That need.
This was heightened significantly by the way he looked. Thick hair swept back. Dark brown trousers tucked into shined boots, and his dark brown cloak lined in almost-black brown fur.
But his forest green shirt had a high collar, and this time he was wearing a neck cloth.
If you’d asked me five months ago if I thought that look was hot, I would have said, hell no.
But believe me, it wasn’t hot. It was freaking hot.
Bella broke into our scorching staring contest by ordering, “Say good-bye to your father and Miss Maddie. They’re away to the gale.”
“I can’t wait until Frey Drakkar takes me to my first gale,” Élan breathed and I tore my gaze from Apollo and looked down at her. “I’m going to wear that exact dress.”
“I’ll save it for you, honey bunch,” I promised.
“Hurrah!” she cried.
Thus commenced Élan dashing forward to give me a quick hug, Chris approaching his father getting a squeeze on the side of the neck and then Chris turned to me to dip his chin.
But he didn’t approach.
Again, odd. We rarely got physical but he did get close to give my hand a squeeze when we had the occasion to say goodnight.
Bella, Loretta and Meeta, however, did approach.
Meeta did it to me, bringing with her my bronze velvet cloak.
Loretta also did it to me, carrying my satin evening bag.
Bella did it to the kids, huddling them and herding them out as Élan waved and cried, “Don’t forget to dance!”
Oh shit.
There was going to be dancing?
Oh shit!
Of course there was going to be dancing. It was a ball.
The problem was, I didn’t know how to dance.
Crap.
I couldn’t think on that, the kids were leaving so I called, “Sleep tight!”
“We will,” Élan called back before she disappeared.
Chris said nothing.
Again, odd.
My mind was turned from Chris this time as Meeta arranged the cloak on my shoulders then Loretta moved in and gave me my bag.
I bent in to kiss Loretta’s cheek and turned to Meeta.
When I did, smiling, I looked into her eyes. At what I saw there, the smile froze on my face and I stilled.
“Enjoy your evening, Miss Maddie,” she murmured.