Page 51 of His Secret Wish

Together, they stepped to the beat. Again, she was surprised by how light on his feet he was.

“You’re a really good dancer.” She tried to keep the surprised edge out of her voice, although she wasn’t sure she managed.

He chuckled. “Thanks. Somehow, I ended up in a dance class at the rec center with one of my old girlfriends. I guess some of it stuck.”

She laughed, feeling lighter already. “Good on you for taking a dance class. I don’t think I could get Owen to step foot in a class like that.”

He shrugged. “It was actually kind of fun once I got over the initial resistance. Then again, maybe I was just trying to win brownie points so she’d sleep with me.”

She laughed again. Leave it to a guy to use dancing to get sex. Then again, Owen had once used signing up for a cooking class to get into her pants, and she let him, so who was she to judge?

They spun around the floor for a few moments, every step making her feel lighter and lighter. Maybe it was the prosecco going to her head, but she finally felt relaxed.

He gave her waist a push, and she spun out in a twirl, her skirt catching some air. The laugh that escaped was silly and full of joy. He pulled her back, and she moved back into his hold.

“I’m sorry we lost touch over the years.” She didn’t know where the confession came from, but it was out of her mouth before she could blink. “Especially since we were so close there for a while.”

He smiled, although there was a bit of a sad edge to it. “Me, too. But once we got to a certain age, and you weren’t going to pick me, it was just easier to not come around.”

His confession made her hurt a little. “I didn’t know you felt like that toward me. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.” He twirled her around. “It was a school boy crush.”

“I’m still sorry I broke your heart.”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far. At the time I was pretty bummed, but I got over it when Melissa Strong flirted with me during algebra, and I realized I had a whole town full of girls that might actually want me.”

“Yeah, what did it take? A week or two to mend your crushed spirit?”

“Hmm, I’d say it was more like six weeks.”

It was her turn to laugh. “How did you manage to possibly survive so long?”

“Not going to lie, it was rough. But Melissa made sure to soothe my broken heart.”

“Among other things, I’m sure.”

He chuckled, and she couldn’t help but smile. This was the last conversation she’d expected to be having, and yet here it was, and it had been cathartic.

“May I cut in?”

Owen didn’t wait for a response, just slid in between them, breaking their hold, and pulling her into his arms. There was a steeliness in his hold, although he wasn’t actually gripping too hard, or hurting her in any way. But he was clearly unhappy.

“That was rude.” She gave him one of her really? looks.

“I don’t care.” There was also a hardness in his deep voice. “I wanted to dance with my wife.“ The emphasis he put on the last word had a finality to it.

She rolled her eyes. “It was still rude. And completely uncalled for.”

“I didn’t like the way you were so close to one another. And laughing. Having a good time.”

“Maybe you can think about that the next time you’re cozying up to Becky Lynn Collins.” Her words were coated in accusation. She knew it was petty to bring up, especially since she was trying to prove a point, but the words just slipped out.

“What?” He twirled them around, his hold tightening. “There’s nothing going on between me and Becky Lynn.”

She made a noise in her throat and looked away. Looking at him when images of him with the other woman were streaming through her mind was too hard.

“Izzy, please look at me.” His voice was low, but there was a plea in it she couldn’t deny. She met his gaze. “There is nothing going on between me and Becky Lynn.”