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The two men stared at each other, a deep-seated tension obvious between them.
“We were in the middle of something–” Luke started.
“Well, that’s too bad. I was in the middle of asking Julia for a dance. Julia?” Kyle offered his arm to her.
She hesitated before she slid her hand around his arm and flicked her gaze to Luke. “Excuse me.”
Kyle led her to the dance floor, his grip on her tight despite the easy music. He kept his eyes trained on Luke. “That guy is really something else.”
“I was perfectly fine,” Julia answered, her gaze lingering on Luke. Memories of their past mingled with the present, a tangled web of what-ifs. A pang of something lost, yet unfilled danced inside her. Her mind drifted to Grant, recalling the unexpected warmth they’d shared. Her heart was a battlefield of emotions, each fighting for dominance.
“Really?” Kyle snapped his gaze to her. “You left pretty readily.”
“I didn’t think you were taking no for an answer.”
He lifted his chin, offering her a slight grin. “I wasn’t.”
“Well, there you have it.”
“At least one of us was looking out for you. My father is otherwise engaged, as usual.”
“Don’t be so hard on him. You know these events tend to be more work than play.”
“His loss,” Kyle said as he spun her around. “If we were married, I wouldn’t spend a night like this working.”
“Really? What if you were in the middle of your big plan to sink all of Luke’s tour boats?”
“I’d take the night off to spend it with you.”
Julia chuckled at the conversation. “Oh, really? You would take the night off from sinking boats just for me.”
“Of course, Julia. You are the most important thing. The boat sinking can wait.” He flashed her an amused smile.
“Well, well, well, what have we here?” Lydia’s smug voice said as she danced her way closer in Luke’s arms.
Julia clicked her tongue. “Do you want to cut in on this dance, too?”
“Oh, no. No, no,” she said with a shake of her head. “You look far too comfortable in Calvin’s arms. I’m not sure I could get between you.”
“It’s Kyle,” he shot back.
“You can stop with the insinuations, Lydia. There is nothing untoward going on here,” Julia said with a sigh.
“Could have fooled me. Oh, Julia, I need a word with you. But at your convenience. I’d hate to interrupt your little lover’s chat.” Lydia flicked her gaze to Luke. “I am sorry you’re seeing this. I know how deep your feelings run for her, but Julia just can’t seem to keep her fingers out of all the pies.”
“I really don’t think Julia is like that,” Luke answered Lydia.
“Well, she is married to my husband, has been known to kiss his son, and…then there’s you. You caused quite a stir in Maine. I’m certain you two have locked lips. It just seems like she can’t decide whose arms she wants to be in.”
Julia rolled her eyes.
“Anyway, find me when you’ve finished parading your line of men across the dance floor.”
Lydia tugged Luke away.
Julia heaved a sigh as she shook her head. “She’s in her usually friendly form.”
“If Luke can’t see through her now he never will.”
