A Family of Their Own - By Gail Gaymer Martin Page 0,27
like smoke. Taking a chance and then losing it again would be more than she could face. She wondered if Ross was listening to the words, too.
She felt his gaze on her, and she looked into his eyes. So many deep thoughts flickered there beneath the chocolate of his eyes. Her fingers glided up his back and brushed the nape of his neck, his hair soft against her hand. A spicy fragrance surrounded him, delicate but stimulating. Being in a man’s arms again warmed her like a down quilt. She’d been cold for years, but not tonight.
The song ended and they stood close, rocking to the music in their minds, until the band introduced a lively rock-and-roll tune she enjoyed, but not for dancing. Ross’s hand moved down her arm and wove his fingers through hers. As they approached the table, he chuckled. “Cold coffee, I suppose.”
She didn’t care about the coffee. Instead, she wanted to know more about him, his family, his marriage and— Wrong topic. Keep it light and fun. They’d both had their fill of sorrow.
As Ross pulled out her chair, their waitress appeared with the coffeepot and refilled their cups. Kelsey sat wrapped in the moment, the music, the aromas that drifted past—fresh coffee, pasta at the next table—but the sense that etched in her mind was being held again. She’d nearly forgotten that she was a woman.
Ross gazed at her, his mouth pulling into a grin. “I’ll be honest. I wondered if I would remember how to dance. I guess it’s like riding a bicycle. You never forget, but then you’d have to verify that.”
“You danced very well.” Her own concerns rifled through her. “I was afraid I’d be all feet, but we handled it quite well.”
His hand slipped over hers. “We did.”
His gaze captured hers, and she felt glamorous. Hearing him say she looked amazing earlier tickled her. She’d changed her clothes three times, wanting to find the perfect outfit. Normally she tossed clothes on with no thought. Whatever seemed appropriate and practical. But tonight she hadn’t been looking for practical—she wanted to look great. Alluring. Finally, she’d settled on the magenta A-line dress, because she liked the dolman sleeves and it flattered her figure. She could hardly believe that she’d given time to that concern, but she had.
Ross gazed at her in silence. She welcomed the time to think. The dance made her feel special and she didn’t want to lose that feeling, but she had questions. “Are your parents in Michigan?”
“They’re in Kansas. That’s where I grew up. I met Ruthie in college. I was friends with her brother. She was from Michigan, although her parents moved to Seattle after she died. Her brother lives there. I guess her parents couldn’t bear the loss.”
As if he could. She cringed. “Do you still see her brother?”
He looked away. “We drifted apart after Ruthie died.”
Her stomach knotted. “Then you’re pretty much alone here.”
“Just Peyton and me.”
Peyton and him. An empty feeling settled over her again. She had an older sister, Audrey, who lived in Traverse City. Audrey visited occasionally when she or her husband had business in the area or for a special event, but other than that Kelsey took care of herself, too.
“Where are your parents?”
“My dad retired early and they moved to Tennessee on the Georgia border. They wanted to escape winter.”
“Do you see them much?”
She sensed that he wanted to hear that they shared the same situation. “They come up a couple times a year. I used to go there, but when Lucy got sick, I was afraid to go too far away from home.” She’d spent the last years being anxious about a lot of things. “If she had an episode when I was down there, I’d be stuck. It made sense to stay close to home.”
He looked thoughtful. His mouth twitched as if he wanted to ask a question but he didn’t. She wondered why. The silence felt uneasy after their earlier banter. She checked her watch, surprised that they’d been there for nearly three hours.
He must have noticed and looked at his watch. “It’s almost ten. I’m surprised. The time flew.”
“It did.” She lifted the cup and emptied it. “I suppose I should get home.”
“Why? You have permission to be out until midnight.”
She laughed, recalling Lucy’s curfew. “But my fairy godmother said my carriage would turn into a pumpkin if I didn’t leave before midnight.”
He gave her a nod. “And I’m guessing Peyton is pacing, waiting for me