by Tara Randel
“You have got to be kidding me,” he muttered.
A light, amused voice reached him before Hannah strolled into his peripheral vision. She was dressed in a pale pink sweater with gray pants and dark shoes. Her hair was free today, curling over her shoulders. She carried a stack of folders in her arms. “Let me guess. Your mother made another request?”
He lowered the phone with a groan. “She’s insisting we learn how to swing dance for her wedding.”
Her interest turned to raucous laughter. “You? Dance?” She chuckled even more. “Priceless.”
“Hey!”
“Derrick, you can do many things. It’s maddening the way you can swoop in and fix any problem, but dancing? I have to say, not your forte.”
“We’ve danced together.”
“Exactly. That’s how I know you’re terrible.” She sent him a dazzling smile. “I’m actually a very good dancer.”
“Prove it.” Derrick took the files from her hands and led her into the gym, placing the pile on a nearby bleacher. He’d noticed right away that the engagement ring was missing. He couldn’t deny the rush of hope that washed over him. What had happened when she spoke to Prescott last night?
“Here?” she asked, looking around the gym.
He let his questions go for now. He had Hannah to himself and didn’t want to share, not even to find out what happened with Prescott. “If I step on your toes there’s lots of room to move away.”
She glanced at the boys on the far end of the court throwing free shots at the hoop and shrugged. “Why not?”
“That’s the spirit.”
She took the phone from his hand and replayed the video he’d been watching. When the tutorial ended, she handed the cell back to him. “Piece of cake.”
“I’m glad you think so. I need to get this right so my brothers don’t give me a hard time.”
“Competitive much?”
He grinned. “You know us well.”
“If I remember correctly, you can manage to slow dance.”
“You remember?”
She shook her head at him and ignored his question. “Basic position. My hand on your shoulder, yours on my waist. Free hands clasped together, held away from the body.”
When he moved closer, her vanilla scent, along with her warmth, breached his senses.
She moved into his embrace and before long they were gently easing back and forth. “I could get used to this,” he breathed into her ear. He actually felt her shiver before she hopped back.
Tone crisp, she instructed, “Let’s move on.” Snapping her fingers, she shifted gracefully, backstepping on her left foot, then stepping once on the right, swinging her hips in the process. “Even you can do this,” she teased.
Right. He went to her side and in a few moments followed her rhythmic lead. The boys hollered at each other as they passed and dunked at the coach’s command, a backdrop to the dance lesson.
“Now that you have the basic step mastered, I’m going to take three steps to the left.” She demonstrated by gliding across the floor.
He followed, his feet tangling. Her merry laugh should have irked him but for once he was having fun, even though it was at his own expense.
“Slow down,” she said when he nearly ran over her. “This isn’t a race.”
He stopped, made a show of shaking out his arms and legs before trying the routine again.
“Better,” she encouraged.
He concentrated and before long captured the basic steps. “Next?”
“Don’t get cocky on me.” She took position in front of him. “For learning purposes I’m going to lead.”
He sent her a slow smile, hitting his intended mark when she flushed.
“We’re going to put it all together now,” she explained, her voice shaky. Was she as unsettled by this closeness as he was? “We move opposite. My left foot goes back, your right foot comes forward.”
He looked down at their shoes. “Got it.”
“Let’s practice this a few times.” She grasped his hands and he almost forgot what he was supposed to do, her touch had such a strong impact on him.
They rocked, laughing when he stumbled into her. She lightly pushed on his chest, recentering them both. This was the first time since he’d arrived in town that the worry slipped from her face. Her hazel eyes were shiny and bright; her smile didn’t fade. This was how she should always look, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“Now that we’ve gotten the timing, we triple step together. In the same direction.”
She showed him the move and after a few times back and forth, she stopped to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. His fingers itched to touch her lustrous hair. “Now, let’s do it together.”
She took his hands again. For a long second they stared at each other. Memories bombarded him and he wondered if she was thinking about the great times they’d once shared. The hopes only a young couple in love could dare to dream. Their connection was so strong, stronger even than before they were separated. Was it truly possible after all this time? She finally broke eye contact and shook her head. “Okay. Rock step, triple step, triple step, rock step.”
He blew out a breath as the magical moment between them dissipated. “That’s a lot of steps.”
“You’re a pretty capable guy. I’m sure you’ll catch on.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Rolling her eyes, she led him in the steps once again. He could get used to this. Working with Hannah was easy, as if they were both on the same wavelength.
“Pay attention,” she chided as his mind wandered. “The steps are small and close together.”
“I can do close together.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes warm and inviting.
“Hey, add the side bump,” a voice came from behind him, shattering the moment. Derrick swung around to find that the boys had quit practicing and had taken seats in the bleachers to watch the show. Roger stood near the bench, holding a clipboard and nodding in their direction, a huge grin on his face.
