Anna gathered her courage, locked her arm in the crook of his and declared. “Well, Dr. Carmichael, we have an engagement party to attend. Shall we?”
Anna followed Matt as they floated from group to group. She smiled until her face ached. Matt kept her close and introduced her to far too many people to remember. Her nerves settled to a tolerable level, but she wondered if anyone picked up on her discomfort?
Anna shuddered at the display of pomp and circumstance at a simple engagement party. From the tiny little canapés and hors d’oeuvres that did nothing to feed a crowd, to the bubbly in the punch bowl that made far too many tipsy and hard to converse with, to the loud music that made it hard to hear what people were saying—all of it felt like a scene from a Hollywood movie. Anna felt out of her element.
Memories tiptoed up the steps of her mind at all the ways Matt had embraced her world. She wondered how she would ever fit into this life. Despair crawled up her spine.
“Come, Anna, my buddy Justin is going to make our engagement announcement.”
She whipped around to face Matt. “What?”
Matt gave her shoulders a squeeze. “It’s okay, Anna, I’m right here.” He kissed the side of her cheek.
Matt couldn’t possibly understand how being in the limelight gripped her with fear. Surely everyone knew the reason for their celebration. Did their engagement have to be formally announced in front of everyone? She zipped her mouth shut and prayed for strength. This was Matt’s world not hers, and she owed it to him to give her best. She pasted on a smile and gripped his strong arm. Her knuckles turned white.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for coming tonight and sharing in this never expected—didn’t see it coming—altogether shocking turn of events. The greatly esteemed Doctor Carmichael—the heart throb of the hospital—bachelor-of-the-year for the past ten years has finally been—not only caught, but tamed by the gorgeous, mysterious Anna Clarke, soon to be Mrs. Carmichael.”
Heat surged from Anna’s neck to her hairline. She placed trembling cold palms against her burning cheeks, and prayed her embarrassment would subside.
A woman’s voice loud and crass split across the din. “Matt finally unveils his little recluse, and she looks ready to run.” A brittle laugh followed and the cackling of a small group of women at the back of the room caught the attention of everyone. Anna recognized one face—Maxine from Matt’s office.
Matt promptly kissed her cheeks and laughed into the crowd. “Isn’t she the most adorable woman in the world? No wonder I was a goner.
“Everyone, meet the love of my life, Anna. She hates crowds but is being a good sport. Her way to entertain is the best home-cooked meals you’ll ever have the pleasure to enjoy, so be really nice to her and you may get an invite in the future.” The crowd cheered and lifted their glasses in a toast. “To Anna.”
“We’re now going to go into the adjoining great room and have some fun. Anna and I will start the dance.”
This Anna looked forward to. Her parents had been ballroom dancers, and from the time Anna and Lana were able to walk, they had been encouraged to dance. With no opportunity to dance for many years, Anna had wondered if what she had learned as a child had left her. When they practiced, though, it all came back to her.
“Come, my love,” he whispered. “Let’s set those gorgeous feet of yours to music and shock the socks off this crowd.”
Confidence filled Anna’s heart, and her smile blossomed into a genuine laugh.
“Share the joke,” someone yelled.
Matt waved the crowd over.
The music started and he invited everyone to join, but the instant the two of them stepped into the music, the crowd made room and watched in awe.
Anna gazed lovingly into Matt’s eyes imagining there was no one in the room but the two of them. Chemistry crackled between them as they wove effortlessly in and out of each other’s arms in perfect rhythm and timing. Anna’s hair followed like a curtain of silk as Matt twirled and pulled her intimately close. Their footwork blended as if they were one, and they stole a quick kiss. Thunderous clapping erupted from all over the room as the music drew to an end.
Justin grabbed the microphone. “Didn’t they look amazing, folks?” The crowd whistled and clapped. “That, my friends, was a front-row view into what real love looks like. And when I find a girl who looks at me like that … well, I’ll be walking down the aisle too.”
Matt laughed and shouted back. “What else would you like to see? Give us a song, any song.”
Anna’s eyes danced with laughter. “Matt, are you sure you can keep up with me?” the crowd hooted and hollered to see the shy Anna come to life.
“How about the cha cha.”
“Perfect,” Anna whispered, “The cha cha is my favorite, do you know it?”
Matt laughed, “Not well, but I’m game. All eyes will be on you anyway.”
Matt snapped his fingers. “Justin, find us some Latin music. We’re going to do the cha cha.
Everyone laughed and clapped in anticipation.
Anna grabbed his left hand in her right and held it up in prep. She placed her right hand lightly on his shoulder while he put his around her waist. She whispered, “Okay, so it’s three side steps, cha, cha, cha and forward rock and then repeat in the other direction and backward rock … got it? I’ll tell you when to let me twirl.
“Two, three, cha cha cha.”
Anna laughed her way through the song, not in the least bit affected by the fact Matt was clearly not as well versed in the steps as she was. Her instructions helped him lead with the basics, and it surprised her when at the end he twirled her close and whispered. “Let’s end with a backward bend.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Don’t drop me
