“Hey.”
Mac’s head jerked up. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the reception.”
“I know. I came up here to get some fresh air.”
“It’s an outdoor wedding, Ethan.”
“Truth? I wanted to ask you to dance.” Ethan held out his hand.
She stared at him. “Here?”
“Why not?”
“There’s no room to polka . . .”
Ethan ignored Mac as he drew her to her feet.
As if on cue, Hank Ackerman began to play a love song on his fiddle. The music provided the perfect accompaniment to the lap of waves against the shoreline, the spray of stars above Ethan’s head, and the woman in his arms.
Mac didn’t seem to know what to do. Her hands moved from his arms to his shoulders and back again.
“Did you forget everything I taught you?” Ethan chided.
Mac’s lips parted, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to kiss her.
“You remember?”
“Of course I remember.” Ethan spun her around and Mac’s fingers tightened on his shoulder. “It was pretty embarrassing.”
Color flooded her cheeks. “Tell me about it.”
“I have to admit it was the first and only time I’ve been stood up.”
“I stood you up?”
“I asked you to save me a dance, but when I got to the gym, you weren’t there.”
“I was in the kitchen. I thought . . .” Mac looked away. “It doesn’t matter.”
Ethan could tell it did. “One of the guys on the team called me when I was on my way back to the school. His car had broken down so I gave him a ride home first. I got to the dance a little late and looked for you, but I figured you’d changed your mind.”
“And I thought you felt sorry for me.”
“Why would I feel sorry for you?”
“Because I was awkward and . . . freckled. And I was dressed like a lion.”
“I remember that too.” Actually, Ethan remembered she looked kind of cute.
“I would never want to relive my high school years.” Mac shook her head. “I’m glad all that is in the past.”
The past. Right.
“Connor said the interview went really well,” he said slowly, unable to read Mac’s expression in the shadows. “You were worried you wouldn’t have a great story to submit with your résumé, but an exclusive with Connor Blake will get the editor’s attention. It looks like you’ll make your deadline for the Heritage and have your dream job.”
But what if her dream had changed?
Over Ethan’s shoulder, Mac watched Hollis and Connor dancing near the water.
The wedding gown was everything Hollis had claimed it was. Lacy and puffy and gaudy . . . and she looked absolutely stunning. And totally content in her husband’s arms even though she had no idea what the future held.
Maybe it was time for her to show a little courage too.
“No,” Mac said softly, “I won’t get the job.”
“You have to believe in yourself, Mac.” Ethan frowned at her. “You’re a great writer.”
“I won’t get the job at the Heritage because I e-mailed it to Grant. It’s going to be on the front page of the Register next week.”
“Why would you do that?”
“My boss made me an offer I can’t refuse . . . although he probably didn’t realize it at the time.”
“What kind of offer?”
“Assistant editor if Connor’s interview didn’t get me the job at the Heritage.” Mac peeked up at Ethan through her lashes. “But Grant didn’t stipulate that I had to apply for it.”
“You’re staying in Red Leaf?”
“It looks that way. Why would I leave a place I love, people I-I . . . love, when I’m already doing what I love?”
“I think I actually understand that.” Ethan released a slow smile. “But changing your plan . . . now I’ll have to change mine.”
“What do you mean?”
“I had it all figured out. I was going to make dinner reservations at Salvatore’s in Milwaukee. Woo you with chocolate and flowers and convince you that we could make a long-distance relationship work.”
“You were?” she squeaked.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty crazy about you, Mackenzie Davis, and I really hope you feel the same way.”
A good reporter always told the truth . . .
“I’m actually pretty crazy about you too,” she whispered.
Ethan’s hands tightened around Mac’s waist. “Then I suggest we come up with a new plan.”
“What kind of new plan?”
“A burger at the Korner Kettle tomorrow night. After that, we’ll take a walk around the lake and look for a full moon. How does that sound?” As Ethan drew her closer, Mac saw the promise in his eyes.
The promise of a future together.
“It sounds”—Mac smiled as Ethan bent his head to kiss her—“absolutely perfect.”