She looked at him with wonder. “Did you mean that?”
He realized what she was asking. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I did. I love you, Shannon.”
Her smile was brilliant right before she reached up and kissed him.
CHAPTER 37
“Dance for yourself. If someone understands,
good. If not, no matter.”
—Louis Horst
“I can’t believe Kimber is on a beach right now, while we’re dressed in sweaters and freezing,” Traci said as she frowned at the ice forming on the windshield. Flicking on the defrost, she grumbled, “I’m so over this winter.”
Though Shannon privately agreed with Traci’s comment, she felt honor-bound to defend their lucky sister. “Kimber’s having to wear skimpy bikinis while having to pose in the hot sun for eight hours a day. It’s not like she’s laying out and working on her tan.”
“Well, I’m working, too,” Traci said as she parked her vehicle right behind Backdoor Books. “I’m also a whole lot colder.”
Watching Traci type something into her phone and check her gun before securing it in her shoulder holster, Shannon felt a rush of sympathy for her. She was only coming to the bookstore as a favor to Jennifer and Dylan.
Of the three of them, Kimber was the reader. Shannon liked to read a book on vacation or one of the bestsellers, but usually preferred to watch movies. Traci, however, didn’t like to read at all. In fact, every time Kimber mentioned a new book she’d just read or recommended something from her bedside table, Traci looked like Kimber was recommending one of those low-fat, high-protein shakes she often consumed instead of real food.
Thinking of all that, Shannon murmured, “I guess this event here really is going to feel like a job to you.”
“A little bit,” Traci said as they got out. “But it’s not the fact that we’re going to be spending the next three or four hours at a bookstore.” She stopped and scanned the area. “Shannon, I’m actually feeling a little off-kilter.”
“Because?”
“Because I’m not used to worrying about family while I’m working. I hate that I’m going to have to be watching Jennifer, looking out for this Lance guy, and worrying about you, too.”
Shannon frowned. “You don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“That may be true, but I’m still gonna worry. I can’t help it. It’s all the training, I guess.”
Shannon smiled to herself. Traci wasn’t the type of girl to gush about how much she loved her sisters, but what she had just shared was pretty close to it. “I love you, too,” she said.
Traci grinned at her as they started walking.
Feeling pleased, Shannon followed. Traci once told her that she’d heard the words “I love you” more since she met Shannon and Kimber than she had in her entire life. That comment said a lot about her sister’s early life. But instead of dwelling on how sad that was, Shannon liked to concentrate on how much Traci seemed to like hearing it. Her goal was for Traci to one day be just as comfortable saying the words as she was.
When they stepped into the foyer, Shannon noticed Dylan was already inside. He was talking with Camille and Jack but turned to greet them right away.
“Hey, you,” he murmured as he bent down to kiss Shannon lightly on the lips.
“Hey back,” she replied, looking up at him with a smile. He had on a light-blue oxford, dark jeans, and a dark-gray blazer that she’d never seen before. Shannon thought he looked so handsome. “How are things going around here?”
“Pretty good. Jen is in the back, frantically arranging already-perfect trays of food. Camille is a nervous wreck, and now that I’ve informed Jack about Lance, he looks like he’s ready to be Jennifer’s shadow for the night.”
Shannon smiled. “That’s kind of sweet.”
After a slight hesitation, Dylan nodded. “I guess.”
Pressing a reassuring hand on his chest, she said, “It is, I promise.”
Traci shifted. “Where do you want me, Dylan?”
“Can you hang by the front door? I’m going to stay around the back.”
“No problem. I can do that.”
When Shannon noticed her sister and boyfriend give each other a look, she said, “Dylan, are you as stressed as Traci is about tonight?”
“Yep.”
“I can help,” she offered. “Do you want me to be on patrol somewhere?”
“Absolutely not,” he replied. “Don’t mind Traci and me. We get paranoid from time to time.”
Shannon tried to look at ease, but she knew Dylan well enough by now to realize that he was worried.
“It’s the drawback of being a cop, Shannon,” Traci said. “We always look for the worst to happen. Don’t worry.”
“I’ll try not to.” As the door opened and a dozen or so people entered, she added, “I’ll go see if I can help Jennifer.”
“Good idea, hon,” Dylan said.
* * *
As they watched Shannon move gracefully through the increasingly crowded rooms of the old house, Traci snorted. “Kisses and ‘honey,’ huh? Looks like y’all got everything patched up.”
Dylan rolled his eyes, but he didn’t deny it. “We made up the other night. I told her I loved her.”
Traci’s grin vanished. “That’s awesome, boss. I’m happy for you. Happy for both of you.”
“Me, too. She’s really special. I know she’s who I’ve been looking for all my life,” he added as the door opened and another crowd of people entered. Forcing himself to focus, he said, “We better get to work. I’ll head to the back.”
She nodded, looking all business again. “If Lance shows up, we’ll get him.”
“We better,” Dylan murmured as he headed into the crowd.
An hour later, the bookstore was filled with at least a hundred people. Camille looked triumphant, and every time he spied Jennifer, she looked like she was having the time of her life.
