36. Henry #2
Charlotte chuckled, the action pushing her breasts into his ribs. More than ever, he needed her with fierce intensity. “You can’t be serious,” she replied instead of the yes he wanted. “They still need to do the dollar dance.”
“I think they’ll be okay without me paying a dollar to dance with my daughter-in-law.” Henry tugged her so her pelvis was flush with his.
“Maybe,” Charlotte wound her finger around the hair at his nape, “but I want a chance to compare your son’s dancing skills to yours.” Her other hand stroked his bicep. “Plus, we haven’t congratulated Liam on his engagement yet!”
Henry’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he worried it was Melanie. Again. He should have blocked her, but had decided he’d rather be aware of her trying to contact him than not know what she was doing, at least for tonight. Tomorrow he’d be done with her for good.
“There’s that girl again, Henry,” Charlotte pointed out, right before he twirled her. “Did you ever find out who she was?”
Looking over to the edge of the dance floor, Henry saw the young woman he had spoken with twice today.
“Just that her name is Sophie.” No one seemed to know her, but she was watching him expectantly.
The dance was open to the public, but he couldn’t recall seeing her before today; yet, there was something familiar about her, whether it was her blonde hair or the bright blue eyes that had sparkled up at him when he had talked to her, he wasn’t sure.
“Maybe it’s someone from Effie’s side. Do you think Diadema knows her?
” Henry followed Charlotte’s line of sight to DD scowling next to Burnside.
Damn DD, he cursed silently, for either deliberately ignoring that he and Charlotte were in a relationship, or being too wrapped up in herself to simply not care.
“Did she ever tell you why she came by your house that morning?” He shook his head, still thrilled that Charlotte, clad in his shirt, had answered his door that day; the sight caused DD to flee hastily, and she hadn’t sought him out since.
Until tonight, when he’d ducked out to the parking lot before the dance had begun, on the verge of blocking Melanie.
DD had interrupted him, desperate to talk.
Frustrated with each of the women from his past, he brushed her aside, uninterested in anything she had to say.
Instead, he rushed in to collect Charlotte for a dance.
“I’m sure it was something about Burnside.” The tempo slowed, and the band began playing a Vince Gill song. With one arm already cradling her back, his other slid around to do the same, pulling her even closer. “Have I mentioned how happy I’ve been this past month?” He kissed her forehead.
Charlotte sighed. “Maybe once or twice. Me, too, Henry.” Her brown eyes sparkled behind her glasses.
“And just so you know, Amy approves.” The weekend of the rodeo, her best friend had grilled him about his intentions toward Charlotte.
He must have passed her test, because when he tried to give them their space, she insisted on Henry joining them.
Charlotte made lasagna, Henry’s favorite, and the three of them played board games until Amy left to meet up with a cowboy shed met at the rodeo.
Seeing another side of Charlotte emerge in the presence of her best friend, he’d fallen even more for her.
Before Amy departed for Sioux City, she hugged him, telling him softly, “She’s happy, Henry. ”
As the ballad ended, Charlotte stroked his arm. “I’m going to get a glass of champagne and another slice of cake. Do you want anything?”
Bringing her hand to his mouth, he tenderly kissed her palm. “I’ll just take a Diet Pepsi. Maybe bring two forks for the cake, though?”
Charlotte grinned. “Considering the places our mouths have been on each other’s bodies, I think I’m okay sharing my fork.
” Henry chuckled, stopping when she whispered, “And I plan on having my mouth on some very interesting places later,” leaving him with his own mouth watering and stomach clenching.
Was this love? Henry wondered. He hoped so, but he feared trusting himself, having gotten it so wrong before.
In high school, he thought he loved DD, but he’d been na?ve.
As a young man, heartbreak had accompanied his love for Melanie.
Now in his mid-life, with Charlotte, he was cautious, not just to respect her but to protect himself.
But his passion, deep and full, made him want to trust his feelings.
Henry’s phone buzzed, but he ignored it. Glancing at the bar, he saw Charlotte in conversation with Tess, her head tipped back in laughter. Her lightness emanated across the room, enveloping him. His phone buzzed again.
Text from Melanie
I need a chance to explain—you owe me that much. I am begging you to please call me.
There is something you need to know—tonight!!!
Please. Just call me and I won’t bother you again. I promise.
Henry, if I ever meant anything to you, you will call me back. Please.
Sighing, he supposed he couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer. Skirting past George and Nora on the dance floor, looking like newlyweds themselves, Henry was almost out one of the side doors when his sister stopped him.
“Henry,” Trixie cried, throwing her smaller frame into him and hugging him tightly. “Some news about Liam, huh?”
He laughed in agreement. “Yeah, I’m shocked, but not really. I suppose we’ll be having another wedding soon.”
“Now how do I get my boys as happy as Josh and Liam? Daniel won’t tell me anything about his personal life, and as far as I know, Felix doesn’t have one.”
“Trix, you know it takes time to be ready for love.”
“Not for me and Brian. I knew he was the one when we met in college.”
“You guys were lucky. So were George and Nora.”
“Speaking of love, you and Charlotte look extremely happy.” His sister kissed his cheek. “I’m so happy for you. Both of you are the best of the best…not that I’m biased or anything.”
“Thanks. I’m pretty happy for me, too. I don’t want to mess anything up with her.”
“You won’t, little brother.” Another kiss from his sister. “Oh, I meant to ask, did you talk to a young woman tonight? Goes by the name of Sophie?” He nodded. “She was asking me about you.”
“What? What do you mean?”