Page 4 of A Dance with His Angel

Martin gives a slight bow before unbuttoning his suit jacket and settling into his seat. He’s as quiet as he was during dinner last night, but there’s a different quality to his silence now. Still nervous, but less so, his presence…calming, even.

“He’s sweet on you,” Mom says when Martin hops up to fill both of our plates when the dinner buffet line opens. “You’re sweet on him too.”

I blush and kiss Ivy’s forehead, gently rocking her as she falls asleep in my arms. “I am.”

She arranges the long skirt of her pale purple dress over her crossed legs. “Still, I’m not a fan of how much older he is.”

I’m careful to keep my tone respectful when I say, “We’re at a wedding for a bride and groom with ten years between them.”

“Yes…” she says slowly, twisting her mouth. “But Shayla isn’t my daughter. You are, so it’s you I’m worried about.”

“I’ll be careful,” I whisper when I spot Martin on his return to the table.

“More careful than you were with Tyler?”

I drop my head, tears springing to my eyes.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” Mom leans forward and squeezes my knee. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Is everything ok, my lady?” Martin asks, his hand coming to rest on my upper back above the collar of my dress, his palm so warm and comforting. “Did Bailey do something to you?”

“Bailey?” I ask, lifting my chin, trying not to blink so I don’t let the tears fall and ruin my eyeliner. “No. Why would she?”

Martin scoots his chair closer before taking his seat. “No reason.”

Fearing my tears are going to spill any second now against my will, I rise and say, “Excuse me. I need to run to the ladies’ room.”

“Honey.” Mom stands, too, her brows pulling closer as she looks at me with regret shining in her golden-brown eyes. “Martin, would you be a dear and watch Ivy for a few minutes?”

“Of course.” He lifts his hands without hesitation, taking Ivy into the cradle of his arms with a look of pure wonder, holding her as if she’s as delicate as a rose. “I’ll protect her with my life.”

“Hopefully, it won’t come to that,” she says with a brief uptick of her lips, teasing him the slightest bit, tugging my arm. “We’ll be right back.”

Thankfully, the ladies’ room is empty, the lights overhead warm and flattering. I lean over the triple vanity to blot my eyes with a paper towel carefully so I don’t rub away my under-eye concealer.

“I truly am sorry,” Mom says, pulling me into a hug when I finish assessing my makeup. “I know what Tyler did to you wasn’t your fault.”

I sniffle and nod, though truthfully, her words still hurt. I don’t like to think of Ivy being something that Tyler “did to me.” She’s my world, and if I could go back and change things, I wouldn’t, even with as hard as it is being a parent my age.

“I won’t bring him up again, if that would make you feel better,” Mom says.

“Thank you,” I whisper, stepping away when a few guests I don’t know make their way inside. “What about Martin?”

Mom pinches her lips and grabs my hands, squeezing them both. “Now, that’s a different story.”

Chapter Four

Martin

“Found yourself on baby duty, have you?” Isaiah asks, taking Eden’s empty seat, signaling to a passing server for a second drink.

“Yes. It’s wonderful,” I tell him, smiling down at the miniature angel in my arms before I can pull my gaze away long enough to meet Isaiah’s chestnut eyes. “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

His thick black brows shoot up with surprise. “Eden?”

“Of course.” There’s no other I’ve ever considered asking, and no other I ever will. I know it deep in my soul.

Isaiah cocks his head, peering at me with intensity. “Are you crying?”