Page 13 of Unyielding (Poplar Springs #3)

THIRTEEN

SHANNON

F iona had offered to let me tag along with her and Eli, but I opted to drive myself so I could duck out early if necessary.

I doubted my decision to go solo as I made my way into the private room at the restaurant.

It sounded like the party was already in full swing, which meant I’d have to walk into the crowd and find a way to insert myself into the fun.

I paused to take a deep breath before entering, then threw my shoulders back and strode in, hoping I looked more confident than I felt.

A wolf whistle pierced the cocktail music and every eye turned to me.

I felt my cheeks go hot as I looked around the room for the source and laughed when I realized that it was the bride-to-be herself.

Zoe waved and blew me a kiss, and Josh gave me a wide-eyed thumbs-up.

I waved back and ducked my head, trying not to scan the crowd to see if Declan had witnessed my grand entrance.

I hightailed it to the open bar, trying not to wobble in the nude heels Fiona had forced me to wear.

I turned to survey the group as I waited for the bartender to pour a glass of chardonnay for me.

Zoe and Josh were in the center of a crowd of well-wishers, both of them positively beaming.

Zoe had remained true to her goth sensibilities in a black lace dress and Josh looked dapper in a blazer, pressed jeans, and his best boots.

It still made me laugh that the emo computer girl and quarterback had found their happily ever after together.

Deep down, it gave me hope that my perfect someone was out there too.

“Is it rude if I say wow ?”

I whipped around to find Declan smiling at me.

“Hi… uh, no, it’s not rude at all,” I stammered in response as I took him in, blushing again. “You look great too.”

He was a different person without his hat and stubble.

His sandy-colored hair was brushed back, more styled than I’d ever seen it, including the night he met me at the Rooftop.

Even though I’d fallen for casual, sweaty Declan, the dressy version made me feel a little lightheaded.

Instead of his usual Henley he was in a form-fitting white dress shirt that made him look like he’d just gotten off a yacht. And when he smiled at me?

Weak knees.

“I kept looking for you to show up. So far I’ve had to have the catch-up conversation with half of my high school alumni. Can I hide out with you for a bit?”

I took a gulp of my white wine. “Of course. I’ll protect you from your legion of fans.”

“I wouldn’t say they’re fans , exactly. Most people are curious about why I came back. Then I have to get into the whole ‘it’s not a done deal yet’ Ruth conversation.”

“Ooh, right, we can work on that tonight. Jake Thorne is here, and I thought I saw the two Bobs.”

“The who?”

I grinned. “Bob McCall and Bob Jackson. They sit on the town council and make up the team of three Bobs with Bob Lumley, our mayor.” I looked around the room and saw Amy Thorne but didn’t see the mayor.

“Huh, doesn’t look like he’s here. But the other Bobs both have ranches and they’re members of the Cattleman’s Association.

We should try to have a conversation with all of them before the night’s over. ”

Declan’s brow furrowed for a moment, and he threw back the rest of his beer.

We both went silent, and I thought about the reason we were hanging out. The agreement. Business. Because that was all it was.

“Hey, Shannon, get your butt out here right now.”

Zoe’s voice echoed around the room, and I peered at the small parquet dance floor across the room, where she was on the mic, with Fiona bouncing around next to her.

“They’re playing our song. Come dance.”

The opening strings of “Thong Song” came on and I groaned.

Declan laughed. “You heard the lady, get out there and shake it.”

Dancing with Zoe and Fiona to the ridiculous song in the privacy of my bedroom was one thing, but doing it in front of a room full of people was something else entirely.

I considered begging off but realized that I’d look like a killjoy.

I threw back the rest of my wine, handed Declan my empty glass with orders to have another ready, which made him grin, and wobbled over to them.

It only took about thirty seconds before I was laughing hysterically, doing my best to tone down the naughty moves I usually did to something that was acceptable in public. Fiona, on the other hand, didn’t get the memo and was twerking so hard that she nearly gave everyone a free show.

I was sure I wasn’t drawing quite as many eyes as my sister, but I could feel Declan’s eyes on me, and I liked it. As the song ended, I didn’t hold back, slithering with my arms above my head in my best stripper move.

The crowd clapped as we hugged. I headed off the dance floor and stopped abruptly when I felt a hand grasp my arm.

“That was amazing. I didn’t know you could dance,” Declan said, his eyes locked on mine and his fingers searing my skin.

I shrugged. “Thanks. I guess I’m okay.”

“But can you two-step?”

The music had changed to a slower country song.

“Of course I can.”

I waited for Declan’s next move.

“Let’s go, then,” he said, pulling me out to the dance floor.

He paused to place his hand on my lower back, and I tried to stop the butterflies in my belly as our bodies fell into the rhythm. It didn’t take long before we were in perfect sync, gliding across the parquet like we’d done it forever.

“You’re a decent dancer too,” I said, smiling up at him with what I hoped looked like a casual expression and not like I was on the verge of passing out at the feeling of being wrapped in his embrace.

“It’s all about the partner,” he replied. “You’re making me look good.”

Declan stared out over my shoulder, and I wondered what was going on in his head. Was he regretting asking me to dance? Because he was almost oddly distant.

He suddenly shifted his gaze and locked onto mine, as if he could read my thoughts. “This is ancient history, and I probably shouldn’t bring it up, but do you remember that night…”

The intensity on his face made me hold my breath. Which night?

“… under the mistletoe?”

Oh. That night. The one I couldn’t stop thinking about every time he was near. The one that drifted into my fantasies when I was alone in bed. I bit my lip and nodded slowly. “I do…”

“It’s ancient history, right?”

“It is. Forever ago. Another lifetime.” I said it like I was trying to convince myself.

He smiled shyly. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but… I wanted to keep kissing you.”

The shock nearly made my jaw drop. I managed to keep a poker face, but I felt my palms go clammy. The fact that Declan was staring at me, his beautiful face just inches above mine, made coming up with a response impossible.

The slow song ended and the DJ switched on the mic, sending piercing feedback around the room. “Okay, folks, who’s got an achy breaky heart out there? Let’s go!”

People swarmed the dance floor and Declan finally let go of me. He stepped away, still searching my face while I tried to come up with the right response to his confession.

Should I tell him that I’d wanted it too? That I still did? Or would that confession just send him running? He’d said it was ancient history, after all. Maybe he’d only brought it up because it didn’t mean anything to him anymore.

“Get in line!” Josh laughed, bumping his hip against mine, oblivious to what he was interrupting.

The group of people started moving in unison all around me as I watched Declan turn his back and walk away.

Dammit. I wanted to follow him but I’d gotten swept up into the dance, and breaking away would make scene.

Plus, my brother’s face was lit with a joy that I only saw when he was with Zoe.

Reluctantly, I joined the line and danced with everyone else, but every time we turned, I tried to find Declan in the crowd. It was as if he’d disappeared.