I watched Grant as they finished the song and he pulled her into a hug. My hands clenched tightly into fists. What was he doing?
“Bud, you look like you need reminding you got your stupid ass engaged,” Thad said standing back up.
Della’s hands were resting on Grant’s arms just a little too comfortably and long. Della’s gaze left Grant’s face and her eyes found me. Immediately her hands fell away and she stepped away from Grant after flashing him one more smile. Then she turned and left the stage.
I watched her as she made her way through the crowd. She was headed for the back hallway that led to the restrooms. I didn’t think about it too hard. I just went with it. Standing up, I followed her.
She had already disappeared into the restroom when I got back there so I waited. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. We’d just agreed to become friends so pushing her back into that small one stall bathroom and taking her up against the wall again wasn’t a good idea. I was positive she wouldn’t be so willing anymore. Which burned like acid down my throat. I’d had her. I could have had more.
Staring at the door, I decided this was a bad move. Another mistake. I shouldn’t be back here. I wanted to get to know Della and this wasn’t the way to do it. She’d push me away if I even attempted anything.
I stalked back down the hallway away from the temptation.
“Woods?” Della’s voice stopped me. I couldn’t go back there. I looked back at her over my shoulder.
“Hey. You did great up there. Sheryl Crow is hard to sing.”
She blushed. “Thank you. It was fun. I’d been nervous when Bethy had asked me to but I’m glad I did.”
“I’m glad you did too.”
She walked toward me. “How about that dance now?”
I wanted to dance with her. I wanted that memory. That experience. I held out my hand to her and she placed hers in mine. I stared down at her small hand and my chest felt like it was stretching. The tightness that surrounded me only grew stronger as I closed my hand around hers and led her out to the dance floor.
I could feel eyes on me but right now I didn’t give a shit. They could look. They could judge me. This was what I wanted and until I said “I do” I was going to spend time getting to know Della. If I didn’t, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
Jimmy had taken the mic and had just started singing “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes. I was thankful for a slower song. That meant I’d get to pull her closer.
Della slid her hands up my arms and rested them there. She didn’t slip them behind my neck and press close to me.
“You smell good,” she said softly. I almost missed it she’d spoke so quietly.
“Not as good as you smell, trust me,” I replied and she tensed as my hands tightened their grip on her waist. “It’s the truth, Della. I’ve told you before that you smell incredible. Don’t get all uptight because I’m being honest.”
She relaxed a little. “Okay, you’re right. No harm in thinking your friends smell good.” The teasing tone in her voice was cute.
“Is there a rule that says since we’re friends you can’t wrap your hands around my neck?”
Della paused a moment then her hands slid up and over my shoulders. They rested on my shoulders. “I’m not tall enough for them to go any further. Even in these boots.”
“This is good,” I assured her and pulled her closer. “Where are you from Della Sloane?”
She laughed. “You could easily look on the application that you had me fill out to find that information.”
She was right. I could. “But I want to hear it from you. I don’t want to read it off your file.”
Della tilted her head to the side and studied me a moment. “Macon, Georgia”
I’d have guessed Alabama or Georgia. Her accent was thick. “Do you have brothers or sisters?”
A melancholy look came over her face and she shook her head no. “No.” That simple ‘no’ sounded like so much more. She wasn’t telling me something.
“You don’t seem like an only child. The carefree, travel the world choice of yours is more like something the baby of a family would do.”
Della smiled but it was one that held secrets. I wondered if I’d ever know those secrets.
“I’m not carefree. Not even close. But I want to be. I’m hoping one day I’ll know what that feels like. Right now I’m trying to find me. You know what you want out of life, I don’t. I have no idea.”