonight?”
“Chase can do it,” Luke says. “He’s good at reading stories.”
Am I, I want to ask. I’ve done it a few times over the past couple of weeks, but I figured I was about as good at that as I am at line dancing. I’m going to take the kids’ word for it and ignore how much their confidence means to me.
An emotion I can’t name flickers in Molly’s green eyes. “I think Chase—”
“Would love to tuck you guys in,” I finish before she can say anything more.
“Okay then.” Molly’s smile is a little wobbly at the corners. “I’ll be in later. Give me a goodnight kiss.”
Both kids do and then turn to me. “You have to read two stories,” Laurel tells me. “We each get to pick one.”
Luke nods. “Eeny meeny miny moe for who gets to go first.”
“Eeny meeny miny moe it is,” I agree.
I walk back to the house with the kids, a small hand in each of mine.
There’s a knot in my chest I can’t explain.
It doesn’t exactly hurt, but feels full in a way I’m not used to.
Is it possible for a heart to expand as much as mine feels like it has since becoming a part of Molly’s life?
More importantly, what am I going to do if it ends up broken?