Duke was relieved the guy was her patient. He’d felt a mild prick of jealousy when they’d spoken to each other like old friends earlier. Duke locked the doors on the car and handed Clay the keys. “Not sure what to do with those. Do you have any plywood for your window?” Clay put the keys in his pocket and watched distractedly as the ambulance pulled away and then realized Duke had asked him a direct question. “Huh? No—I mean yes, I do.”
Duke looked around for Emma and saw her still chatting with Hank. Gage nodded at him, and Duke turned back to Clay and said, “Looks like Emma is still tied up talking to the sheriff. Why don’t we help you with the window?”
When it was all said and done, they were an hour late for their reservation and lost their table at Tessa’s. Sitting in a secluded table in one of the smaller dining rooms at O’Reilley’s, Duke said, “That was a nice thing you did, stopping to help that woman. Do you have any clue what happened?”
Emma shook her head. “Her symptoms indicated she was in shock, but I couldn’t find any outward cause. It could have been from an infection or internal bleeding. The emergency department at the hospital has probably already determined the cause. I’m sorry about our reservations. This is what happens when you’re a doctor.”
“That’s okay,” Gage replied. “We’re still on the waiting list for one of the private dining tables at Tessa’s. We’ll get there eventually.”
“Speaking of lists,” Emma said as she glanced at the party of five at the table next to them, “I know something else I want to add to my list.”
Gage and Duke both leaned toward her when she beckoned them, and Duke asked, “What’s that?”
Surreptitiously, Emma pointed in the direction of the table next to them. “I’ve been watching that family while we’ve been talking.”
They sat back and got a look at who she was talking about. The group consisted of two adults, probably in their late fifties, a younger couple, and a toddler seated in a wooden highchair.
The younger couple sat close together and the husband’s arm was around his wife’s shoulders. Duke watched as the young woman gazed up at her husband as though she wanted to drink him in. Her eyes were shiny, and her chin trembled a bit as though she fought back tears. The husband was clad in the green-and-tan battle uniform of a senior airman, indicated by the green patch with three blue stripes on the sleeve of his jacket hanging on his chair.
Judging by the deep tan from many hours in the sun and the sandblasted, worn appearance of his uniform, he had just returned from Iraq or Afghanistan. He looked at his wife as though he wanted to devour her on the spot. He leaned toward her to whisper something in her ear, and the young woman blushed.
The older man spoke to the young man, and Duke could see great pride evident in his eyes. Duke and Gage looked back at Emma when she nudged them and gestured in another direction across the small dining room.
Next, she pointed at another table where three more elderly couples sat. “See those three men sitting with their wives?” At their nods she continued, “I’m acquainted with all three of those couples. The men all served together in Korea and two of them did tours in Vietnam. All three are decorated combat veterans.” She smiled as though at a memory and said, “You should hear some of their stories. Anyway, they are my heroes. So is the airman at the other table. I’d like to do something for all of them.”
Duke got their waitress’s attention and made the necessary arrangements with her. The three of them watched with enjoyment as the groups at both tables finished their meals and then got the news that someone had picked up their entire bills. Emma bit her lip, trying to appear nonchalant as the recipients of her random act of kindness looked around the room, probably wondering who would do that.
Emma smiled when they both clasped her hands under the table, and she asked, “So what’s next?”
Duke murmured, “The Dancing Pony.”
“I’ve always wanted to go there,” she said, clapping her hands. “I learned some dance moves this week, so hopefully I won’t embarrass you too much.”
Gage grinned in appreciation and said, “You did?”
Emma nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I was afraid of stepping on toes or falling on my face. The girls taught me how to two-step and waltz. I think I shocked them that I didn’t know how, but I’ve never been to a place like The Dancing Pony where I could learn.”
Duke grinned, wondering what she would think if she knew that Summer had taken them both in hand the weekend before and showed them the very same dances. The woman was wily with her matchmaking. Duke just hoped and prayed he didn’t look like Wile E. Coyote out on the dance floor, a disaster waiting to happen.
