Chapter Fifteen #2
She kept that thought in check after the ceremony, too, when Asher offered his arm to escort her into the reception.
Seeing Asher at the back of the chapel barn, Kelley thought him impossibly handsome.
But a scooch away from being tucked right up against his side, she found her cowboy impossible not to fancy.
Still, to have this one evening in Asher’s company, she anchored herself in the moment and willed time to slow through the sit-down dinner, the toasts, the speeches and even the cake cutting.
As the event progressed, Asher was charming, funny and so very attentive. He chatted with her family and friends as if he was always a part of their circle. And he won more than one admirer when he accepted the flower girl’s shy request for the first dance.
And Asher kept his promise to skip the sitting and dance the night away with Kelley. The party was in full swing. High heels were kicked off under tables, and the band kept the guests dipping and swirling from one song to the next.
During the band’s intermission, the evening took an unexpected turn. Kelley accepted a glass of wine from Asher, propped her bare feet on a chair and wiggled her toes. Laughing, she said, “I’m not complaining about the dancing, but this is a welcome rest.”
Asher dropped into the chair on her other side. His jacket was draped on the chair. And if Kelley was not mistaken, one more button was unhooked on the top of his dress shirt.
He tapped his glass against hers and said, “Not ready to call it a night, then.”
“Not even close.” She sipped her wine and eyed him over the rim. “How about you?”
He smiled. “I’m just getting started.”
Kelley tipped her head back and laughed. “And who thought the singles’ table would be dull?”
“I’m rather enjoying it,” Asher said then turned to lift his glass in a toast to Beatrice and Lynette sitting at a table across from them.
The widowed sisters wore matching grins and their gazes gleamed. Kelley was not given time to wonder what the crafty duo was up to. Frannie, Owen, several regulars Kelley recognized from the diner and a handful of other locals surrounded the table.
Frannie lifted her arms as if accepting she was the group’s spokeswoman. Her grin was wide, and her gaze was bright. “There’s a bit of a buzz going around.”
Kelley curved her fingers around the stem on her wineglass.
“Seeing as there is a live band and we have a songwriter in our midst.” Frannie stopped chuckling long enough to blurt, “We think Asher should sing.”
Kelley caught her own amusement and slanted her gaze toward her cowboy.
He swirled his wine in his glass, sat back and said easily, “I’m not sure that’s appropriate. The night is about celebrating Laura-Beth and Wes.”
“It’s also a gathering of friends and family,” Frannie countered. “What’s more fun than our friends and family performing?”
The group grinned and nodded.
Kelley immediately thought of kissing Asher. She dismissed the image quickly and asked, “What would he sing?”
“One of his originals of course,” Owen offered, grinning sheepishly. “I’ve been hearing all about your cruise ship adventure.”
Kelley coughed.
Asher arched an eyebrow at her and said good-naturedly, “Yes, well, I’ve been rediscovering my sense of adventure since I’ve been home.”
“An adventure is fine, so long as you come home,” Beatrice said and jostled her way to the front of the small crowd. “Although you don’t need to leave to find what you’re looking for. We got it right here.”
Asher smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Kelley reminded herself the cowboy beside her would be leaving. And she refused to mind.
Lynette stepped beside her sister and added, “Come on, Asher, how about it?” Her gaze sparkled. “You gonna give us something to remember you by or not?”
Kelley held her breath.
“You know. Why not?” Asher said and put his wineglass down.
Kelley could think of several reasons. He was not a singer. The story was a rumor. And there are too many other things to remember him by.
“Seeing as this is a celebration of the new couple,” Asher began and pushed his chair back. He took Kelley’s hand in his and continued, “I think a duet would be more appropriate.”
That gained a round of oohs and aahs and cheers.
Kelley couldn’t not smile. Yet, before she could backpedal, Asher tightened his grip, stood and tugged her with him toward the stage.
“Please tell me you have a song in mind,” he said, his voice pitched low and on the edge of panic. “I obviously don’t have an original. We need a song.”
“We,” Kelley squeaked.
“For our duet,” Asher said. “In celebration of the happy couple.”
“This was supposed to be your solo,” Kelley countered.
He relaxed beside her. His smile grew. “This will be much more fun.”
“How do you figure that?” she asked, hearing a note of dread in her own words now.
“Simple.” He squeezed her fingers, drawing her gaze back to his. “I’m with you. That makes everything infinitely better. You make everything better.”
That flutter of attraction she felt every time she was around Asher gained traction. Unstoppable and, she supposed, unavoidable. Her laughter swirled through her sigh, and she said, “You’re right. We need to make this fun.”
A quick debate with the band and they landed on an upbeat song, one certain to get the guests onto the dance floor and singing along.
They were barely into the first verse when the guests joined in.
The performance went from an upbeat duet to an all-inclusive karaoke.
And the sing-along did not end there. The band asked any guest with a song recommendation to join them on stage. That was when the fun really began.
As for Asher and Kelley, they danced, sang, sipped wine yet did not sit until they were inside Asher’s truck, heading home. Asher parked beside her mother’s house and Kelley slipped on her heels. She said, “I can’t recall the last time I closed down a wedding reception.”
“I don’t think I’ve been the last one to leave the dance floor ever.” Asher cut the engine, opened his door and got out.
Kelley met him in the driveaway and asked, “It wasn’t so bad, was it? Being the last to leave.”
He shook his head, took her hand and walked with her to the front porch. “I would’ve stayed if the staff hadn’t kicked us out.”
Kelley chuckled. “That view of the moonlit lake from the reception hall was magical. We should’ve strolled along the shore.”
“And missed all that two-stepping and line dancing?” Asher said, his words wry. “I don’t think so.”
They arrived at the front door and Kelley turned toward him. “Thank you for tonight.”
“It was my pleasure,” he said simply.
And then Kelley bent the rules. Wanting something even stronger to remember.
She leaned in and pressed her lips ever so softly against his.
She felt him still. Felt his breath on her skin.
Then she started to lean away. Only he framed her face in his hands gently and Kelley met him halfway for a different sort of kiss.
One that buckled knees.
One that whispered of everything they would—and could—not express in words.
One that promised to linger in every heartbeat.
But, she reminded herself, whatever was between them could not last.
Finally, the kiss slowed. Kelley pulled away and waited for her breath to even out and pulse to stop racing. And all the while, Asher kept her anchored in his arms as if he needed to ground himself.
Kelley started, “That was…” Amazing. Addicting. Habit forming. She exhaled and said, “That was simply us giving in to a mutual curiosity, right?”
His gaze traveled over her face like a caress. His voice was quiet and tender. “Exactly.”
“Then there is no need for a repeat.” Even if she very much wanted to kiss him again. Right now. Right there. One deep sigh, her words came out thin like vapor. “Because we know all we need to know.”
“Right,” he said, his voice more gravelly than drawl.
“I should go in.” I should let go.
He nodded but gathered her even closer.
Kelley settled against him. Rested her cheek over his heart. And let her cowboy hold her on the front porch under the moonlight. She closed her eyes. After all, this was not an evening for stargazing and firefly wishing.
It was not a forever kind of night.
It was a cowboy. A cowgirl. And an unforgettable memory made. That was all it was ever meant to be.
Kelley released her hold, rolled onto the balls of her feet and pressed a kiss on Asher’s cheek. “You were right,” she whispered. “The evening was infinitely better with you.”
He chuckled and tucked a curl behind her ear. “See you at the singles’ table.”
“Save me a seat, cowboy.” Finally, she stepped away and walked into the house alone.