Page 57

57

Even after sitting through the ceremony, Noah couldn’t believe it.

Matt. Married. To Rachel. In a week.

Noah shook his head. Crazy. Nuts. Insane. And pretty much just how Noah and Gracie had been back at their age. They hadn’t seen the merits of a long engagement either. But at least they’d made it a whole month before getting hitched.

One week!

A loud country song blasted across the five-thousand-square-foot barn serving as the reception hall. With fresh wood paneling and giant bay windows along the walls, white sheer fabric floating across the open ceiling beams, and three round rustic chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling, the place held a magical glow. Certainly didn’t look like any barn Noah had ever stepped inside of before.

Apparently Mona had pulled every string she had to land the venue on such short notice. There’d been a brief—and chilly—ceremony outside beneath a pavilion next to a pond, followed by a long—and probably even chillier—photo session for Matt and Rachel all over the venue’s ten acres of property, ending now with a dance-the-night-away reception in the barn.

He caught Gracie watching him from the other side of their table. Or maybe she’d caught him. She glanced away, but he continued to stare. He’d barely seen her this week because of all the wedding craziness. But he was sure looking at her now.

And he couldn’t help thinking Matt had the right idea. Maybe it was time to get a little crazy and seize the day.

Noah rounded the table and reached out his hand. Wiggled his fingers. “C’mon, babe. It’s Matt’s wedding. We can’t just sit here all night without busting out any moves. And by moves I of course mean orthopedic-surgeon-approved moves.”

Gracie tightened her sparkly shawl around her bare shoulders as her lips twisted to the side in an attempt not to smile. “This isn’t really my type of music.”

“Don’t worry. I made a request. Next song is going to be right up your alley. Notice, by the way, how I got the expression right.”

This time her lips lifted in an undeniable smile. “Fine. But only because it’s Matt and Rachel’s wedding.”

She grabbed onto his hand and let her shawl fall onto the seat when she stood.

Noah weaved his fingers between hers and let out a low whistle. Piece of fabric should be burned for what it had been hiding all evening. Gracie’s dress hugged every blessed curve, shimmering a pretty shade of blue that reminded him of the ocean.

“Ready?” He led her onto the dance floor just as brass instruments started up with a swinging tune that was definitely not country.

She met his eyes and laughed. “Chattanooga Choo Choo.”

“Hey, you finally got it right,” he said with a smile as he dropped a hand to the curve of her hip, dancing slow because of her recent injuries—and also because shimmery ocean dresses made a man want to move slow. And close.

He pulled her in a little tighter than a song like “Chattanooga Choo Choo” probably required. But Gracie didn’t seem to mind as they slid right into their own tempo. Which was obviously a much different tempo than the one Matt and Rachel were keeping.

Matt grunted as he lifted Rachel. “Almost there.”

“Almost where? What are you doing, other than making sounds like you’re lifting a Buick again?” Rachel said, her feet hovering off the floor.

“I’m Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing . I’m lifting you above my head. Oh, forget it,” Matt said, plopping her back to the floor, then immediately dipping her backwards and nearly onto her head. “There. Much better.”

“Maybe we should just stick to conga lines,” Rachel wheezed, her face turning red from all the blood rushing toward her head.

“Good idea.” Matt straightened her and they immediately transitioned into a wild-limbed two-person conga line.

“They’re really terrible dancers, aren’t they?” Gracie said with a laugh.

Noah grinned back. “I’m not even sure what I’m seeing right now.” Other than two lovebirds having the time of their lives.

Had Noah ever seen Matt look so happy? Everyone tonight looked happy. Even Mona was laughing and clapping as she spun Buck around on the dance floor in his wheelchair.

Noah traced a slow trail with his fingertips from Gracie’s hip up to the middle of her shoulder blades, wishing that when the song ended, there’d be another one. And then another one. And that he could just go on holding Gracie like this forever and everyone stayed happy.

He pressed his cheek against her hair. “Remember the first time we ever danced together?” he murmured next to her ear.

“You were even worse than Matt,” she said with a chuckle.

“But you taught me the steps, and you have to admit, I was a fast learner.” He leaned back to catch her eye.

“Pretty sure you taught me a few moves that summer too,” she said with a saucy grin.

He stared at that grin, wanting to gobble it up as much as he had back when she was teaching him to dance. He dropped his forehead against hers. “Whatever happened to those two kids, Gracie?”

He felt her tense, then start to push back just as one of her ankles must’ve twisted in her high heels. “Ooh.” She stumbled to the side.

Noah grabbed her waist. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She clung to his upper arms, not meeting his gaze as she tested her weight on her foot. “Should’ve known better than to wear these shoes. Maybe I should find some ice.”

“Let me—”

“No.” She waved him off. “No, I’ll get it. I’m fine. You just... stay here.”

“Gracie—”

She limped off the dance floor, weaving in and out of tables. Wouldn’t take more than a few quick strides to catch her. But he wasn’t so sure whether he should catch her. One of these days she had to decide to stop running away from him on her own.

A pointy fingernail jabbed him in the back. Noah turned and found Mona’s sharp gaze locked on him. “Well?” she said.

At some point “Chattanooga Choo Choo” had ended and a song he didn’t recognize with a heavy bass beat had started up. All of Matt’s friends rushed back onto the dance floor, brushing past them. “Well, what?”

Mona rolled her eyes and dragged him away from the commotion of dancers, then propped her hands on her waist. “Are you really that big of an idiot?”

“I think you of all people know the answer to that one.”

She inched closer, her voice as hard as her gaze. “You’re about out of time, bub. Are you going to make a move or not?”

“I’ve spent nearly a month with her. Not sure I have any moves left. And wait a second—what are you saying? You want me to go after her?”

“What I want is for my sister to be happy. Didn’t she ever tell you about Morris?”

“It really does all come back to that cat, doesn’t it?”

“I never should have made her get rid of him. I didn’t realize at the time how much it would cost her because it didn’t cost me anything. And I hate to say it, but I think I did the same thing with your marriage. I encouraged her to let go and move on without realizing how much that would cost her. To me you were just a stupid cat who wasn’t worth the grief, but to her? Well, you’re like Rachel is to Matt. You’re the love of her life—even if you are an idiot.”

“Wow, Mona. That was almost supportive.”

“It’s a new thing I’m trying,” she said with a quirk of her brow. “Now go. Fight for my sister. I’ve seen you down in the count before. I don’t know why you’re acting like this is any different.”

Because it was different. If Gracie didn’t give him another chance, he wouldn’t be losing a game. He’d be losing all hope.