* * * *
Emma felt heat steal into her cheeks when she caught Duke and Gage gazing at her admiringly as she rose from their booth to visit the ladies’ room. The lessons with Camilla had helped a lot with her body confidence. There was a time when she’d have been terrified of every awkward step she’d take in the high heels she wore tonight.
As she made her way gracefully through the main dining room at O’Reilley’s, she remembered what Camilla had taught her. Back straight, breasts proud, relaxed hips, and tummy tucked in. She could hear the dance music playing in her head that made a perfect rhythm for walking, which was how Camilla had her practice. She made it to the ladies’ room without landing on her ass and was quite proud of it.
She was lathering her hands in the sink when the restroom door swung open behind her. “Oh, my gosh. It is you!” her friend Jane said as she walked in.
“Hi, Jane. How have you been?” She watched Jane in the mirror as Jane looked her up and down with a frown on her face. Emma looked down, disappointed by the reaction. It would’ve been nice if Jane had complimented her improved appearance.
“Great. Why haven’t you returned my calls?”
“I’ve been busy in the evenings. Work is the same as usual.” Truthfully, Emma wanted to avoid being around Jane’s constant negativity. Her comment about being spinsters together had really bothered Emma. Things had changed a lot in her life in a short period of time. It was obvious Jane didn’t completely approve of the changes.
Jane crossed her arms in front of her and shrugged as Emma turned to face her while drying her hands on a paper towel. “So…you’re here on a date. I saw those two guys. Are you meeting someone else here? Maybe you and I could double-date with them sometime.”
Emma nearly swallowed her tongue at the thought and covered for her reaction by fiddling with the closure on her evening bag. Jane was the type that never let go of something once she’d latched on to it. She’d expect a response to her suggestion.
“I’m sorry, Jane. I’m out with them. We’re not meeting anybody.” Emma bit her lip, hoping that there was no one privy to this private conversation in any of the stalls.
Jane’s eyes got big, and then she rolled them and put out a hand when Emma would have said more. “Say no more. Have fun. Talk to you later.”
Emma frowned in disappointment as her friend stalked out of the restroom. Jane was jealous and probably a little hurt because Emma hadn’t spent much time with her. Leaning against the vanity, it occurred to Emma that if Jane was really her friend, she’d eventually understand. If she wasn’t, this was as good a time as any to let her go.
* * * *
An hour later, Duke helped Emma from the truck, admiring her long, shapely legs once more. He and Gage escorted her through the front door of The Dancing Pony. The rhythm of an upbeat country song pulsed in the air as they entered the dimly lit nightclub.
The bouncers, two very large Hispanic men, took one look at Emma and smiled. She greeted them both as though she knew them, and the taller of the two started talking a mile a minute to her. Duke recognized Mike and Rogelio but didn’t know them personally. He’d spent numerous hours observing the nightlife in the club while trying to pinpoint the person who’d been taping the girls dancing then posting inflammatory articles about them on the Inter
net.
Duke’s attention was drawn back to their conversation. “Thanks, Doc, for texting me a picture before you removed it. I was eating lunch at the time.”
Emma snorted and said, “It’s not every day you see a bean shoved up a kid’s nose actually sprouting. I thought you’d want to see before I removed it.”
“We still haven’t figured out which of Cole’s brothers talked him into doing that. They stick together.”
Duke chuckled along with Gage, getting the gist of the conversation. He imagined Emma probably had seen just about everything as a family practitioner in a small town.
Mike reached out and shook his and Gage’s hands and said, “It’s getting busy but you shouldn’t have much difficulty getting a table.”
They seated Emma and themselves at one of the tall tables against the back wall. Duke noticed that she eyed the dance floor and looked a little nervous. He felt for her. The dancing couples all looked comfortable as they swayed and danced together, looking as though they’d all been born knowing how to dance.
