Page 31 of Close to Heaven

“Do what?”

“Attract women. I mean, what do they see in you? You’re a big grump, you don’t dance, and did I mention you’re a big grump?"

Avery stopped herself from jumping in and pointing out Jax’s good qualities, especially since Dakota had questioned her earlier. She didn’t want her friend to think she had any interest in her brother other than as her employer.

The announcer came over the speaker and called everyone out to the dance floor, and Avery sprang out of her seat. “C’mon, Dakota. Let’s dance!”

Dakota downed the last sip of beer in her glass, and then the two women and Cody made to leave.

“Are you sure you don’t want to join us?” Avery asked Jax.

“Nah. I’ll just sit here and watch.”

She nodded and went to join the line. Soon she was kicking up her heels, waving her arms overhead, and shaking her hips in time with the music. She’d forgotten how much she loved to dance, and it felt exhilarating to move her body like this. She hadn’t realized how much she needed the release until right now.

“Isn’t this fun?” Dakota called over the music.

“Yeah!”

Cody seemed to be enjoying himself too, especially since one of the women who’d been staring at him had somehow ended up in line next to him. She was a pretty, young woman with long blonde hair that reached the middle of her back. Avery wondered how she was able to keep up with the dance moves when she was ogling Cody instead of listening to the announcer.

The line split off, and Avery neared their table. She caught eyes with Jax and almost stumbled. He was watching her with intense interest, and it made her already-warm body feel even hotter. The instructions were to turn in a slow circle and swivel their hips, and suddenly she felt like she was dancing just for Jax.

She executed the move with surprising precision, given the nervous state she was in. Once she was facing him again, he gave her a smile that made her toes curl in her cowboy boots. It was less a friendly smile and more a seductive grin, unless she was just imagining it.

She had a slight buzz from the beer and thought she should probably cut herself off. Then she remembered that Jax was driving them home, so she didn’t have to worry. She hadn’t felt this light and carefree in a long time, and Jax deserved some of the credit.

Unlike Cody’s less-than-favorable description of his brother, she thought Jax was sweet, sensitive, and caring, although he tried his best to hide it. Earlier, when she’d dumped her worries on him, he’d listened and made her feel better, and when he’d hugged her…

Avery wasn’t paying attention to the man standing beside her, and he bumped her with his hip.

“Sorry,” he said.

“That’s okay.”

They all did another turn.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

Uh-oh. Maybe he hadn’t bumped into her on accident after all. “Avery.”

“I’m Tim. Nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

The line split off again, and Dakota and Cody were on the other side of the dance floor. Avery had been so caught up thinking about Jax that she hadn’t even noticed until now.

“Are you here alone?” Tim asked.

Avery felt a prickle of unease. “No. My friends are over there.” She pointed, but Dakota and Cody weren’t looking in her direction, so she wasn’t sure Tim believed her.

“Find a partner and spin them around,” the announcer said.

Tim smiled at her, and since she didn’t want to cause a scene, she executed the move with him. His gaze roamed over her, lingering a bit too long on certain body parts and making her cringe. Even though it was in the middle of a song, she considered walking off the dance floor, but then someone tapped her on the shoulder.

She turned and found Jax standing there.

“I decided I felt like dancing after all,” he said, giving Tim a pointed look.