stage for your first dance as husband and wife?”
The crowd parted for the newest Mr. and Mrs. McAlister. Striding to the center of the floor, Mitch twirled Ann under his arm before catching her waist.
With that, Jason began playing. A murmur rolled through the room, followed by quiet applause. Mitch took Ann in his arms, and after one tentative step, they fell into a steady rhythm. Then Jason began to sing.
Stunned by his talent, I shrank in my seat. What other hidden abilities did my protector possess?
After the first verse of the ballad, Chase started playing, adding a complex harmony. I’d heard the song before, but never really listened to the lyrics. They chronicled the life of a man, celebrating how he found his soul mate and shared a century of love with her. It was my fantasy repeated, narrated musically by the object of my desire.
Object? Jason was anything but an object. Smart, funny, caring, and strong, he was so much more than his handsome face and virile physique.
As for desire…that was exactly the right word. But what was it I really wanted?
Mitch and Ann spun around the floor, entrancing the crowd. They laughed and kissed, truly as one. Was that what I wanted? With Jason, the man I imagined to be my Prince Charming? Grow up, Melissa!
Rather than watching his sister and brother-in-law, Chase stared at Linda. He mouthed the words along with Jason, and at the mention of family and children, tears streamed down Linda’s cheeks. I had absolutely no doubt she and Chase would be sharing a similar dance in the near future.
Somehow I knew Jason wouldn’t be watching his brother either, but I expected he would have to check his music, his hands, or something as he played. Instead, I met his gaze as he sang of encountering a fiery love at the age of twenty-two, and we hardly blinked as the world closed in around us. It was as if Jason sang only to me, his eyes swallowing me until he ended his musical tale at the age of ninety-nine, wishing only to join his love, wherever she was. Could he see the same fantastic future I did?
It’s just my imagination, I told myself as the final notes drifted into nothingness.
The crowd whistled and hooted when Mitch dipped his wife dramatically. If they only knew how many hours he’d spent at the rec center practicing his waltz with a mop. Clapping carefully, I joined in the enthusiastic applause.
Jason stood, shook Chase’s hand, then started toward Ann and Mitch. He glanced back at me, putting his hand in his left jacket pocket and giving me an expectant smile. The memory of his words rang in my ears, and my hand twitched involuntarily.
“I’ll be back for that…”
Five
After congratulating Mitch and hugging Ann, Jason turned his attention back to me. Even from across the dance floor the sincerity in his smile wrapped itself around me, and I started to rise, pulled to him by some irresistible force. I couldn’t detect any flaws in this blue-eyed wonder, which made his interest in me that much more unbelievable.
Jason managed only one step toward me before Mitch put a restraining hand on his shoulder, frowning in my direction.
The DJ scolded Jason loudly. “Oh no you don’t, Best Man. Can I have the rest of the bridal party front and center? Mitch, would you like to dance with your mother, and Ann, with your father?”
Jason jerked out of his brother’s grasp, but he sighed and didn’t move again.
“ Gotta go,” Linda said and jumped up. Chase waited for her on the dance floor with open arms.
Alone again, I watched as the black and purple filed onto the floor. Jason scanned the group briefly before looking at me and shrugging. For a split second I thought he’d been given a reprieve, but then his partner clicked past me…the maid of honor.
Tricia stalked toward Jason like a lioness on the prowl. She crossed the floor quickly, the sway of her hips bouncing
The crowd parted for the newest Mr. and Mrs. McAlister. Striding to the center of the floor, Mitch twirled Ann under his arm before catching her waist.
With that, Jason began playing. A murmur rolled through the room, followed by quiet applause. Mitch took Ann in his arms, and after one tentative step, they fell into a steady rhythm. Then Jason began to sing.
Stunned by his talent, I shrank in my seat. What other hidden abilities did my protector possess?
After the first verse of the ballad, Chase started playing, adding a complex harmony. I’d heard the song before, but never really listened to the lyrics. They chronicled the life of a man, celebrating how he found his soul mate and shared a century of love with her. It was my fantasy repeated, narrated musically by the object of my desire.
Object? Jason was anything but an object. Smart, funny, caring, and strong, he was so much more than his handsome face and virile physique.
As for desire…that was exactly the right word. But what was it I really wanted?
Mitch and Ann spun around the floor, entrancing the crowd. They laughed and kissed, truly as one. Was that what I wanted? With Jason, the man I imagined to be my Prince Charming? Grow up, Melissa!
Rather than watching his sister and brother-in-law, Chase stared at Linda. He mouthed the words along with Jason, and at the mention of family and children, tears streamed down Linda’s cheeks. I had absolutely no doubt she and Chase would be sharing a similar dance in the near future.
Somehow I knew Jason wouldn’t be watching his brother either, but I expected he would have to check his music, his hands, or something as he played. Instead, I met his gaze as he sang of encountering a fiery love at the age of twenty-two, and we hardly blinked as the world closed in around us. It was as if Jason sang only to me, his eyes swallowing me until he ended his musical tale at the age of ninety-nine, wishing only to join his love, wherever she was. Could he see the same fantastic future I did?
It’s just my imagination, I told myself as the final notes drifted into nothingness.
The crowd whistled and hooted when Mitch dipped his wife dramatically. If they only knew how many hours he’d spent at the rec center practicing his waltz with a mop. Clapping carefully, I joined in the enthusiastic applause.
Jason stood, shook Chase’s hand, then started toward Ann and Mitch. He glanced back at me, putting his hand in his left jacket pocket and giving me an expectant smile. The memory of his words rang in my ears, and my hand twitched involuntarily.
“I’ll be back for that…”
Five
After congratulating Mitch and hugging Ann, Jason turned his attention back to me. Even from across the dance floor the sincerity in his smile wrapped itself around me, and I started to rise, pulled to him by some irresistible force. I couldn’t detect any flaws in this blue-eyed wonder, which made his interest in me that much more unbelievable.
Jason managed only one step toward me before Mitch put a restraining hand on his shoulder, frowning in my direction.
The DJ scolded Jason loudly. “Oh no you don’t, Best Man. Can I have the rest of the bridal party front and center? Mitch, would you like to dance with your mother, and Ann, with your father?”
Jason jerked out of his brother’s grasp, but he sighed and didn’t move again.
“ Gotta go,” Linda said and jumped up. Chase waited for her on the dance floor with open arms.
Alone again, I watched as the black and purple filed onto the floor. Jason scanned the group briefly before looking at me and shrugging. For a split second I thought he’d been given a reprieve, but then his partner clicked past me…the maid of honor.
Tricia stalked toward Jason like a lioness on the prowl. She crossed the floor quickly, the sway of her hips bouncing
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