Gabby hooted in laughter.
“I suppose you owe me for saving you tonight, then.” She was all too happy to even the playing field, but as Doug led her to the dance floor, he had a gleam in his eye.
“You’re not off the hook yet. Besides, you didn’t seem to be having any fun with Chad. Didn’t you have some big crush on him back in high school?”
Her cheeks flamed, even though that was nearly half a lifetime ago. “How did you know?” Surely just knowing where he’d gone to college couldn’t have given her away.
“It was pretty obvious at the time,” he said, then, seeing her horror, laughed. “It was a long time ago; does it really matter?”
“Does any part of high school matter?” She shrugged, not sure of the answer to that, and sensing the way his smile drooped, she wondered if Doug felt the same. “Well, do you think we’re free of them?”
Doug looked over at the table. Sure enough, the woman who had been chatting with him all evening wiggled her fingers and gave a little smile. Doug groaned and looked away.
“She likes you,” Gabby teased. It was nice to be on the other end of their banter for once. “And you never know, you might love hamsters if you give them a chance.”
“I suppose we should probably dance,” he said to that.
Gabby sucked in a breath, suddenly feeling a little nervous. She had assumed it was just an excuse for an easy escape, a chance to break away, maybe hit the bar instead. One dance, and then she could probably leave.
She wished a faster song were playing, but knew that part of the evening was still a ways off, and that by then she’d be home in her cotton pajamas, tucked into bed, with a good book for company. Suddenly, that thought no longer seemed so comfortable, or appealing. And it certainly wasn’t a good way to find what she was looking for in life.
The problem was, she wasn’t so sure what she was looking for anymore. And as Doug turned to face her, and casually slipped his hand around her waist while reaching down with the other to take her hand, she felt herself stiffen, as if every nerve in her body had gone on high alert.
“This feels like prom all over again,” she muttered, trying to ease her discomfort at their proximity. His hand was warm in hers, the other tight on her waist, and he moved with ease.
“I thought you didn’t go to prom?”
She looked up at him, surprised that he would remember that, much less know it. She’d been so involved in the prom committee that most people hadn’t noticed that she hadn’t stayed for the dance. But Doug had noticed. He noticed a lot about her, she was starting to realize, swallowing hard as she took in his deep-set eyes that showed no hint of amusement or menace.
“I didn’t have a date,” she said simply, breaking his gaze. It was a sore spot, even now, that she’d put so much thought into the planning of the event never to enjoy it. Really, it was ridiculous that she still felt a tug in her chest over something that had come and gone more than fifteen years ago.
“You could have had any date in that school. Most guys were just intimidated by you.”
She felt her cheeks flushed, but she shook her head. “I’m over it. You don’t need to flatter me to cheer me up.”
“Oh, it wasn’t a compliment.”
She pulled back slightly, giving him a hard look, and he quickly added, “I just mean that you were one of the prettiest girls in our grade. In the school really. But you were selective, and you had high standards, and I think a lot of guys were afraid to take that on.”
In other words, she was picky. Gabby’s head swam as she considered his words, along with the endless advice she received from her sisters and cousins. Did he mean what he said? That she was one of the prettiest girls in school?
She chanced a glance at him, feeling suddenly shy and a little off balance. She took a step, but it was the wrong one, and instead of her heel hitting the floor, it landed squarely on his foot.
“Sorry,” she said, even though she was almost grateful to cut the tension. “I’ve never been much of a dancer.” Never had much experience with it, even though she enjoyed it. More than she probably should at the moment. “Another reason to scare off the men, I suppose.”
“I could draw up a disclaimer for you. Steps on feet while dancing.” He grinned, and she felt a strange sort of flutter in her chest.
“You were never afraid to take me on, though,” she pointed out. “You had no problems speaking your mind around me, and not just on the debate team. I’m still mad at you for putting up such a stink over the artificial snow machine I wanted to bring in for the Winter Wonderland theme.” Not, she thought, that she would have been there to enjoy it. Still, there had always been the hope that she would be asked.
“Ah, we’re back to prom then.” His grin was rueful.
“Why did you join those committees?” He was the only boy on the prom committee, a good male influence, others pointed out, even if he frustrated her to no end with the way he always had to counter each of her opinions with one of his own.
He paused for a moment, looking over her shoulder before shrugging. “Looked good on college applications.”
She thought about it, knowing just how important his academic path was to him back then. It was the same reason he’d given
