Gavin and Brenne stood at the end of the stage, watching as the squares danced. When the song came to an end, Emma hurried over to them. “I’m glad you two could make it. Isn’t this fantastic?”
“It’s certainly not the usual Valentine’s Day activity,” Gavin observed.
“And what is the typical V-Day observance on your planet?” Brenne asked with a playful smile. “Spend the day assimilating knowledge before consuming protein disks by laser light?”
Gavin cocked his head, his smile crooked. “Laser light would be inefficient. And there is no reason protein would come in disks instead of more space efficient shapes like cubes.”
“You’ve seen it here, folks. The greatest mind of our generation.” Brenne elbowed Gavin and he laughed, putting an arm around her shoulders. That move made Alex’s muscles tighten and his hands ball up into fists at his side.
“Well, here in north Texas, we love a good square dance,” Emma said, trying to bring the conversation back to a simple topic. “Have you ever tried to square dance before, Gavin?”
“I’ve observed that those aren’t really squares that you’re making when you’re dancing. I mean, they’re loosely organized around that shape, but the sides are in no way equal when you consider—”
“The answer is no,” Brenne said, slipping a hand over Gavin’s mouth. “He’s excited to try, though!”
“I suppose I can show you some basic steps over here,” Emma said, gesturing to the empty area next to the drink counter. “That way you’ll know what to do when the caller shouts them out.”
Emma led Gavin away, leaving Alex alone with Brenne. She looked away, and he could tell she was uncomfortable. He didn’t like knowing that Brenne had her guard up when he was around, although he knew why she did. “Seems like the universe keeps throwing us together,” he said, assuming it was an innocuous way to begin their conversation.
“This was Emma’s fault, not the universe’s,” Brenne said, her voice level, but he thought he detected a hint of heat in her words. “Gavin goes nuts for anything he’s never seen or done before. He’s been watching YouTube videos about square dancing for the last three days.”
“Trouble in paradise?” Alex knew he shouldn’t say it, but that didn’t stop the words from coming out of his mouth.
Brenne’s mouth tightened. “Not at all. I’m having a good time showing Gavin around. I would just prefer to do it in places where you aren’t.”
Her words stung. Although deep down he knew he deserved it, Alex was hurt. This kitten is never afraid to show you her claws. “You didn’t seem to mind me being around at the charity dinner,” he said lightly.
“A momentary lapse of good sense,” she grumbled. “One I intend never to make again.” Brenne crossed her arms over her chest, and his eyes were drawn to her cleavage. His mouth was close to watering, so he forced his gaze away, but it slunk back, this time attaching itself to the curve of her hips.
Why can’t I stop thinking about her? Why do I spend every night dreaming about holding her again? Tasting her again? Making love to her again?
“Look,” she said, forcing his gaze back to meet hers. “Let’s just stay out of each other’s way tonight. You’ve got your Valentine, and I’ve got mine. We can play nice until this ridiculous double date is over. Agreed?”
Alex didn’t answer her question, instead watching as Gavin rehearsed a dance move as Emma observed. “What is it about this guy? Why choose him?” The questions were the same ones that had plagued him since the first night Gavin had shown up to the MacAllen ranch.
She shrugged a shoulder. “I like him. He’s different. He sees the world in such a unique way. Being with him is never hard.”
“Do you love him?”
Alex surprised himself with the question. He knew it was a mistake as soon as the words were out, but he waited, holding his breath, for her answer.
“You know what, Alexander Parsons?” she said, her voice low, her eyes oddly passionless. “You don’t get to know that.” Then she walked away, joining Emma to critique the bumbling billionaire’s moves.
Alex stood there on the edge of the dance floor, feeling lower than he ever had been in his life. A hand appeared on his shoulder. “What’s wrong, Doc? You look like you were sent for and couldn’t go.”
He turned to see Evan MacAllen standing beside him, his arm around his wife, Sadie. “I’m at a square dance on Valentine’s Day,” Alex said in a monotone voice. “That’s what’s wrong.”
Sadie laughed, and Evan shook his head. “Damn, Doc. Way to set the mood for me and my lady.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Sadie,” he said, giving Evan’s wife a respectful nod. “Although I’m not sure I’m the one who should be apologizing since you brought this here with you,” he said, pointing to Evan.
“Yes, I’m sure I’ll be apologizing by the end of the night, too,” she said with a chuckle.
Evan held his hands up in a defensive gesture. “Hey, now. I’m here to do two things—square dance and ogle my wife. As long as nothing gets in the way of that, I’ll be the best behaved husband you’ve ever seen.” He gave Alex a wave and led Sadie into a square as the next dance started.
Alex watched them. It was plain to see that Evan and Sadie were in love. It was in the lines of their body as they held one another, in their eyes when they looked at each other. There was no doubt the two of them were meant for each other.
For the first time in his life, Alex felt an acute longing for what they had. He’d always figured he would settle down someday, but he’d never really worried about love and romance and all that came with it.
Until Brenne.
But Brenne was in the arms of another man, a man she might love, and his chance to have what Evan MacAllen and his bride had was evaporating like morning dew.
“Cupid, you’re a crock of shit,” he grumbled under his breath, loss filling him. It’s going to be a long night.
CHAPTER 26
BRENNE
“Swing your partner, do se do, allemande left then promenade!”
They made the swing easily, and Gavin was getting the hang of the do se do, but when the allemande left came, he jigged in the wrong direction. Evan almost barreled into him when he started the promenade, and the whole square fell apart.
Gavin’s brow furrowed as the dancers tried to regroup. “It’s okay,” Brenne said. “You’re brand new to this. You’re doing just fine for a beginner.”
“This should be easier for me. I’ve studied the moves, but some of these turns are confusing.” Gavin glanced in the direction of Cletus Armstrong, the caller, and frowned. “It doesn’t help that I can only understand one out of every three words that man says.”
Brenne chuckled. “Cletus has what some would call a real Texas twang. You’ll catch on. It just takes a little while of listening.” The song ended, and Brenne shepherded Gavin off the dance floor. “Let’s grab a drink and cool off for a moment.”