Luna is staring. At me.
She’s been staring since the vows.
Admittedly, I only notice her attention because I’ve been sneaking my own glances. But I can’t help myself. Not when that suit fits her just right.
Why is she looking at me?
Do I have something on my face?
After they cut the cake, I duck into the bathroom to check.
Nothing stands out. I run my hand over my close crop and rub a palm against my jaw. Everything is in place, my face still clean-shaven from this morning.
Nothing spilled on my suit. Nothing untied or untucked.
All there is to stare at is me.
And that unnerves me all the more.
Maybe it’s the bet. I haven’t paid her yet, but I didn’t think she was so hard up for cash that she needed my five dollars immediately.
Heading outside, I aim toward the table where Dash’s friends Cole and Summer sit. Since Cole worked at the same animal rescue as Dash, the guy is on dog duty for the rest of the night. Pumpkin sits obediently next to him, and the two create an intimidating picture. A beefy pit bull beside a guy with more of his white skin covered in ink than not. But I know Pumpkin is soft as melted butter, and Cole is just quiet. Summer, his colorful, friendly girlfriend, also naturally softens Cole’s edges with her eager smile.
“Hi, Charlie! You did great.” Summer raises her wine glass to toast me, and I offer a bow.
“I try. Can’t believe you’re keeping Pumpkin so calm. I thought she’d be bored and causing mayhem by now.” I scratch the pittie’s blocky head, and she gives me a doggy grin, her tongue lolling out of the side of her wide mouth.
“That’s all bribery. Cole’s pockets are full of treats.” Summer reaches into her man’s pants, coming out a second later with a dog biscuit, and I pretend I don’t see how Cole stares at his girlfriend with hot eyes.
Must be nice to have an adorable woman inadvertently brush your junk ever so often.
“Hey, Summer. Cole.” Luna appears directly in front of me, nodding to the couple before training her focus on me. “Let’s dance.” She scoops up my hand and pulls me to a dance floor constructed in the middle of the yard just as a slow song starts.
Not that I needed any kind of forcing. I’m happy to be pulled along behind her.
Don’t screw this up, I tell myself. No more klutzy shit. You are smooth as syrup.
Unfortunately, when I move to wrap my arms around Luna’s waist, I somehow end up punching her in the boob instead.
“Ow.” She cups the poor abused boob, and I wonder if I’m about to spontaneously catch on fire. Because I have to be in hell right now.
“Shit, Luna. I’m so fucking sorry. Are you okay? What am I saying? Of course, you’re not okay. Do you need an ice pack? I bet I can get something from the caterers.”
Luna grabs onto my arm, keeping me in place. “I’m good. Best if I refrain from icing my tit in the middle of my brother’s wedding.”
My face blazes hot with mortification, and I wonder if she feels the heat. “I swear I’m not trying to be this much of a mess around you. Did I hurt you?”
“No.” Luna lets go of my arm. “More like surprised me. I don’t often use my boobs as punching bags.”
“Of course not.” My focus drops to her chest, then I realize I’m leering at her like a creep. “Well, I’m going to go find a hole big enough to bury myself in.”
“Wait.” Luna grabs onto me again when I move to leave. A smirk touches the edge of her mouth as her sharp eyes spear me. “You’re not getting out of dancing with me that easy.”
“Sure you want to? At this rate, I’ll find a way to step on both of your feet. You’ll leave this wedding on a stretcher.”
“I’ll risk it. You just need to loosen up.” Luna clasps my hands and guides me in rhythmic swaying. My shoulders slowly relax under her instruction.
Gazing down into Luna’s dark brown eyes, I loosen up more as her presence drives away the tension in my body. Finally, I register the music, the different instruments working in a familiar conversation I’ve known my whole life. Music soothes the soul, and it calms me.
“That’s it.” Luna slides her hold up my arms until her hands rest on my shoulders. This time, I’m able to set my palms on her hips without any incidents. “See? You’re a natural.”
“Well, music is in my blood.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. I guess with all the excitement on the boat, you didn’t get to meet them.” Applying a small amount of pressure to her strong body, I turn us until my parents come into view. “Mom and Dad. She’s a jazz singer. I grew up with more than just lullabies.”
