consisted of several retired men and one woman on keyboard. They played country
favorites with a rhythm that had nothing to do with what the songwriters had originally
intended.
Conversation and laughter swirled around as wildly as the dancers. She watched two
teenage boys spike the punch. When the preacher caught them, he actually grabbed them
by their ears to pull them outside. She wasn’t sure if she’d gone back in time, or
had been caught up in a location shoot for a television movie-of-the-week.
This happy occasion was as different from the formal dances she was used to as filet
mignon was from five-alarm chili. She’d always liked chili dogs, and now she knew
why.
The people here were actually having fun. Couples smiled while they danced, children
dashed around the edges of the room playing elaborate games of tag. Old ladies sat
in straight-backed chairs and gossiped. New mothers showed off babies. Her mother
had wanted her to be a debutante, but this was much more her style. Her dress cost
less than her mother’s overpriced face powder, yet she felt, if not attractive, then
at least average enough to fit in.
Randi smiled. One of these days she was going to have to work on her self-confidence.
Although, referring to herself as “average enough” was better than her description
of “hideous”—as she’d thought in high school. She owed a little of that improvement
to Brady. Three days later she still remembered every word of his declaration—his
wonderful, exciting statements about wanting her. Just thinking about that night made
her skin break out in goose bumps. Their kiss had been—She shook her head. Their kiss
was something she was trying not to think about, remember? It had been a wonderful
experience and something best forgotten. There was no room for her in Brady’s life,
and wishing for the moon would only make her unhappy.
Still, she couldn’t help recalling his sweet apology the next morning. Had anyone
ever cared so much about her feelings? Had any other man been as concerned that she
felt comfortable and safe? If she wasn’t so sure she was moving on, she might be tempted
to—“Penny for your thoughts?”
She glanced up and saw Ty standing next to her. The darkly handsome cowboy raised
his eyebrows expectantly. Randi flushed.
“They’re not for sale. Sorry.”
“Too bad. They looked interesting. Want to dance?”
“Sure.”
She stepped into his arms. In the first hour she’d danced with everyone from the ranch
except for Ty and Brady. Even Tex had taken her on a quick turn around the floor,
all the while making her laugh with incredible tales about his life in the marines.
There wasn’t a shortage of women, so she figured the guys were trying to make her
feel comfortable. “Is there a conspiracy?” she asked.
“About what?”
“Everyone has danced with me. Are you guys trying to keep me from being a wallflower?”
“No conspiracy. Maybe we just like you and want to dance with you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I doubt that.”
“So if I told you that you looked nice, you would dismiss the compliment?”
She glanced down at the simple blue floral print cotton dress she wore. Cap sleeves
showed off her tanned arms. The garment skimmed over her waist and hips, then flared
out slightly to her knees. “I think I look okay.”
“Was that a thank you?”
Before she could answer, he led her through an intricate series of steps that left
her stumbling and breathless. She laughed. “So you’re trying to show me up?”
“I would have thought a city girl like you had taken dancing lessons.”
“Really? What makes you think I’m a city girl?”
“Aren’t you?” For the first time since she’d met him, Ty smiled. The faintly dangerous
expression he normally wore faded slightly. He wasn’t just good-looking. When he smiled
he was about the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.
She tried to remember
favorites with a rhythm that had nothing to do with what the songwriters had originally
intended.
Conversation and laughter swirled around as wildly as the dancers. She watched two
teenage boys spike the punch. When the preacher caught them, he actually grabbed them
by their ears to pull them outside. She wasn’t sure if she’d gone back in time, or
had been caught up in a location shoot for a television movie-of-the-week.
This happy occasion was as different from the formal dances she was used to as filet
mignon was from five-alarm chili. She’d always liked chili dogs, and now she knew
why.
The people here were actually having fun. Couples smiled while they danced, children
dashed around the edges of the room playing elaborate games of tag. Old ladies sat
in straight-backed chairs and gossiped. New mothers showed off babies. Her mother
had wanted her to be a debutante, but this was much more her style. Her dress cost
less than her mother’s overpriced face powder, yet she felt, if not attractive, then
at least average enough to fit in.
Randi smiled. One of these days she was going to have to work on her self-confidence.
Although, referring to herself as “average enough” was better than her description
of “hideous”—as she’d thought in high school. She owed a little of that improvement
to Brady. Three days later she still remembered every word of his declaration—his
wonderful, exciting statements about wanting her. Just thinking about that night made
her skin break out in goose bumps. Their kiss had been—She shook her head. Their kiss
was something she was trying not to think about, remember? It had been a wonderful
experience and something best forgotten. There was no room for her in Brady’s life,
and wishing for the moon would only make her unhappy.
Still, she couldn’t help recalling his sweet apology the next morning. Had anyone
ever cared so much about her feelings? Had any other man been as concerned that she
felt comfortable and safe? If she wasn’t so sure she was moving on, she might be tempted
to—“Penny for your thoughts?”
She glanced up and saw Ty standing next to her. The darkly handsome cowboy raised
his eyebrows expectantly. Randi flushed.
“They’re not for sale. Sorry.”
“Too bad. They looked interesting. Want to dance?”
“Sure.”
She stepped into his arms. In the first hour she’d danced with everyone from the ranch
except for Ty and Brady. Even Tex had taken her on a quick turn around the floor,
all the while making her laugh with incredible tales about his life in the marines.
There wasn’t a shortage of women, so she figured the guys were trying to make her
feel comfortable. “Is there a conspiracy?” she asked.
“About what?”
“Everyone has danced with me. Are you guys trying to keep me from being a wallflower?”
“No conspiracy. Maybe we just like you and want to dance with you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I doubt that.”
“So if I told you that you looked nice, you would dismiss the compliment?”
She glanced down at the simple blue floral print cotton dress she wore. Cap sleeves
showed off her tanned arms. The garment skimmed over her waist and hips, then flared
out slightly to her knees. “I think I look okay.”
“Was that a thank you?”
Before she could answer, he led her through an intricate series of steps that left
her stumbling and breathless. She laughed. “So you’re trying to show me up?”
“I would have thought a city girl like you had taken dancing lessons.”
“Really? What makes you think I’m a city girl?”
“Aren’t you?” For the first time since she’d met him, Ty smiled. The faintly dangerous
expression he normally wore faded slightly. He wasn’t just good-looking. When he smiled
he was about the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.
She tried to remember
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