Page 95 of Mulberry Hollow (Riverbend 2)

“All right, already... ,” she muttered. But the acoustics carried her words and the crowd chuckled.

Avery stood with Patti and Lucy on the sidelines of the dance floor where the cha-cha slide was in full motion. Katie and Cooper were at the center of it all, laughing and cutting up with friends. The first dance, toasts, and dinner were behind them, as well as the cake cutting.

Avery had been at Katie’s side all night, anticipating herevery need. She’d repaired the bride’s hair, located a knife with which to cut the cake, and found Band-Aids for Katie’s blistered heels. Now it was time to have fun.

You remember how to do that, right?

“We should probably go dance,” Avery called to Patti and Lucy over the music.

“I don’t know this one.” That had been Patti’s standard answer tonight.

Avery gave her a mock scowl. “The directions are literally in the lyrics.”

“You know I have two left feet. I always end up going the wrong direction, then people trip over me.”

Lucy pointed toward the dance floor. “Look at Sharise go.”

Avery located the woman, hamming it up in the center of the floor. A minute later the song wound down and a slower melody took its place—“Bless the Broken Road.” The crowd thinned out to couples only.

“Oh, I love this song,” Patti said. “It’s so romantic.”

“You should ask Lloyd to dance.”

The woman’s eyes fixed on a point over Avery’s shoulder. “Too late—he’s already found the cake line. I won’t see him the rest of the night.”

Lucy took a sip of her drink, addressing Avery. “Not to bring up work, but when do you think that grant money will be coming our way?”

They’d just gotten the news this week. The grant would easily cover an X-ray and an ultrasound machine. “Just a couple weeks. And I’m still hoping for the one that’ll help supplement your salary.”

“I’m doing all right. I’m comfy cozy in that apartment—not that I’d turn down a raise.”

Avery’s gaze caught on Rick Rodriguez, who approached their group, drink in hand. He was handsome tonight in a navy-blue suit and crisp white shirt, his thick black hair styled just so.

Avery gave him a welcoming smile. She hadn’t seen much of him since the awkward end to their date back in July.

As he neared, his gaze drifted to Avery’s right where Lucy stood sipping her drink. He froze. His mouth opened but no words emerged.

Avery glanced at Lucy, who admittedly looked stunning tonight. Black waves cascaded past her shoulders in a gleaming waterfall. The fitted floral dress clung to every curve, and the halter-style neckline flattered her sculpted shoulders, while the hemline showed off her legs.

Looking back to Rick, Avery grinned. “Rick Rodriguez, meet the clinic’s new doctor, Lucy Chan. Lucy, Rick’s one of our fine deputies.”

Lucy’s cherry-red lips turned up at the corners. “Nice to meet you, Rick.”

Rick’s mouth moved, but the music must’ve swallowed his words. His dark eyes, still fixed on Lucy, had a deer-in-the-headlights look.

Patti smirked. “Cat got your tongue, Ricky?”

His mouth opened, then closed again.

Avery took pity on him. “Maybe you should ask Lucy to dance.”

When he didn’t respond, Avery elbowed him hard.

He startled and looked her way.

“Maybe you should ask Lucy to dance.”

He blinked and glanced back to the obvious object of his desire. Wet his lips. Shifted. Tried to adjust the hat he wasn’t wearing. A flush crawled up his neck. “Um, ma’am? Would you like to dance?”