My parents notice my attention and raise their wine glasses my way. I nod back, wondering how goofy my grin looks now that Luna is in my arms.
“They look nice,” she offers.
“They’re the best.” Her warmth soaks into my palms where I hold her. “I’ll introduce you later.”
Then, showing the first hint of intelligence this evening, I stop the question I’d almost spoken aloud.
The one asking about her parents. That would have been a bad move. Luna’s parents are Dash’s parents.
The people who live in this city but were not invited to the wedding.
Whatever the story is, I’m betting the mood won’t be improved by bringing them up.
“Do your parents live here? In New Orleans?” Luna asks before I come up with a different route to take the conversation.
“Yeah. They still travel for Mom’s gigs, but not as much as they used to.”
“Do they visit you in Germany?”
“At least once a year. Still, it’s hard living far from them.” Though the beginning of the dance was a clumsy mess, now the two of us move in perfect sync. Like we were made to dance together. Or maybe I just like to imagine we were.
“Are they why you’re thinking about changing things up?”
I shrug. “It would be nice to live closer. But my company doesn’t have any open positions States-side. Not ones related to my skill set anyway. I can’t quit. Not without another thing to go to.”
Luna nods, gazing over my shoulder, other thoughts I’m not privy to flitting through her eyes. Maybe she’s planning on relocating here from Nashville.
One more reason to come back home.
Even though I live on a different continent, I can’t help wanting to ask Luna out on a date. She’s intriguing, with the powerful way she carries her small body and the observant quality she has. I’m betting she knows every exit in this yard and the Herberts’ house, exactly how many people are at the wedding, and who is most likely to cause trouble.
She’d probably make a good federal agent. Or a spy.
Paige mentioned Luna teaches self-defense. Her students are lucky to have someone so badass showing them how to stay safe.
“What’s your living space like in Germany?”
The question throws me off-balance, and I lose the groove of our dancing. Luckily, Dash’s sister uses her strong arms to guide me back into the rhythm before I can injure her toes.
“Sorry. Uh, my place is nice.” Do you want to visit? “I rent the upper floor in a house. Have my own living space and kitchen and everything.” Come and stay as long as you want.
“Do you cook for yourself?” The tone of her voice coaxes my curiosity. I get the sense this is more than idle small talk.
“Most nights during the week, but they have great pubs over there. And their Hefeweizen is unmatched.”
“Are you a clutter person or pretty clean?”
Odd. Still, I enjoy the randomness of the question. As if Luna is interested in the small details that make me who I am.
“I’m neater than most. We traveled a lot when I was a kid. Easier to pack if I didn’t throw my stuff all around.”
She nods, back to staring at me, her intelligent gaze measuring.
“What about you?” The urge to get to know her better, get closer to her, has my fingers inching closer together on her lower back. “Do you like living in Nashville?”
Luna’s brows pop up, and I get the sense she didn’t expect the questions to be turned back her way.
“Nashville’s great. Especially now that I’m established. Business is good. My house is comfortable.”
That doesn’t sound like she wants to move to New Orleans.
“And the music scene?” I press.
Her eyes spark, a wicked grin curving that plump bottom lip. “Unmatched.”
An image forms in my mind then. Luna and I like this, surrounded by music all the time. Sometimes dancing. Sometimes relaxing. Always exploring and listening.
Always together.
If we were different people, I’d shoot my shot. Knowing that if she said yes, we’d only spend a few nights together before both going our own ways. Still, those few intimate moments would be better than nothing.
The band switches into a faster number, and our arms slide away from each other. But I don’t leave the dance floor, not ready to give up my time with her.
Luna keeps her focus on me as she bobs along to the beat. None of her moves are particularly seductive, but I’m still having trouble thinking of a woman I’ve ever found more tempting.
But she’s my best friend’s sister-in-law, and I can see the risk of a fling gone wrong between us.
Probably on my end.
Even without a kiss, I’m in danger of falling for Luna Lamont.