It was amazing, really. Two months ago, he would have never imagined that she would be comfortable around so many people. But something had happened to her out in the woods that day. She’d finally come into herself. Or maybe she’d simply come back to the girl she used to be. Dylan had to remind himself more than once that his sister didn’t used to be nervous or scared when she was younger. All through high school and college, she’d been the more social of the two of them.
Watching how Jack was staying by her side, Dylan knew that he was part of Jennifer’s transformation, too. She really liked him. And based on the way he was protectively hovering over her, it seemed Jack liked her just as much.
For his part, he was more than ready for this event to be over. There were too many people spread out through three floors and too many things going on. Camille was manning the cash register on the first floor. Three authors were up on the second floor signing books. Stragglers and book browsers were up on the third floor.
He and Traci had been in constant contact, so he knew Lance hadn’t shown up. But that said, Dylan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go down. He’d just told himself to stop worrying, when he heard his partner shout loud enough to be heard over the din of the crowd.
“Shannon!”
He turned and ran to the front of the shop, and then stopped in his tracks. There was his girlfriend stepping in front of Jennifer.
Jack was nowhere to be found.
Lance, however, was pushing Shannon to one side as he reached for Jennifer.
Feeling like everything was happening in slow motion, Dylan watched Shannon fight back and thrust herself in front of his sister.
“No!” Dylan yelled as he surged forward. There was no way he was going to let his sister get hurt again. Or Shannon.
Just as Lance looked his way, Traci tackled the guy like she had been the offensive end of the
Buckeyes.
As he fell, Lance reached inside his coat.
But that move was foiled as well, thanks to the elbow Traci had slammed into his ribs.
As the crowd gasped and Dylan went down on one knee to cuff him, Shannon wrapped her arms around Jennifer and pulled her to one side.
Lance’s attempt to resist was firmly put down, and within minutes, he and Traci were escorting the guy to his cruiser at the back of the shop.
Dylan caught Jennifer’s eye as he walked by and smiled at her just as Jack ran up.
“Jen, I’m so sorry,” Jack said, his voice strained and out of breath. “I can’t believe I fell for that guy’s story and ran outside to help with an accident that wasn’t even there.”
“It’s okay.”
He ran his hands along her arms. “Are you all right?”
Jennifer’s smile was bright. “I am.”
Dylan thought his sister had never looked more beautiful. She was okay, proud of herself, and had made it to the other side of her depression and anxiety. He was suddenly sure that everything was going to be just fine for her.
Maybe even for all of them from now on.
CHAPTER 38
“Once a dancer, always a dancer.”
Two days later, the four of them were having a girls’ night. Kimber had arrived home the night before, sporting a faint tan, a suitcase of trinkets that she’d picked up from some vendors on the beach, and a big appetite.
The previous night, Shannon had stared at Kimber in shock when she’d practically eaten a whole pizza by herself. Her sister had just shrugged, saying that her next modeling job was on a runway in two weeks. In Kimber terms, that meant she could spend a few days eating everything she wanted.
That was partly why they were sitting at the new dining room table Kimber had ordered, and all eating Jennifer’s latest creation: Honey-baked ham with all the fixings.
As Traci reached for another helping of mashed potatoes, Shannon smiled at Jennifer. “This is the best meal I’ve had in years.”
“I’m glad you like it,” she replied. “I had a good time cooking all day.”
“Every one of my students asked what smelled so good the minute they arrived for class,” Shannon said.
“Everything smelled even better up here,” Kimber said. “Since Traci had the day off, she and I kept circling the kitchen like alley cats.”
“And . . . kept getting denied,” Traci teased. “Especially since Jennifer would hardly let us help.”
Jennifer shook her head. “I told you, this meal was my thank-you gift to you girls. If you’d helped, it wouldn’t have been much of a present.”
“We didn’t need a present,” Shannon said.
“But you all went above and beyond for me the other night. Cooking a decent meal was the least I could do.”
“And I told you that there was no need to thank us,” Traci said. “I’m just glad we got the guy.”
Kimber shook her head. “I still can’t believe I missed it all. I would have paid money to see you tackle that guy, Traci.”
“It was epic,” Jennifer said with a grin. “Dylan is still talking about it. He told me that the sergeant suggested you start moonlighting as a bodyguard, Traci.”
Traci rolled her eyes. “Ha ha.”
“I’m just glad it’s all over,” Shannon said. And it really was. Dylan and Traci had arrested Lance, and he was now sitting in jail awaiting trial. He had so many charges against him, from stalking to writing threatening notes to attempted murder, there was no doubt that he would be going to prison for a very long time.
“Me, too,” Jennifer said. “Which reminds me . . . I have a surprise for you. I’ll be right back.”
Shannon looked at her sisters. “What’s going on now?”
“No telling,” Kimber whispered. “All I know is that we have our very own Betty Crocker, and I’m never giving her back.”
Shannon’s chuckle faded as Jennifer walked toward them carrying an enormous chocolate cake. “Oh, goodness, look at that.”
“It’s beautiful,” Traci said. “I have no idea when you baked it.”
