Love Me Forever - Juliana Stone Page 0,37

and sat a little straighter when the band ended their set and the music switched over to Dan, the DJ.

“I haven’t danced like that in forever!” Flushed, Regan slid onto her stool and giggled when Wyatt grabbed her close and kissed her.

“You can dance for me later,” he said with a grin. “Naked dancing is more fun.”

“God, get a room,” Cam said with a chuckle.

“I think we will,” Wyatt retorted, reaching for his wife. “Let’s get out of here.”

He’d barely gotten the words out when Regan slid off her chair and grabbed her purse. “Do you want a ride home, Poppy? Or are you staying with the guys?”

“Not this guy,” Cam replied, jumping to his feet. “It’s late, and I haven’t been home since breakfast. I need to see my woman before she realizes she can do better and find someone else.” Before he left, Cam leaned down toward Boone. “If you’re smart, you’ll make your move tonight.”

“You sound like you’re seventeen again.”

Cam chuckled and disappeared.

“Poppy?” Reagan asked, sliding her hand into her husband’s.

Poppy shook her head. “I think I’m going to stick around a bit and finish my drink.”

Wyatt and Regan said their goodbyes, leaving Boone staring across the table at Link and Poppy.

The Brit was on his phone, and Poppy played with the label on her beer bottle. Wisps of hair stuck to her neck, and the humidity in the place had added a wave. Her skin glowed in the low lights, and when she suddenly glanced up, he was caught.

“I’m leaving, luv.”

Boone tore his gaze from Poppy. Link had his attention.

“Where are you going?” Poppy fell silent and then raised an eyebrow as some invisible form of communication zipped back and forth between them. “Are you sure?”

“No. But since when do I listen to reason?” Link swept a light kiss across Poppy’s brow, and for the first time all evening, Boone relaxed. There was definitely nothing between these two. They were more like brother and sister.

“You make sure she gets home, yeah?” Link looked his way.

It annoyed Boone that the guy thought he had to remind him to take care of Poppy, but he let it slide. “I will.”

With a curt nod at Boone, Link disappeared.

“I can get home on my own,” Poppy retorted, clearly irritated with both of them.

“I know you can.” Boone hid a grin. “What was that about?” he found himself asking, not because he wanted to know, but because he finally had her to himself and he needed to engage her in any way he could.

“Link? He’s just…” She looked like she was going to say more, but then cleared her throat. “Never mind. Do you want to dance with me or not?” Poppy tugged at a piece of hair that whispered across her forehead. She had elegant, delicate fingers. He’d never noticed that before.

Boone wasn’t a dancer. Hell, he’d barely made it through prom with a date who liked dancing almost as much as she’d liked sex. Which was a lot.

“I’ve got two left feet,” he said slowly.

“I somehow doubt that.”

“I’m not exaggerating.”

Some country song was on, an ode to driving fast and living hard. It was danceable, the full floor attested to that, but it wasn’t his thing. And Boone wasn’t exactly good at moving outside his comfort zone.

Poppy got up and turned toward the dance floor. She paused and looked over her shoulder, a challenge in her eyes. “If you want to take me home tonight, I suggest you get your butt off that stool.”

He grabbed her hand before she finished speaking and pulled her onto the dance floor. Aware that folks were watching, he led her toward the edge, there where the shadows were deeper. Not because he was afraid of making a fool of himself—that was a given, trying to move his large frame to this music—but because the shadows reminded him of that night out in the woods.

It seemed like the good Lord was on his side, because just as he got Poppy right where he wanted her, the music changed up, and a slow, hypnotic ballad fell from the speakers. Yes, he thought. This was something he could work with.

Not giving Poppy a chance to change her mind, Boone slid his arms around her and pulled her so close, he could smell vanilla and feel the warmth of her skin. He buried his nose into the hair at her nape and inhaled as much of her as he could, his arms tightening when she stiffened. For