There Goes My Heart (The Sullivans #20) - Bella Andre Page 0,15

be a part of it?”

Brittany finally dragged her gaze away from Rory to frown at Zara. “You make glasses, Z. That doesn’t count as art.”

Zara swallowed hard. Maybe she’d been too hasty when she’d decided not to make a scene tonight. Yes, her work had a very practical application—but that didn’t mean it wasn’t also art. Just as with Rory’s tables or chairs or benches, the use of her glasses frames on a daily basis didn’t make them any less beautiful.

Rory’s arms slipping around her waist distracted her from her sudden burst of anger. When had he moved from the bar?

And why did her brain go completely to mush whenever he touched her?

“This is my favorite song,” he said. “Let’s dance.”

“Glory of Love by Peter Cetera is your favorite song?”

Instead of replying to her, he turned to Brittany. “You don’t mind if I steal Zara away, do you?”

Brittany flashed him her most sparkly smile. One that had made every other man she’d given it to fall at her feet in supplication. Rory, however, didn’t seem to notice in the least that she was sparkling.

“Of course not,” Brittany said. “You two lovebirds should dance and have fun. That’s the mark of a great party, after all.”

Rory practically dragged Zara onto the dance floor. “If you want to put your arms around my neck and lean in a little while we sway to an oldie but goodie,” he suggested, “that might be best.”

Knowing he was right, she snapped back into her role as his besotted lover and wound herself around him.

“You looked like you were going to carve out a piece of her heart,” he murmured as they moved together on the dance floor. “Did I get you out of there in time?”

Zara sighed, letting herself relax into Rory’s body. Relax was a relative word, of course, given the heat of his body against hers. If only he wasn’t so well built, so strong, so all-around perfect.

“Just barely.” He was tall enough that even with her high-heeled boots, she could lean her head against his chest as they danced. “It’s not that I don’t love Brittany, because I do. It’s just that sometimes I wish she’d think before she speaks. And acts.”

“Did she say something about Cameron that upset you?”

“No.” Zara let herself nuzzle into him a bit more. What was the harm when he smelled so good—and it would only make their ruse more believable? “I actually think I’m starting to get over that.”

“I’m very glad to hear it,” he said. And then, “What was it that upset you, then?”

“If I tell you, are you going to go charging back over to call her out for pistols at dawn?”

“Even though I know you’re not made of porcelain and can protect yourself, I have a hard time not wanting to protect you.” He didn’t sound at all apologetic. “And when your ex said their first meeting had been perfect, I couldn’t take the high road. But I think I understand why you did. Letting them have their big night—even after the way things went down between the three of you—is really kind.”

“Actually—” She held on tighter. “It’s nice to have someone leap to my defense for once.”

“I’m surprised your father isn’t already doing that.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. From the start, I think my dad and stepmom were so afraid that their two fifteen-year-old daughters wouldn’t get along that they would have said or done anything to keep the peace. Even all these years later, my father wants so badly for me to be okay with Brittany and Cameron getting together that I don’t have the heart to disappoint him.”

“And here you called me the compassionate one,” Rory said.

“Yeah, that’s us, two Mother Teresas lying to everyone about our relationship to get back at my stepsister and ex.”

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat, if you needed me.”

A pang landed in the middle of her heart, simply from knowing that Rory didn’t only have her back tonight, but would for as long as she needed him.

She wasn’t used to letting herself need people. Not when she couldn’t push away the thought that there were far more deserving people than herself out there. And not when she knew all too well the pain of losing someone you loved.

“Thank you,” she finally replied. “Anyway, what pushed my buttons was when Brittany mentioned a piece about local Maine makers that she promoted earlier this year. She said you looked familiar, because you were profiled