He leaned toward Emma and said, “You look gorgeous tonight. I can’t wait to get you on the dance floor.”
He was telling a small lie. He couldn’t wait to draw her close to him, that much was certainly true. He’d never spent any time in dance halls or nightclubs unless he was working. His choice of venues for dates usually revolved around dinner and a movie, not stepping out of his comfort zone.
He had other cousins who had learned to dance as teenagers, but he and Gage had never been interested when they were growing up, and so he’d spent his twenties and early thirties avoiding places like this because he didn’t want to embarrass himself.
Summer had been very patient and kind when she showed him and Gage some dance moves and encouraged him to just listen to the music and let the rhythm of the dance provide its own inspiration. Summer had asked if Emma knew how to dance, and Duke had told her no, that he knew for a fact she didn’t. Summer had smiled and told him, “Well then, she’ll never know the difference if you’re both beginners, will she?” That was true, and now the moment to test that theory had come.
“Emma, want to dance?”
The hunted look in Emma’s eyes was confirmed in her reply. “Already?”
Gage smiled in commiseration and said, “It’s better to rip the Band-Aid off, right? Angel, you look really beautiful tonight and even though this is a stretch for me also, I’m seriously looking forward to getting you out on the dance floor.”
Emma bit her lip and smiled at his compliment. “If I could jump out of an airplane, I can do this too, right? I’m sorry I’m such a socially stunted geek, guys.”
Duke laughed at her description of herself. She hid it well. “Geeks ‘R’ Us, Emma. The dance floor is full and nobody will notice us stepping on each other’s toes. Want to wait until some friends show up?”
Emma hopped from her seat. “No! Let’s do this.”
Glad his question had the desired effect, he nodded when Gage said that he’d order a round of drinks for them. He held Emma’s hand and ignored his own self-consciousness as they walked together to the dance floor. Her hand was just as clammy as his, so they both knew how the other felt about this adventure.
Situations like this were more difficult for someone who had spent so much time in isolated settings, like behind a computer monitor. Emma had dedicated her youth and young adult years to her education and believed she was socially stunted because of it.
He smiled reassuringly at her when she bit her lip and held tight to his hand. He pulled her into the crowd, ignoring his own nerves in his determination to do this. Summer had suggested staying to the center of the dance floor because they’d be less likely to get run over by other dancers and could take the dance at their own pace.
Consolation came when he looked into Emma’s eyes, and he pulled her against him as the song changed. The Band Perry’s “All Your Life” began to play, and he cupped her neck and drew her to him for a brief kiss. Her neck muscles were stiff, and he left his hand there for a moment, rubbing gently as she settled her head against his chest. She bumped the toe of her shoe against his and briefly clutched at his shoulder.
“Would you walk to the edge of the ocean
Just to fill my jar with sand?
Just in case I get the notion
To let it run through my hand…”
“No one is going to care if we’re here in the middle stepping on each other’s toes. Relax, Em.” His cock tightened when she wrapped her arms around his waist and they began to move together to the music.
“Well, I don’t want the whole world
The sun, the moon, and all their light
And I just want to be the only girl
You love all your life…”
She gradually relaxed, and at some point during the song he realized that while they might not be moving with the same steps as everyone else, they were definitely dancing together. Their bodies were pressed against each other from knee to chest, and when he advanced, she molded herself to him in retreat and allowed him to lead.
They knocked toes on a couple of occasions, but each time she’d look up at him and smile as they regained their rhythm and continued on. The song was over too soon.
They returned to the table and sipped from the drinks Gage had procured for them. Emma looked much more settled, and he felt relieved. It was just as Summer had said. They would all three learn together.
Gage got out of his chair and held his hand out to her. Emma smiled and took it as she rose. Duke couldn’t resist a soft stroke on her ass when she winked at him as she walked past. She giggled and followed Gage to the dance floor. Duke wondered if Gage knew that the next song was a waltz.
