me yet.” Layla took a swig from her wineglass. “I plan to kick up my heels.”
Darlene figured Layla would want to leave as soon as she could, to get away from all of the people who wanted to see her, but with each glass of wine, Layla became more talkative to those she’d snubbed earlier. Even Penny. After a few minutes, the band started playing a lively polka that enticed some of the older people onto the dance floor. Round Top and the surrounding towns had a large Czech influence, and lots of the elderly folks still spoke the language fluently. Dave and Darlene chatted as they watched Layla dancing with Bob.
“I can’t quite figure her out.” Darlene took a sip of her wine, which was warm now. “I mean, she was a movie star, now she herds cattle. She lives in an amazing house . . .” Darlene giggled. “And she herds cattle. Did I mention that? And she’s just . . .” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes she is so strong and abrasive, and other times it’s as if you can see clear to her heart.”
“She’s quite a woman.”
They were quiet for a few moments, then the band eased into a slow song. Darlene tried to remember the last time she and Brad had danced. Dave stood up and held out his hand.
“Shall we? Who knows when we’ll both get out again for something like this. Let’s make the most of it.”
Darlene didn’t move for a moment. “Oh, I don’t know, I—”
“Oh, please, don’t force me to dance with Layla. She always steps on my feet,” he said, grinning. Darlene wasn’t sure what else to say, so she stood up and accepted Dave’s hand. He escorted her to the dance floor, which was filling up quickly. They stood in the midst of a crowd of couples beneath a dark sky speckled with twinkling stars. As Dave cupped his arm against her bare back, it felt strange to be dancing so intimately with someone other than Brad, especially someone she barely knew. She kept herself taut against his hold, making sure she didn’t get too close.
When the song was over, they walked back to the table and fell into a comfortable conversation about plans for the new wing at the school. Dave was actively involved in every aspect of the planning, and he spoke with a passion about it. Then, in the middle of talking, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “It’s Myrna. Excuse me.”
He hurried across the room and out the door. Darlene glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearing eleven o’clock. She hadn’t expected to be out this late, and she was yawning when Dave walked back in and sat down.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
He scratched his forehead. “Yeah. Cara woke up after a bad dream, asking for me, and Myrna knew from past experience that it would just be easier to let Cara hear my voice rather than try to get her to go back to sleep without it. She seemed fine after I talked to her.”
“Glad everything is okay,” Darlene said. She watched Dave take a deep breath, then glance at his watch.
Darlene turned away to stifle a yawn, hoping Layla would be ready to go soon. She looked around the room, then turned to Dave when she heard him push back his chair. He held out his hand to her.
“One more dance?”
Darlene opened her mouth to decline, but when she saw everyone else at their table move toward the dance area, she nodded and accepted his extended hand.
This time, he held her closer than before and, once, rubbed his hand against her back. But he was right. There might not be another night like this for a long time. She tried to relax into his arms and enjoy the music, but she couldn’t ignore the churning in her stomach.
Beneath the starlit sky, Dave closed his eyes and breathed in the sweet smell of Darlene’s hair as he gently eased her closer to him. She felt good in his arms, and it was by far the most romantic thing he’d experienced in a long time.
As they danced, he couldn’t help but face his motives. He’d asked to sit next to her because he wanted to get to know Cara’s teacher better—this woman spent more time with his daughter than he did. But he knew that wasn’t the complete truth. Darlene wasn’t just beautiful and good with