“Early this morning,” Jennifer said. “I wanted it to be a surprise.” Looking at the three of them, she said, “This isn’t a thank-you for helping me with Lance. It’s for letting me live with you and making me feel so welcome.”
“We like you, Jen,” Kimber said. “And for the record, we’d like you living with us even if you didn’t cook so well.”
“Well, I really appreciate it.” She smiled at Shannon. “Of course, this cake is probably for Shannon most of all.”
“Why me?” Shannon asked.
“Well, you’ve made my brother really happy. I’ve never seen him so enchanted.”
“Enchanted is a good way of putting it,” Traci commented. “Dylan is always kissing and touching you every time you are together now. It’s like he can’t be in the same room without getting up close and personal.”
Embarrassed, Shannon pressed her hands to her cheeks. “We’re not that bad . . . are we?”
“Oh, stop. They’re in love,” Kimber said as she reached for the slice of cake Jennifer handed her. “I think it’s sweet.”
“I do, too,” Jennifer said as she passed out more cake. “Who knows? Maybe one day in the future Dylan will be getting down on one knee.”
Shannon knew she was blushing. Both from the teasing . . . and from the fact that she could actually imagine that happening. But if that did happen one day . . . everything would change with her sisters again. Struck by that, she put her fork down.
“What’s wrong?” Traci asked.
“Oh, I was just thinking that if Dylan and I did get married one day, things would change for all of us again.”
Traci put her fork down, too. “Change how?”
“Well, if Dylan and I married, I’d move in with him,” she explained.
Looking mystified, Kimber said, “I would hope so. What’s wrong with that?”
“Well, if I lived with Dylan, we wouldn’t be together anymore. And . . . and we just found each other.” She held her breath, half expecting Traci and Kimber to remind her how they’d just moved to Bridgeport to be with her.
But instead they laughed.
Spearing a bite of cake with her fork, Traci said, “Shannon, not even you marrying my partner and moving in with him is going to change things with the three of us.”
“Sure?”
“I’m positive. We’re sisters now. Forever and ever.”
Leaning back, Kimber nodded. “You’ve always got us now, Miss West Virginia. No matter what happens in the future, Traci and I will be there for you. We love you, and we’re going to love you forever and ever.”
At a loss for words, Shannon smiled at them both. They really had become sisters. No matter what happened, that’s what they would be.
EPILOGUE
“There are shortcuts to happiness,
and dancing is one of them.”
—Vicki Baum
June
“Are you ready to go home?” Dylan asked Shannon as they crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky on the historic Brent Spence Bridge.
Looking at the array of boats on the river, the expanse of trees along the banks, and the bright blue sky, Shannon smiled. She was beginning to like everything about her new hometown. She loved the quaintness of Bridgeport, the vibrancy of living near Cincinnati, even the novelty of flying into Northern Kentucky in order to get home. There was something about seeing that Welcome to Ohio sign posted on the bridge that tugged at her heart every time.
“I can’t wait,” she said at last. “It feels like we’ve been gone for a month.”
“Only ten days, Mrs. Lange.”
Shannon bit her lip so she wouldn’t start grinning hard enough to beat the band. “It felt
longer.”
“I wished it had lasted longer.” Continuing to drive along I-275 toward Bridgeport, Dylan chuckled. “Only you would complain about a honeymoon in Florida.”
Their honeymoon had been wonderful. They’d elected to stay away from the fancy resorts in Sarasota and had instead stayed in a house Shannon had found through Airbnb. The house had been right on Siesta Key and had had its own pool. After the craziness of the last two months—with Dylan’s sudden proposal and their decision to have a small ceremony two months later in a tiny church in Bridgeport instead of back in Spartan, which had been stressful—they had both needed a break.
At first her mother had been upset—she’d hoped to hold a big wedding with half of their hometown in attendance. But she’d eventually understood . . . and then had helped Shannon plan the intimate ceremony with her usual precision and flair.
“I loved our honeymoon,” she murmured. “And I loved our wedding, you know that.”
“I know you looked beautiful in that white lacey gown.”
“You keep saying that, Dylan.” Not that she minded. She, too, kept remembering their sweet, intimate ceremony. Dylan had worn a dark-navy suit. And she? Well, she’d worn her dream gown—a confection of white satin, tulle, and lace that was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. Walking down the aisle on her father’s arm, she’d only seen Dylan. He’d smiled at her in a way that made her feel like she was the only woman in the room.
“I keep saying that because it’s still true. You were a beautiful bride.”
She smiled at him. “Now, we get to go to your house and relax. I’m excited to finally get settled and do nothing.”
“It’s our house now, hon.”
The move had been another source of exhaustion over the weeks before the ceremony. She had moved most of her things from her room so Jennifer could move into it easily. But though moving those things had been easy enough, it had been a little traumatic. Jennifer had been officially moving on with her life, and Shannon had been officially moving away from the two sisters she’d just gotten close to.
Kimber had been the one to finally stop all her tears, relaying that Shannon was still going to be on the first floor every day, so it wasn’t like they were going to be getting rid of her at all.
Shall We Dance? Page 22