A hand clapped down on his shoulder. He chuckled when he turned and saw that it was Ace Webster. Accompanying him were Kemp Whittier and Summer Heston, as well as Ace’s sister Lydia and her men, Chance and Clayton Carlisle.
“Hey!” Duke said as he rose from his chair to greet the ladies and shake hands with the men. Pointing at the recently vacated table next to them, he said, “Care to join us?”
They slid the square tables together, and the men seated Summer and Lydia before Chance left to place an order for drinks at the bar.
Summer leaned toward Duke and asked, “Not nearly as nerve racking as you thought it would be, was it?”
Duke shook his head. “Nope. It was worse. But then we got on the dance floor and it just…worked.”
Summer’s lovely face broke into a wide grin, and she sat up like a proud mama. “See? It wasn’t so bad! Oh, I see Emma out there with Gage right now. Aw, look. They do fine together. Everybody else is too wrapped up in each other to notice how anyone else dances. They look like all the others. I told you that you both had natural rhythm.”
Kemp snickered. “Duke, it never occurred to us in all these years that you two had never learned how to dance.”
Duke’s eyebrows shot up. “Probably because it’s kind of embarrassing. We were busy building the ‘geekdom.’”
Ace chuckled and said, “Maybe we should have let them out of the surveillance van more often, Kemp. If we’d known, we would have taught you ourselves.”
Duke laughed at Ace’s teasing and replied, “Thanks, man. The self-defense lessons were enough. I think we’re holding our own tonight.”
Lydia snorted and pointed at Gage and Emma, who were kissing as “Cowboys Like Us” by George Strait drew to a close. “Uh, yeah. Looks like it. Is he swabbing her tonsils?”
Duke had known Lydia since he was a teenager and looked upon her as a younger sibling. He poked her in the ribs, and she giggled as she patted his shoulder. “You and Gage seem very happy, Duke. It’s good to see you getting out and socializing in the land of the living.”
“Damn, were we that antisocial?”
Lydia smiled at him indulgently. “No. We always knew where you were. It’s just nice to see you out and about is all. I had no idea you didn’t know how
to dance.”
Duke grinned at Lydia and replied, “That’s because we hid it well behind out sarcastic, geeky wit.” He shrugged and added, “It’s not like we were deprived or anything. And now that we know Emma enjoys dancing we’ll bring her here again.”
Lydia nudged him with her elbow and said, “I like that she seems to understand that part of you. And you aren’t as sarcastic as some geeks I’ve known. At least when you crack jokes I get them most of the time.”
Duke and Gage had friends growing up who hid behind their cerebral wit to the point that no one got their jokes but themselves. At that point they were no longer fun to be around and wound up ostracizing themselves socially. Luckily Duke and Gage had never felt the need to be like that. They liked computers and technology, but they liked having friends, too.
“That’s because I’m such a nice guy, sweetie,” he replied. Lydia rolled her eyes and laughed as he added, “If you’ll excuse me I’m going to go claim another dance from the gorgeous doctor.” Duke leaned over and kissed the top of Lydia’s head and nodded at the others. He met Gage and Emma halfway as Gage took his phone from his pocket and frowned at it.
Duke asked, “Everything okay?”
“I’m going to have to change my phone number, again. I don’t know how Amy could’ve gotten my new number.”
“Did she ever respond to your last e-mail?” Duke asked, already guessing the answer which was confirmed by the brief negative shake of Gage’s head.
Emma reacted to the name and said, “That’s the one you told me about, right? She’s really stalking you?”
Gage nodded tersely then slipped the phone back in his pocket. “It looks like you’re going to spend most of your time on the dance floor, angel.”
Gage kissed her quickly, and she replied, “That would be just fine with me, honey.” Emma put her hand in Duke’s, and he led her back to the dance floor.
“Whoo. That was fun. I do believe I could grow to love dancing with the two of you,” Emma said, obviously relieved. Duke pulled her into a dance embrace as “Tomorrow” by Chris Young played.
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 4 Page 12
