Tom’s gaze searched her eyes. “Okay. We can probably hold off until next week. But tell me, what’s more important than these offers?”
“I have to decide…” Christy paused for effect and forced her expression to stay serious. “Whether I should wear my hair up for the party—” she scooped her hair in one hand and twisted it up off her neck “—or down.”
She released the long strands and let them tumble loosely around her shoulders. Christy batted her eyes and stared at her publicist. “What do you think?”
Tom rolled his eyes. “I think this marriage of yours has made you goofier than a fruit fly.”
Christy laughed. Ever since she and David had resolved their differences, she’d found herself laughing for no reason. Tom was right. She was goofy. She was silly. But most of all she was happy. Happy that God had sent David to be part of her life.
She basked in the warmth of the emotions. How could it get much better than this?
Chapter Sixteen
David stood in the doorway of the hotel ballroom and gazed out over the sea of people. Seeing everyone dressed in their tuxedos and fancy gowns, he scarcely recognized the men and women he’d worked with for years.
His gaze shifted to the woman beside him. Resplendent in a black filmy concoction that accentuated her blond good looks, Christy seemed equally awed by the spectacle before them.
She smiled up at him. “Now I understand why you call it a gala.”
He tightened his arm around her waist and sent a prayer of thanks heavenward. He was so lucky to have been given this second chance. Why had he wasted so much time focusing on why their marriage wouldn’t work instead of just trusting that it would?
He impulsively leaned down and brushed a kiss across Christy’s lips.
“What was that for?” Her face pinked with pleasure.
“Because I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too,” she said softly, reaching up to lightly touch his cheek with one hand. “Very much.”
“Hey, you two.” Rusty’s amused voice was like a splash of cold water. “Break it up.”
David held Christy’s gaze for a moment longer before shifting his attention to his friend. He widened his eyes. “Rusty? Is that you?”
“He cleans up pretty nice, doesn’t he?” Lauren said in a teasing tone from his side.
David had to agree. Instead of flying every which way, Rusty’s hair had been trimmed and moussed into submission. The black tux showed off his lean, muscular build to full advantage. David hoped his friend didn’t blow it now. Tonight was Rusty’s last chance to impress Lauren.
“You look pretty nice yourself, Lauren.” David gazed appreciatively at her. The dress she wore was a pale green, so light it was almost white. Though he wasn’t a connoisseur of women’s clothing, he’d been around enough to know that the fashionably cut dress hadn’t come off a rack.
“Why, thank you.” Lauren flashed him a smile. “How sweet of you to say so.”
Rusty’s smile faded and his arm slipped possessively around Lauren’s shoulders. “Back off, buddy. She’s mine.”
David laughed as if Rusty were joking, though he had a sinking feeling his friend was serious.
“Actually—” Lauren stepped out from Rusty’s arm “—I don’t belong to anyone but myself.”
The smile stayed on her face, but the warning in her tone was unmistakable.
David nearly groaned out loud. In his haste to stake his claim, Rusty had moved way too fast. If his friend didn’t slow down, David had the feeling his friend might find himself out of the game before he’d even got up to bat.
“I didn’t mean anything by it, honey,” Rusty said, using the endearment as loosely as if this was their tenth date and not their first.
David shot his friend a warning glance.
“I know how close the two of you have been,” Rusty continued, seemingly oblivious to the dangerous ground he was treading upon. “I just want you and David to remember that he’s married now.”
Christy tensed beside him.
David gritted his teeth. “I don’t know what you’re getting at, Rusty, but I take my wedding vows seriously.”
“Rusty, I think it’s time we danced.” Lauren grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the dance floor.
David watched the two of them weave their way into the crowd before he turned back to Christy. He couldn’t help but be embarrassed by his friend’s behavior. “What do you think got into him?”
“I’d say too much beer,” Christy said.
“Beer?” David frowned. Unlike some of their other friends, he and Rusty had never been much for alcohol. “What makes you think that?”
Christy’s eyes reflected her surprise. “Didn’t you smell it on him?”
“No,” David said. “I didn’t.”
“I might be wrong,” Christy said with a shrug.
“He was all tensed up about his date tonight,” David mused. “I wonder if he thought the alcohol would relax him?”
“Maybe,” Christy said, a thoughtful look in her eye. “But he better be careful or he’s going to say or do something he regrets.”
David wished he could help his friend, but it was up to Rusty now. He held out his hand. “I’m tired of talking about Rusty. What I’d like to do is to dance with my wife. Shall we?”
Christy tilted her head as if she had to think about it, but the twinkle in her eyes gave her away.
“I’d love to dance with you,” she said, finally taking his hand.
When they reached the dance floor David pulled her close, the musky scent of her perfume teasing his nose. He inhaled deeply and lost himself in the music and the closeness.
His grandfather danced up beside them, his arms firmly around a radiant Lorraine. “Having a good time?”
“Wonderful,” David answered. He’d never meant anything more.
He danced with Christy for several more songs until she caught a glimpse of an old high school friend and excused herself to go over to say hello.
David saw Tom standing alone off to the side and realized that he’d been so into dancing with his wife that he’d barely said two words to Tom all evening.
David headed across the room, only to be way-laid by Karen’s sister Tina. “If you’re looking for your girlfriend, she’s over by the punch bowl.”
David frowned. “Who?”
“You know very well who I’m talking about,” Tina chided. “Sexy brunette. Teaches kindergarten.”
“Lauren?”
“Bingo.”
David had never been sure what to make of Tina. Like tonight, though she was cordial, her eyes sparkled with an almost malevolent gleam. But the evening had been perfect and he wasn’t going to let anything spoil it.
As soon as he could, David made some lame excuse about needing to take care of business and hurried over to Tom.
“I’m glad you could come tonight.” David shook Tom’s hand. “I hope you’ve been having a good time?”
“It’s been unbelievable.” Tom lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “That secretary of yours is one good-looking woman.”