“You know how to swing dance?” Derrick asked.
“Sure, who doesn’t?”
“Apparently me,” he muttered under his breath.
“C’mon, Mr. Fields. You got this.”
Great. Tommy and some of the boys from Hannah’s class now had a front-row seat to witness his failure if he didn’t get serious.
Not wanting to look totally incompetent in front of them, he held out his hands to Hannah. “Again?”
She took her position. “Step toward me.”
He did and their hips bumped before she stepped back.
“Cool,” announced one of the boys.
“Very,” Derrick said only loud enough for her to hear. Her cheeks colored.
“This time,” she said, “when our hips meet, spin to the side.”
He did, only he went the wrong way and ended up staggering to the side, taking her with him. He kept them from tumbling as the spectators burst out in raucous laughter.
“C’mon, Mr. Fields. You can do better than that.”
“Pipe down, peanut gallery.”
He heard raspberries blown behind him.
“You said this was easy,” he accused.
“For some of us.” Hannah grimaced as he stepped on her foot. “Hopefully the band will play a slow tune so you don’t maim your partner.”
“Practice makes perfect. How about you be my permanent partner?”
“Derrick...” she warned.
“Dance partner?”
“Don’t push it.”
“When have you known me to leave well enough alone?”
“Never.”
“Exactly.”
They moved in sync as if they’d been dancing forever. In his mind that’s exactly how he�
�d thought of them, together forever.
“Imagine if this was our life?” he couldn’t resist adding. “Enjoying new experiences. Trying out new adventures.”
A shadow eclipsed the joy on her face. “You know that’s not possible.”
“I noticed you’re not wearing Prescott’s ring.”
“No, but we’re still together.” She released her hands from his and stopped dancing. “In fact, we’re featuring a new artist at the gallery tomorrow tonight.”
Dang. He shouldn’t have pushed. His brothers always warned him about going too far, but he never listened.
Roger and the boys moved on now that the show had ended. Once Hannah left, he’d be alone. Again.
“Thanks for the lesson.” Trying for light, he sent her a smile he hoped covered his disappointment at her leaving. “Now I don’t have to go to a studio.”
“Either way, you’ll make your mother proud.”
“I hope. This wedding thing is getting out of control.”
“That’s what happens. Wedding planning takes on a life of its own.”
“Well, I’ll be there to walk her down the aisle and then my duty is done.”
Hannah smoothed the hem of her sweater. “Did you get them a gift?”
He stared at her.
“A gift,” she repeated.
“I forgot about that.” He frowned. “I have no idea what to buy.”
“You still have time.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Any suggestions?”
“You can’t be that clueless.”
“No, but what do you get a couple who have been on their own for years?”
“Be creative.” She gathered up the files.
“Before you leave, I have one more request.”
She hitched her chin in his direction.
“Would you mind shopping with me?”
“Derrick...”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I have no ulterior motive. I honestly have no idea where to start.”
“I also remember you used to hate to shop.”
“Still do.”
He thought she might tell him to figure it out on his own, but instead said, “Are you free this weekend?”
“I’m free any day you ask.”
“Saturday. We can take the entire day to find the perfect gift.”
“I really appreciate it. You know my mom means a lot to me and I want to get it right.”
Her expression softened. “Then I’m happy to help.” She turned to walk away.
“Hannah?”
She stopped. Pivoted on her heel.
Once again their eyes met and held. What-ifs danced in his head as he viewed the woman he loved. No matter what happened, he would always love her. She was the one. Always had been. Always would be.
She pressed her lips together and he read the confusion on her expressive face.
“I’ll pick you up Saturday morning.”
She nodded, then continued on her way.
It would be so easy to swoop in and prove he was the right guy for her, but deep down he knew she had to decide that for herself. If they ended up together, their happiness would only be sustained by mutual love. And so far, she hadn’t mentioned the L word. For now he would do what he did best.
Wait for Hannah.
CHAPTER TWELVE
AN HOUR BEFORE school started on Friday morning, Derrick and Roger hauled a half-dozen long tables from the storage closet to set up in the gymnasium. The boxes of books lining the wall for the annual book fair had been delivered the previous day after basketball practice. Once they’d placed the tables around the large room, they started opening the cartons. Teachers would be arriving soon to organize books by age groups before the parent volunteers came after the first bell to work the sale.
“That was quite a show you and Anna put on yesterday,” Roger remarked as he hefted a box onto a table.
Thankfully Roger hadn’t witnessed Hannah shutting him down when he’d asked about their relationship. He was lucky enough to have Saturday with her and he’d take it as a win, if Hannah didn’t change her mind and bail on him last-minute.
