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Chapter 31

thirty-one

DYLAN

A couple of hours later, Steve let out a low wolf-whistle from behind me. “You look handsome.”

I grinned at my brother. “Someone with great taste chose the jacket and tie.”

“It was my one and only chance to get you into designer clothes. Where’s Alex?”

“He’s talking to Phil. He went to college with him.”

“Our cousin, Phil?”

I nodded. “I know. The chance of that happening has to be a million to one.”

“A bit like falling in love.” Steve sighed as he scanned the community center. “Luke spent most of last night in tears. Anyone would think Jarrod was the one who’d called off the wedding.”

“Where is Luke?” I looked over the heads of the wedding guests from our side of the family. Surprisingly, everyone was enjoying the wedding reception that wasn’t a wedding reception. It helped that Jarrod’s family wasn’t here.

Steve pointed across the room. “Over there. Beside Mom. I don’t know how long he’ll last, but at least he came.”

Luke wasn’t the only person who wanted to make a quick getaway. I’d promised Alex I’d do my best to help fix his program and, even if it killed me, that’s what I’d do. “Alex and I can’t stay for long. We have a lot of work to do.”

“I don’t think anyone will stay for hours, but you never know. When Mom and Dad’s family get together, anything can happen.”

I couldn’t remember the last time both sides of our family spent time together. They lived so far apart that Facebook posts and family Christmas emails were as close as we came to the real thing. I watched the laughter, the hugs, and the smiles as my family reconnected. It was sad that we didn’t see each other more often.

Steve wrapped his arm around my waist. “I know what you’re thinking. We need to plan a family reunion or something. Everyone’s having such a good time.”

“We could do something next summer. It might make it easier for everyone to come here.” A flash of red caught my eye. “Is that Aunt Rosa?”

Steve turned to where I was pointing. “What’s she doing?”

Aunt Rosa was twisting and turning on the dance floor. Her bright red, sparkly dress caught the light, glittering like a disco ball in the middle of the room.

I grinned. “She’s rock ‘n’ rolling with Santa.”

“Where did Uncle Jackson learn to dance like that?”

“Don’t you remember Mom telling us about the dances in her parents’ living room? Half the neighborhood would arrive with a bottle of wine and the latest records.”

Santa, also known as Uncle Jackson, was spinning Aunt Rosa in and out of his arms. For two people in their late seventies, they were causing quite a stir. Where he’d found a Santa costume this quickly was anyone’s guess.

“I hope I’m like them when I get older,” Steve said wistfully.

Mom sneaked up behind Steve. “You’ll have to find a good man first. Rosa struck gold with Jackson. Speaking about good men, where’s Alex?”

The grin on Steve’s face didn’t make me feel better. I’d only been in the ballroom for half an hour and two cousins had already asked about Alex. It was as if my entire family had men on their brains.

“Alex is talking to Phil.”

“No, I’m not,” Alex said from beside me. “I’ve come to see if your suit lives up to its expectations.” He held out his hand. “Rock ‘n’ roll?”

I bit my bottom lip. “I haven’t danced in years.”

Alex took my hand. “All you have to do is look as though you’re enjoying yourself. I’ll do the rest.”

I frowned at the beaming smile Mom sent Alex. “It’s a dance, Mom.”

“When you’re sixteen, it’s a dance. When you’re thirty-one, it’s called romance.”

“It’s a dance,” I repeated stubbornly. It didn’t take much to pull Alex onto the dance floor. “We need to stay away from Mom. She’s close to making you marry me.”

“I could do worse.”

I looked over my shoulder. “Ssh,” I whispered. “If anyone hears you, our single days will be numbered. Pastor Adam will be booked, and Dad will frog-march me down the aisle as Aunt Rosa sings Ave Maria.”

Alex laughed.

“It’s not funny. You don’t know how determined my family can be. Mom’s already warned me about Aunt Sophia’s son. She said if I don’t glue you to my side, Aunt Sophia will take you home with her.”

“Where does her son live?”

My eyes widened. “I thought you were picky about who you dated.”

“I’m stretching my comfort zone.” Alex held me in his arms.

“It’ll have to stretch a long way. Edwardo lives in Wisconsin.” With one of Alex’s hands pressed lightly against my spine and the other holding my hand, I was having trouble concentrating. And when Alex’s thumb rubbed my hand in slow, steady strokes, I almost melted.

“This isn’t rock ‘n’ roll,” I mumbled.

“It’s close enough. Does anyone look as though they care?”

I glanced around the room. Other couples were slow dancing, but they looked as though they belonged together. Hiding from my mother on a dance floor wasn’t exactly a recipe for lasting love.

Instead of giving in to the gentle pressure on my back, I poked Alex in the ribs.

“Oww. What did you do that for?”

“You need to remember our deal. Work first.”

“Pleasure second?”

The lazy heat in Alex’s eyes was dangerous. Too dangerous to keep dancing with him. I scanned the room, hunting for either of my brothers. “Oh, look. There’s Luke. We’d better see if he’s okay.”

Alex sighed. “Does this mean there’s no pleasure tonight?”

My face flamed hotter than a Texas chili. It spiked even farther when my gaze landed on Aunt Rosa.

My mom’s sister was standing behind Alex .

“You’re only young once,” my aunt said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Take the pleasure.”

I dropped my head to my chest. My whole family was crazy. The sooner we left Boulder, the better it would be for everyone.

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