AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He deepened the kiss, and she found herself feeling lost and confused. She hadn’t really dealt with her feelings about losing Matt. She’d thought tonight she would have the opportunity, but being in Raine’s arms felt so good. So easy.
Then a deep voice spoke over her shoulder. “Excuse me. Can I cut in?”
Chapter 18
Matt stood on the dance floor, hovering by Lucy and a man who was apparently Raine. He was torn between punching the guy out and yelling at Lucy for kissing him. So many mixed emotions were warring within him. Really? Raine? Who named their kid after falling water?
He sure as heck wasn’t going to just stand there and watch her make out on the dance floor when he could interrupt it. He’d just told Charlene that she’d better leave, because he was done playing her game and she’d put on quite the show for Lucy.
The guy broke free of Lucy with a startled look. His lip curled in anger. “I don’t know if you can have this dance. Let’s ask the lady.”
Lucy stood there, her hand to her lips, her face paler than usual. “Hey, Matt.”
Matt couldn’t help but smile at her. “Hey, Luce.”
“Uh, Matt, this is Raine. Raine, Matt.”
“Hi,” Raine said.
“Hi,” Matt said.
Neither of the men attempted to shake hands. They were sizing each other up. Not that Matt would cause drama. He wouldn’t, but he did want to get Raine away from Lucy.
Raine turned to her. “Do you want to dance with him?”
Lucy had a sheen of tears in her eyes and Matt hated himself because he suspected that was his fault.
But he was desperate. “Please, Luce. Just give me a dance.”
Lucy turned to Raine and then nodded. “Give me a sec.”
Raine didn’t seem like he wanted to leave the dance floor, but after a moment, he stalked off.
Matt took Lucy by the hand and put his other hand on her hips, letting himself melt against her. Yes. This was what had been missing from his life for the past two months: the rightness of holding this woman.
The dance floor was getting more packed with people, and Matt noticed Trey dancing with Ava. Trey nodded to him, silently giving him the same pep talk he’d used just days before about getting out there and taking what you want.
They danced for a couple minutes, and then Lucy looked up at him, her eyes shimmering. “I’m glad you asked me to dance, but I don’t understand … any of this.”
He thought of their last conversation, the one from two months ago. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time, Luce. I think I’ve stared at your number every day and wanted to call you.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
He shrugged and turned to see Tatum by herself at the dining table. Instantly, he looked around, wondering where Charlene was. He couldn’t spot her. He was relieved to see that Pastor Henry and his wife, Lily, were going over to sit down by Tatum.
“Matt, is that you?”
“Hey, Pastor and Lily.”
They grinned at them. Then he turned back to Lucy. “I have been trying too hard to do the right thing for Tatum, but I don’t know if it has been the right thing.” He didn’t know why it was so hard to admit that. The song changed to one with a faster tempo one, but Matt kept dancing at the same pace.
Lucy nodded. “I know you try very hard to do the right thing for Tatum.”
He licked his lips, but his mouth felt dry. “You said that Charlene manipulates me. I guess I didn’t see it before, but I’m seeing it now.”
Lucy blinked and stared up at him. “You haven’t even called me, Matt. For two months, you haven’t returned texts or called.”
“I … I …” Guilt clawed at him as he considered what to say.
