about putting my hand in Ray’s was natural, like our bodies knew we were meant to be before our heads had a chance to get in the way and mess it up.
But they had, and I needed to remember that.
He pulled me into his chest, and I leaned my head against his shoulder, just as natural as the breath moving through our lungs.
Being this close to him almost didn’t feel real. I had to look up just to make sure it was him. Only the band’s colored lights lit his face, casting shadows over his strong jaw and cheekbones, adding depth to his darkening blue eyes.
I searched his gaze, looking for an explanation, but found none.
“Ginger,” he said, his voice rough. “I’m sorry.”
Of all the words I might have guessed to pass Ray’s lips, I hadn’t been expecting that. “For what?”
We weren’t even dancing anymore, just standing close on the dance floor while couples moved around us to the slow song coming from the stage.
He took my other hand then, and the rough pads of his thumbs rubbed slow circles over my skin. “I let my fear get in the way of us. I pushed you away, and it was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”
When it became clear he wasn’t saying more, I replied, “I’m sorry for reminding you of losing your dad. That was never my intention, and I hate that it caused you pain.”
Purposefully, he shook his head. “No. You don’t need to apologize to me.”
“I don’t know what to say, Ray.”
“Say we can be together.”
The hope in his eyes almost undid me. I wanted to fall into his arms and forgive him and pretend the ache of the last few weeks had never happened. But it had. I couldn’t simply erase the past or how he’d made me feel.
My throat got tight as I said the unspeakable words. “I can’t.”
He shook his head, faster this time. “No. It’s okay now, Ginger. I promise I’m not running anymore.”
Tears filled my eyes. “I deserve someone who’s the same person one day to the next, who will stick with me even when it’s hard.”
Ray blinked quickly, like he was pushing back tears of his own. “Ginger, that’s over.”
“Why?” I demanded, feeling angry now. He came to the dance, dressed up, sang a song, and I was just supposed to believe he was different? I stepped back, breaking our contact.
His hands fell limply by his sides, and he looked at the floor, his jaw twitching, for a long moment. When he finally turned his gaze on me, his eyes were liquid fire, molten blue, carrying all the weight of the sea. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because the only time I’ve felt like I had something to smile about—really smile about—since my dad died was when you were with me. And you’re right; I’ve been two people. I’ve been the man my family deserves and the good student it feels impossible to be.” He stepped forward and cupped my cheek. “But when I’m with you, I’m just me. I want to be that man all the time.”
“How am I supposed to know that you’re not going to run the next time it gets hard?” I asked. “My asthma’s not going away, and neither is your farm or my family.”
“Because running was more painful than anything I thought I needed to get away from.” His thumb stroked the rise of my cheekbone, sending chills of need down my spine.
I lifted my gaze, looking up at him from under my lashes, and tears were streaming down my cheeks. I was tired of fighting, tired of denying myself the one thing I’d been longing for. “I missed you.”
He crushed me to his chest, holding me against him. “I missed you so damn much, Ginger. Every day. I don’t want to miss you ever again.”
As I held him back, I whispered. “You don’t have to.”
“Good. Because I’m never letting you go.”
He pulled back and looked at me, taking me in and adoring me with his eyes. “You look so beautiful, Ginger.”
My heart skittered a jaunty beat, and my voice became breathy. “You look good, too.”
His smile was shy, nervous—vulnerable. “You think so?”
“Of course.” I ran my hands over his shoulders. “The muscles don’t hurt.”
Laughing, he said. “Well, there’s no sense in wasting a perfectly good dance. Ginger Nash, will you go to the Spring Fling with me?”
My smile was so wide, my cheeks hurt. “I’d love to.”
He took my hand again and