Rocky held out his hand to Willa Sue and she graced him with a brilliant smile. His brother was already on the dance floor with Maria.
Sage was so deep in thought that she didn’t even see Creed making his way around the perimeter of the enormous room until he slipped an arm around her waist.
“Can I have this dance, ma’am?” Creed asked.
She slung both arms around his neck and he looped his arms around her waist. Creed Riley didn’t just two-step to the country beat. His feet floated six inches above the floor and she felt as if she floated with him.
“You weren’t honest with me,” she said. “You said you couldn’t dance. You’re an expert, Creed Riley.”
“Aww, shucks, ma’am, you’re just bein’ nice to this rough old cowboy. Woman gorgeous as you makes me look like a bumbling fool.”
Her stomach fluttered at his deep drawl and she wanted to drag him away from the party. She hadn’t even wanted to like him in the beginning and now his voice made the zipper on her dress itch to slide down.
What about all the other women watching and waiting for their turn to dance with him? They’d fall backwards on the nearest bed or haystack and drag him down on top of them without blinking an eye. And he would forget all about the Amazon he’d brought to the dance.
He glanced toward the ceiling. “Look there. I believe these folks rustled up some mistletoe.”
She looked up and there it was, hanging from the bottom of a huge crystal chandelier. She started to say something but didn’t get the first syllable out before his lips were on hers right there in the middle of the dance floor in front of Lawton, all the other ranchers, April, and even the Almighty.
She felt like a mule had kicked her in the ribs, knocked the breath out of her, and stopped her heart between beats. Then her heart gave a lurch and took off like a steam engine.
“I ain’t got a no trespassin’ sign to hang around your neck, but I wish I did.” He breathed into her hair when the kiss ended.
The dance ended and a woman was suddenly glued to Creed’s side so tight that air couldn’t get between them. She had a thumb hooked in his belt at the small of his back and gazed up at him with adoring big brown eyes.
Interior decorators could say what they wanted about green being a peaceful color. It caused all kinds of fiery heat in Sage that evening, and it was a very different kind of blaze than what Creed created when he kissed her under the mistletoe.
She flipped her shoulder-length blond hair back and said, “I’ll take the next dance.”
Creed stepped away from her and slid an arm around Sage’s shoulders. “Well, ma’am, I’d be glad to dance with you but I just now promised Miz Sage that I’d go with her for some barbecued buffalo wings. I understand that Hilda makes the best in the whole county and we’re about to put them up against my momma’s with a taste test.”
The short blonde popped her hands on her hips. “Sage, you don’t play fair.”
“All’s fair in buffalo wings and dancing, Dee Mercer.” Sage tucked her hand into his and led him toward the refreshment table.
“Did I just miss the opportunity of a lifetime or did you save me from a life of heartache?” he whispered.
“The latter,” she said.
“Why’s that?”
“She’s a female player, Creed. She’d tear your heart out and shred it into bite-sized pieces and then feed it to her cat.”
“Sounds like a vicious woman.” He chuckled.
“All women are vicious,” Sage told him.
He kissed her on the forehead. “Darlin’, you are a sage in more than just your name.”
The twinkling lights surrounding them in all the decorations reflected in Creed’s green eyes, and when she looked into their depths, she and Creed were the only two people in the whole big room. There was music but it was over in the next county. There was mistletoe but someone else could dance under it and steal a kiss because she knew in that moment that she belonged with Creed.
And it scared her spitless.
“Come on, Creed. Now I’ve got to take you to the buffet and make an honest man out of you.” She laughed to cover up her instant fear.
“Is there a preacher over there?”
She popped him on the arm and started around the busy dance floor. “I’m making an honest man out of you so that you didn’t lie about going for buffalo wings.”
“Well, damn!” he muttered with a chuckle.
As soon as they reached the table she put a wing on a plate, picked it up with her fingers, and held it to his mouth. She hoped Dee was watching and got the message loud and clear.
“These wings are fantastic,” Creed said. “Momma’s can’t hold a light for them to go by, but if you ever tell her I said that, I’ll swear I never said it. You’ve got to introduce me to Hilda.”
“Not tonight,” April said at his elbow.
“Why?”
“Hilda don’t like big crowds. She cooks and stays in the kitchen. The caterers do the serving and toting. You can meet her tomorrow though.”
Creed raised an eyebrow toward Sage.
She shrugged. “Tradition.”
“What?”
April picked up a pecan tartlet. “We have church at the chapel at two thirty tomorrow. The blizzard prevented the Hanging of the Green ceremony we usually have the first of the month, but we’ll have it tomorrow. Afterwards, Grand and Sage come home with us for supper. It’s just the leftovers from today, but it’s just Hilda, me and Daddy, and Grand and Sage. Grand ain’t here so you’ll have to fill in for her.”
“Is that even possible?” Creed teased.
“Sure it is,” April said. “You just argue with Daddy, say ‘shit fire’ when you are mad, and try to steal Hilda from the Canyon Rose. It won’t do you any good
