Jess laughed. “Insufferable is what you are. How will I pay my bills if I’m out here in vacation paradise for two months?”
“Ha.” He pointed at her. “You just called this place paradise.”
“Slip of the tongue.”
“Truth. And we could pay you, you know. We would love for you to stay. I—” He took both of her hands in his. “I would love for you to stay.”
Just then the deejay cranked up the volume and said, “Here’s a special request for the bridesmaid from Boston—from the groomsman from Montana.”
Cole raised his eyebrows, feigning innocence. “Now who could that be?”
Jess laughed as the music started. “Are you giving in to my eighties addiction?”
“No, but I get points for choosing it for you, right?” He stood up, reaching out a hand for her. “Come on, cowgirl. Let’s dance.”
She put her hand in his, and he pulled her around to walk in front of him toward the dance floor. His hand was on the small of her back as she wound her way through the tables, and she could feel its heat as if she didn’t have layers of silk between her body and his.
When they reached the dance floor, he spun her into his arms, taking one hand in his and settling his other one around her lower back in an old-fashioned slow-dance pose. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
He started moving, and she let him lead, let herself follow his feet, let her shoulders relax, let herself just enjoy three minutes in the arms of a gorgeous cowboy.
He leaned close to her ear, pulling her closer. “I should probably warn you before we get too far into the song.”
“Warn me about what?”
“Dancing at Whisper Creek weddings. It’s known to be dangerous.”
“Because?”
Cole spun them to point at the head table, where Daniel and Hayley were sharing a laughing kiss. “It can lead to more weddings.”
Chapter 24
Two hours later, Cole settled back against a hay bale, moonlight playing on the tips of his hair as he patted the blanket next to him. “Come sit, cowgirl. Your dancing feet must be tired.”
Jess stepped toward him, but stopped before sitting, just drinking in how he looked sitting there in the shadowy moonlight.
He looked up. “I won’t bite. Promise.”
She rolled her eyes as she sat down. “Well, as long as we have that settled.”
“Did you have a good time at the wedding?” He leaned back against a pile of blankets, one arm across his stomach, one arm stretched out behind her.
“I had a great time. Best wedding ever. You Whisper Creek guys know how to put on a party.”
The dancing had gone on for hours, until long after Gracie and Bryn had been carried upstairs to stay the night in one of Ma’s guest rooms. Throughout the entire evening, Cole hadn’t left Jess’s side for more than a couple of minutes at a time. He’d danced endlessly with her, had made her laugh at his antics, had kept at least one hand on her at all times.
She’d felt—cherished. All night, she’d felt like the girl everyone else wished they could be. Cole had been attentive, funny, and oh-so-hot. When he’d suggested they not let the evening end quite yet, she’d found herself following him to the hayloft with hardly a second thought.
She leaned into him just slightly. “I’ve never had such a fun time at a wedding. Thank you.”
“Hey. I told you I am a fantastic wedding date.”
She laughed. “I know. Lots of practice.”
“Exactly.” He rolled his eyes.
Jess smiled, but felt a tightness inside as she thought of him playing the attentive date to other women. She didn’t want to think about him dancing with someone else, holding someone else, kissing someone else.
“Hey.” He put a hand up to touch her face gently. “Just so you know, I’ve never had so much fun at a wedding before, either.”
“What can I say?” Jess tried to chase the images out of her head. “I’m a pretty fabulous date myself.”
He laughed. “Though we really need to work on your moonwalking skills.”
“I’ve never moonwalked in my life.”
“And yet you have Michael Jackson’s entire musical catalog in your phone. It’s astonishing.”
Jess poked him. “I just have really good taste. You could learn to love MJ a little, you know.”
“Sorry, cowgirl.” He shook his head. “I have never met an MJ tune that I liked.”
“Ouch.” She put her hand to her chest. “Fine. We can agree to disagree there. Who’s your favorite artist?”