almost forgotten he was her date for the wedding—and also her ride home.
“Ian, have you met Bowie Callahan? He’s lucky enough to be married to my best friend, Katrina. Bowie, this is Ian Summerhill. Gemma’s brother.”
“I would shake your hand but I’m afraid mine are full at the moment,” Bowie said.
“No worries.” Ian smiled easily. “I’ve been there myself. I’m fortunate enough to have a nanny, who only ten minutes ago took the children home, since my son was falling asleep on his feet and my daughter wasn’t far behind.”
Samantha was sorry she hadn’t had the chance to say good night to the children before Mrs. Gilbert took them home for the evening.
They made small talk for a few moments, before Ian turned to her. “The champagne was a pretext,” Ian admitted. “In actuality, I was wondering if you might have a dance free for me.”
Something about his solemn expression sent butterflies twirling through her. “Yes,” she said softly. She wanted to tell him he could have all the rest of her dances forever, but couldn’t seem to find the words, even if such a thing were possible.
Leaving the champagne on the table, she took his hand and he led her out to the dance floor.
She didn’t want this moment to end. She wanted to remember it for the rest of her life, dancing with the man she loved under a sky peppered with stars.
“The moon is beautiful on the water here, isn’t it?” he murmured.
She told herself it was the champagne that left her breathless, light-headed. “I’ve always loved the view from Snow Angel Cove. The lake and the mountains are the same but the perspective seems so different. There’s a beautiful spot down by the water where you can see all of Haven Point, and some of Shelter Springs, too.”
“I would like to see that.”
“It’s just through the trees there.” She gestured vaguely in the direction, though she couldn’t seem to take her gaze away from the intensity of his expression. Something was happening here. Something significant she didn’t understand.
“Do you mind missing the rest of the dance?”
She would much rather walk along the lakeshore with him, holding his hand and trying to pretend he wasn’t leaving in a few days.
“I don’t mind,” she said.
“Lead on,” he said.
They slipped away from the dance floor, away from the lights and the crowd. The crushed gravel path was illuminated by small globes, their lights spilling down in small half circles.
She was intensely aware of Ian walking beside her silently, his features veiled in darkness but his hand warm and comforting in hers.
Finally the pine and spruce opened up a little, revealing a little hidden cove on the lake. They weren’t far from the wedding festivities but might as well have been in their own private world here. She couldn’t see the lights through the thick trees and even the music seemed muted.
“Wow. You’re right. This is stunning.” Ian walked to the water’s edge and gazed out across the water at the lights of Haven Point and Shelter Springs gleaming in the distance along the lakeshore.
She imagined Eliza and Aidan must come here often. A small cushioned bench had been thoughtfully provided, angled just so across the water to take in that view of the lights and the mountains. It would make a lovely place to sit on a summer afternoon and read.
She sat down, tucking her dress around her. She shivered a little, wishing she’d brought along the wrap that went with the dress. The air was cooler here in the trees, especially with the breeze blowing off the lake.
“You’re cold,” Ian said. “I’m sorry. I can take you back to the party.”
“I don’t want to go back,” she admitted softly. “This is nice.”
“It is, isn’t it? The least I can do is warm you a little.”
He sat beside her and pulled her against him, her back nestled against his chest. Everything inside her seemed to sigh as his arms came around and held her close.
This. She never wanted to move from this spot.
They sat for a long time, listening to the sounds of the night and the muted music while all the emotions she had been fighting since Ian came to town with his children seemed to bubble close to the surface.
She thought she felt his mouth brush the top of her head but told herself she must be imagining things.
“I wish we could stay here all night in exactly this spot,” he said gruffly.