“The dancing?” Derrick chuckled instead of revealing his fears. “I need to get ready for a wedding.” He paused. Pictured his mother’s triumphant face and his brothers’ matching grimaces. “The more I think about it, I should get hazard pay.”
“I hear you. Those events require endless patience and a permanent smile.”
Derrick shot him a questioning glance.
“I have three older sisters. All married.”
“Three brothers. Mostly on the way to the altar, but this is my mother’s big day.”
Roger lifted another box. “Wow. My folks are still married after almost fifty years together.”
Derrick took the letter opener he’d borrowed from the main office to slit the box tape. “Mom’s a widow and wants this wedding to be perfect.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Don’t ask me.” Derrick shivered in mock horror. “I’ve stayed away from serious entanglements.”
Roger waited a beat, then asked, “Until Anna?”
Derrick stilled. Ignored the twitch over his left eye. “Because of.” He tore open another box, his heart seizing like it did when he thought about what they’d had and lost.
“Lynny said you were high school sweethearts.”
“Yeah. Planned on getting married.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking.”
He rolled a shoulder to give the impression the past wasn’t that important. “Her family moved and we lost touch.”
A look of surprise crossed Roger’s face. “Even though you were going to tie the knot?”
“It’s complicated.”
Roger unpacked a stack of books from the box to place on the table. “Usually is.”
As much as he wanted to talk about it, Derrick wouldn’t reveal the story that was Hannah’s to tell. He owed her that much. “You and Lynny? Anything new going on there?”
“I asked her out to dinner this weekend.”
“Took you long enough.”
He shrugged, but Derrick didn’t miss the pleasure reflected in the other man’s eyes. “I like her, but she’s so confident and sure of what she wants. I don’t know, maybe being the youngest in a family of girls made me cautious around women who have a serious-relationship gleam in their eyes.”
Derrick chuckled. “Have you known Lynny long?”
“Two years. We’ve been in the friend zone, which had worked for me, until lately. When she stopped dropping hints about getting together, I missed them and realized I was being hardheaded not to have acted sooner. I’m actually looking forward to dinner. She’s fun. More than any other woman I’ve ever dated.”
“A guy could do worse than be involved with a woman like Lynny. It seems like once she’s on your side, she’s a great friend.”
“She is. I can’t tell you all the ways she’s helped her fellow teachers. Especially Anna. She needed a friend and Lynny was there for her.”
Because Hannah had been alone. Even though he was thankful for Lynny, the never-ending guilt raised its ugly head.
They emptied more boxes as teachers started to arrive and pushed up their sleeves to sort books and place them on the appropriate tables.
“Maybe you’ll be putting a ring on her finger before long,” Derrick commented to Roger as they emptied the last of the boxes.
“I’m not in a rush,” Roger said as the two carried the empty boxes to the corner of the gym. “Not to be indelicate, but I noticed Anna isn’t wearing her engagement ring.”
As much as it had thrilled Derrick, he knew the decision had taken a toll on Hannah. “She and Prescott have to work some things out.”
“Like her obvious interest in you? And your mutual interest in her?”
Derrick stacked the boxes. “It’s that apparent?”
“A dead man could feel the heat between you two.”
He wanted her attention, like he craved air itself, but she had to decide her own future. She’d made it more than clear that she hated the fact that choices had been taken away from her in the past. He wouldn’t push and make her resent him all over again.
“What are you going to do about it?” Roger asked.
Voices echoed off the high ceiling as Derrick considered the question. “After all she’s been through, Anna should take the lead on whatever happens between us.”
“Yeah, her mother getting sick was terrible.”
Along with a list of events that Derrick couldn’t get into. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not throwing my hat into the ring.”
Roger slapped him on the back. “I like your thinking.”
“Oh, no,” a light and airy voice sounded behind them. Derrick turned to find Lynny headed in their direction, a frown wrinkling her brow. “Male bonding. Never good for the single ladies.”
“You make it sound like we’re discussing the merits of permanent bachelorhood,” Roger said, but Derrick didn’t miss the smile he couldn’t withhold. Despite Roger’s insistence on not being that serious about Lynny, the moment she walked in the room, he only had eyes for her. Much the way he was with Hannah.
As Derrick stacked the last box, he realized he needed some fresh air to get these ideas out of his head. “You can leave me out of this conversation.”
Lynny laughed. “Like you’re one to talk.”
“I’ve never debated the benefits of being a bachelor.”
“And we both know why.”
Just as Lynny spoke, Hannah strode into the gym. Today she wore a green sweater and gray pants, her hair pulled up with strands escaping around her face, just the way he loved to see her. Her cheeks were red from the cold morning air and her eyes shining like the sun had come out from behind cloud cover to brighten the day.
Lynny waved and Hannah looked over and nodded, speaking to another teacher before heading their way.
