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He chuckled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever you say.”
His arms tightened around her back. “Thank you for coming with me. You’ve made quite the impression on everyone.”
“Your family is wonderful. I’m glad they like me because I really like them too.”
“What about me?”
She gave him a curious look. “What about you?”
“Do you like me?”
Her stomach flipped again at his tone. “You know I do.”
Gus pulled her closer, and goosebumps shot across her skin at his warm breath against her neck. Butterflies flew into action in her stomach when his lips brushed against her shoulder then the side of her neck on the way to her ear. “Because I more than like you, Merritt.”
Had he just said that? Did he really feel more for her?
She didn’t move, didn’t speak. Her mind raced, questioning whether she’d heard him right, until he shifted, moved one of his hands up to cup her cheek, and erased the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers. It was gentle, unhurried, and romantic, and she felt it all the way to her toes.
This kiss wasn’t for show. It was all for them.
THIRTY-TWO
They remained on the dance floor through another song as more guests joined in. Merritt was at home in Gus’s arms, and she wanted to stay there all night. She glanced around the room at everyone dancing and noticed Skylar, standing alone to the side, watching Franky dance with Ivy not too far away.
“Hey, could you do me a favor?” she asked Gus.
He gently brushed a hair back from her face and let his fingers glide along the length. “Anything.”
“Ask Ivy to dance for the next song?”
“Franky’s girlfriend?”
Merritt nodded, and Gus followed her gaze to his sister. His eyes widened a little as they met hers again.
“Does Skylar have a thing for Franky?”
“Shhh!”
“She does! Is that the secret she told you?”
She put her fingertips against his lips to quiet him. “Yes,” she whispered, “but you can’t let on that you know.”
He pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I won’t. But Sky and Franky? I never would’ve put them together.”
“Why not? They’re best friends.”
He ran his fingertips along her cheek. “Like us.”
“And like your parents. Friends first, then more.”
“More is good.”
His focus on her was so intense, she felt weak in the knees.
“About that …” They really needed to talk about what was happening between them, but the final notes of the song came and blended into another. Merritt almost couldn’t rip herself away from his stare, but she remembered Skylar.