by Kate Kisset
“You’re mine.” Jake looked into her eyes. “Under the stars, in the blinding sun, in pouring rain, under the covers...” His eyes crinkled at the corners, and he kissed her nose. “Get used to it, Scarlett.”
Woozy excitement and languorous contentment rippled through her. Even though the words could have been left unsaid, he told her anyway. Something glittering in the corner of her eye caught her attention, and they both turned.
“You were magnificent!” Cha-Cha paraded toward them in a long, silver-sequined gown. Clusters of rhinestone stars sparkled from her loose gray curls. Leaning closer, she grasped Jake’s face by the cheeks and gave kisses on each.
“You, too, my darling,” she purred, clasping Scarlett’s face. “Mwah.” She kissed. “Mwah.” The smell of sugar cookies and ginger lingered while Cha-Cha plopped down in a nearby chair.
“Don’t get up, dears,” ChiChi commanded. Escorted by Charles, she hobbled over in a dazzling midnight blue sequined gown. A wave of Aqua Net and cinnamon washed over the group as she passed on the way to a chair.
“You make a lovely night sky, sister,” Cha-Cha complimented her, and then turned to Scarlett. “I’m the stars tonight.” She tapped on a rhinestone barrette. “She’s the sky.” She pointed to her sister. “So we match, but we aren’t too matchy-matchy, more of a theme...” Cha-Cha harrumphed and leaned back in her chair.
Charles assisted ChiChi into a chair and sat beside her. She brought a hand to her cheek, seeming to marvel at Jake. Then her warm brown eyes focused on Scarlett.
“I couldn’t be more proud and happy.” Her voice cracked. “Delighted, really…” She nodded, seeming to grapple for words. “You’re a wise young woman, Scarlett. You listened to your inner voice and led with your heart tonight.” She smiled.
“Well thank you, but I-I only followed Jake’s lead.”
“Of course.” ChiChi winked at her sister. “Whatever you say, dear.”
Jake squeezed her hand, giving her the confidence to apologize for the major faux paus everyone was kind enough not to mention. “I’m sorry we came in second.” Scarlett shrugged, turning to Cha-Cha and then to ChiChi. “It’s my fault. I am happy I didn’t trip, though.” She let out a nervous laugh.
ChiChi waved a hand, pushing her away. “Nonsense child, you and my nephew did not lose.” ChiChi turned to Charles and gave him a look that made him get up from his chair. Charles knelt in front of her on the grass.
Was Charles about to propose? ChiChi lifted the hem of her gown. Is he removing a garter? Charles unfastened the Velcro straps of her boot. He grabbed the bottom of the contraption, tugged, and pulled it off.
What the heck?
ChiChi wiggled her stubby little toes, her shiny red toenail polish gleaming in the moonlight. “Thank you, Charles.” Charles planted a kiss on her cheek and went back to his chair. “Oh, this feels so much better!” She grinned at her feet and made circles with her thick ankles.
Jake’s bottom lifted off the bench. “You’re healed?”
ChiChi snubbed him with a gesture and looked up at the sky. “I made a miraculous recovery,” she said solemnly and tapped her finger on her forehead, then to her heart. Cha-Cha joined, tapping and muttering, “in the name of the father, the son…”
When the impromptu prayer service was over, ChiChi stared up at the heavens. “It’s all part of God’s plan.” Her voice trailed off.
Cha-Cha interlocked her fingers and wrapped them around her knees, her blue eyes twinkling. “He makes great plans, doesn’t He?” She winked at Scarlett, and it hit her like a ton of bricks.
Did these two set up the whole thing? ChiChi faked a broken ankle?
“As we were saying, there is no need for you to apologize for coming in second place, Scarlett.” ChiChi smoothed her two-story updo. “The newlyweds came in first.” She pointed to a couple plastered together on the dance floor. “They’re just back from their honeymoon, dear. I’m sure they had plenty of time for practicing.” She giggled. “There’s no harm in lovebirds taking first place.”
Then, as if she caught a whiff of a rotten egg, ChiChi quickly swiveled her head to the side. “I know she’s staring at us again,” she complained under her breath.
Scarlett shifted for a better look at whatever was bothering ChiChi. She located a dark figure behind a tree about ten feet away. “I see you, Deidre…” ChiChi said in in sing-song voice and waved at her.
Cha-Cha shot both of her arms in the air and swayed. Her silver sleeves caught the light, shooting off rays of glittering sparkles. “Hello, Deidre Potter!”
ChiChi turned back to the group. “She’s been spying on us all night.” She grinned, patting Charles’s hand. “It’s lucky I have Charles, here, to remind me of what’s important.”
“Well I’m glad someone understands you, Auntie,” Jake piped up. “And I’m happy to hear you’re not disappointed we didn’t take first prize in front of Deidre Potter.” He tightened his hug and kissed Scarlett on the cheek.
“How many times do I have to tell you?” ChiChi asked, looking flummoxed. “Even if Deidre had danced tonight, she would’ve lost. She will always lose because she, herself, is lost.” ChiChi gazed at Charles and then looked up at the stars.
She reached over and patted Scarlett’s knee. “Don’t you understand, honey? You and Jake didn’t come in second place tonight. The new lovebirds won, Charles and I won, and you won. We found love, honey, don’t you see?” Then she turned an adoring look to Charles. “We all won. Love always wins.”
The End
KATE KISSET LINKS
Thank you for reading TWO TO TANGO, I had so much fun writing this story! If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read, please consider leaving a review.
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ABOUT KATE KISSET
Former San Francisco disc jockey Kate Kisset is the author of Wine Country Romance. A series of original contemporary romance novels set in Sonoma, Napa Valley, St. Helena and San Francisco, California.
Although Kate wrote her first story in the third grade, she became serious about writing romance after she lost her mother to pancreatic cancer. The tragedy left her searching for, and eventually writing happily-ever-afters to lift her spirits.
Kate divides her time between Northern and Southern California. Her stories feature strong heroes and heroines set in the real-world vineyard settings found outside her front door.
When she's not writing, Kate's favorite job is being "The Mommy." She enjoys hiking, cooking, listening to music and walking her loyal companion, Luciana Parmigiana her rescue-dog-editor.
