“I’ve been waiting all my life for a good-looking man to order me to eat fried chicken. I guess I can cross that off my wish list.”
The dinner commenced in a blur of happiness, delicious southern food, and rustic Texas charm. It had been ages since Holly had had a reason to don her Spanx or shoes more formal than TOMS wedges. She’d been browsing through a boutique months ago when she’d found the burgundy lace sheath she had on. At the time, she’d had nowhere to wear it. She’d bought it anyway, because her intense dress-crush had outweighed practicality. She was very, very glad she had.
During the meal, Josh frequently left Holly’s side to attend to his duties as host. Whenever they were apart, she could sense his whereabouts. She’d spot him across the room only to have him look over as if her gaze had called his attention to her. Each time that happened, she returned to the table’s conversation with a warm glow spreading through her.
When the last bite of apple pie had been eaten and the final toast given, everyone rose to exchange subdued chitchat and good-byes. The euphoria that had hovered over Holly all evening began to dissipate. She didn’t want the night to end. But it was ending, with or without her go-ahead.
When just ten or so guests remained, Holly found herself alone with Josh. She picked up her purse. “I’d best be going.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
They headed toward the patio. “I had a wonderful time,” Holly said.
“I’m glad. Thank you for all that you did to help me plan the dinner.”
“You’re welcome.” Such dismaying formality! Next, she’d be curtsying and he’d be bowing crisply like a soldier.
The outdoors greeted them with a very faint fog of rain. Holly glanced upward toward the moon, glowing dimly through clouds.
“Let me see if I can find an umbrella for you,” Josh said.
“No, that’s all right.” The water hadn’t formed into droplets. Instead it seemed to hover in the air, misty and magical. “I like it.” She smiled up at him.
Laugh lines fanned out from his eyes as he returned her smile.
Thunk. One of her high heels wedged between two flagstones. She swayed a little and Josh immediately caught her forearm and helped right her balance. “You okay?”
“Fine.” She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes, got both shoes on a level stone, and laughed. He still held her arm protectively. “I was just thinking earlier that I needed to avoid doing that very thing.” But then you smiled at me, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from you, and so I lost my concentration. “I was kind of hoping to make it through the entire night without falling on my face.”
“You did.”
He was standing so close that she could feel his body heat. “D–did what?”
“Make it through the night without falling.”
Literally, perhaps. But not figuratively. She’d fallen, all right.
His expression turned utterly serious and for the first time since Josh had returned to Martinsburg, Holly could see past his defenses. She saw tenderness in his eyes. Tenderness for her.
Warm goose bumps spread over her body. He did still like her. More, he was going to kiss her. He stepped closer.
He was going to kiss her! She wanted him, physically and in every other way. He was her Josh. The one she’d never gotten over. Anticipation coursed through her. Her breath went shallow with desire—
Wait.
What was she doing? Instinctive worry clashed with confusion. And, abruptly, she stepped away.
His hand dropped from her arm. He looked down and to the side. As if irritated with himself, he gave a slight shake of his head before returning his attention to her. Awkward silence solidified between them. “Holly. I was—”
“Excuse me,” the caterer said as she approached, wearing her floral apron. “Sorry to interrupt. I have a quick question for you, Josh.”
He inclined his head to listen to the caterer, keeping his vision on Holly.
She could practically feel her heart shriveling. He’d been about to kiss her and she’d stepped back. She’d rejected him even though they’d had the most perfect dinner in the history of perfection. Even though she’d been married to her cell phone for days on the off chance that he’d call. He liked her and goodness knows she liked him. He’d told her himself earlier that he didn’t have a girlfriend.
So why had she stepped back?
Two of the women in Amanda’s house party walked from the barn onto the patio. “Want to walk out with us?” They looked from her to Josh.
Um. She wanted to stay and let Josh finish his sentence.
“Go ahead,” Josh said to the women. “Holly and I will follow in a second.” He exchanged a few more words with the caterer, then he and Holly fell in step several paces behind the women, who were in the midst of a discussion about the benefits of Brazilian blowouts.
“I’ll look for you tomorrow at the wedding,” he said.
Gamely, Holly tried to act as if she hadn’t just ruined her one chance at kissing him. “I’ll be the one at the wedding impersonating Mitzi’s lap dog.”
“Someone has to.”