* * *
In lieuof the traditional father-daughter dance, Phoebe waltzes across the parquet floor with Parker, giggling as he spins and dips her. After a few moments, the jazz singer they hired for the reception issues a husky invitation into the microphone, inviting all others in love to step onto the floor for aslowsong.
I watch Chrissy and her husband Mark walk out, hand in hand. Gemma and Chase are close behind. Parker hands Phoebe off to Nate, then takes Zoe in his arms and beginstosway.
With a fortifying sip of champagne, I decide to take a timely trip to the ladies’ room. I turn around and bump straight into Luca, since he’s standing about a millimeterbehindme.
“Jesus!” I throw a hand over my heart. “Youscaredme!”
He reaches out, plucks the flute from my grip, and sets it on a nearby table. “Dancewithme.”
“What?” I ask, heartpounding.
“Dancewithme.”
It’s not a question. He’s not asking. His hand finds the small of my back as he leads me out onto the dance floor, and then his arms go around me. Pulling me close to his chest, so my head rests in the hollow of his throat, I listen to his pulse pounding and let him lead. The jazz singer is crooning an Adele song, the lyrics hitting a bit too closetohome.
I dare you let me be… your oneandonly…
“We’re in a fight,” I remind Luca belatedly, my voice awhisper.
“We’re always in a fight.” I feel his grin against my temple. “We can fight again later, if you want. Right now, I want to dancewithyou.”
“Should we be slow dancing, if we’re in afight?”
“Call it a temporaryarmistice.”
“A ceasefire?” I pull back to look upathim.
“Exactly.” His lips brush the tip of my nose. “You wanna tell me what happened withColton?”
“I don’t know whatyoumean.”
“Bullshit, babe. Saw your face. Saw the way he grabbed you.” His voice gets growly. “He took off after your little chat, but as soon as I track him down, he’s gonna answer to me for putting his hands on you. Ipromise.”
“Please don’t. You’ll just make thingsworse.”
“What did he saytoyou?”
I shake my head. “Nothing important. Nothing I didn’talreadyknow.”
Luca’s eyes narrow. “Not liking the soundofthat.”
I tuck my head back down, so I don’t have to look at him. “You don’t have to like it. We’re in a truce. That means you can’t fight with me aboutitnow.”
“Later,then.”
I sigh as we sway, an odd mix of happiness and anxiety swirling through me. A whirlwind of contradictory feelings and desires I cannot sort out, insidemyhead.
I want to hold him so tight, he never slips away; I want to push him out of every corner of my heart, until I forget how good it feels to becherished.
I want to see him achieve his dreams, without ever once holding him back; I want to live those dreams at his side, never partedfromhim.
“You’re quiet.” Luca’s voice is amused. “Never a good thing when you’re quiet,Delilah.”
I scoff. “I can bequiet.”
“Sure you can.” He chuckles. “I just prefer it when you’re yellingatme.”