Keith reached the dance floor and spun Torie into his arms. Man, he loved how she fit perfect right against him. She’d sensed his agitation at Tony saying she was a keeper. As if Torie would ever be his to keep. He’d learned the hard way that what he did with his life wasn’t meant to burden someone else. Sure, Tony and Rae made it work, but they were rare. Not everyone was cut out for military life. Keith accepted that and vowed to never ask another woman to bear that load with him again.
He swept them across the dance floor as Florida Georgia Line sang about wanting to roll the windows down and cruise.
“You okay?” Torie looked up at him, her body relaxed in his arms, following his steps without effort. She really was a good dancer. And he sensed how much she trusted him. All the more reason he needed to stop being a jerk and have a nice evening with her. Hell, he invited her here. Now he was getting wrapped up in his past instead of focusing on the beautiful woman in his arms.
“Yeah. Sorry. Just got distracted for a bit there.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
The sincerity in her eyes melted his heart. It had been a long time since a woman was willing to listen to him. Most only wanted something from him—a ring on their hand and a claim to him in some way. It was beyond annoying. Even now he could feel the stares of the women around them. Surely they were wondering who this bombshell was in his arms and how she managed to get there. Hell. He was wondering that very thing himself.
Torie was different. Special. Self-sufficient and capable. So far, she’d asked nothing of him. She didn’t need him, and that made him want her even more.
“Nah. It’s nothing. I’m sorry. I invited you out and now I’m afraid I’m a dud of a date.” He smiled down at her and shifted their movements as the song changed.
“Are we on a date, Captain?” Her eyes twinkled with her teasing.
“You keep calling me that and people are gonna think that’s my rank. Which it isn’t, by the way.”
“Oh really? Well, I figure you’d rather be called Captain than Hulk.”
He winced. “You have a point there.”
She laughed. “Speaking of nicknames. You called me Dragonfly earlier. I’ll admit, you’ve got me curious. I mean, we know why I call you Captain America, but Dragonfly? I’m lost.”
“I actually don’t know exactly why you call me Captain America, but you’re right, I like it better than Hulk as nicknames go. I don’t like nicknames at all, but for you I’ll make an exception.” He winked.
“You’re stalling.”
“Oh. Right. Dragonfly.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. It just seemed to fit.”
“You saw fit to call me a bug?”
He laughed and pulled her closer to him. “No. Not at all. I’ve always thought of dragonflies as beautiful. They’re a mix of delicacy and strength, just like you.”
She stiffened in his arms and stopped moving her feet, causing him to do the same. He maneuvered them to the edge of the dance floor so they wouldn’t get bumped. “I’m sorry. Did I upset you?”
She blinked and shook her head. “No. No. I’m sorry.” She relaxed again. “Let’s keep dancing.”
He guided them back into the flow of couples. Unsure if what he said was good or bad, he searched her eyes. He could find her secrets there if he just kept looking.
She smiled up at him. Her eyes were soft. That was a good sign. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“For saying that. It was…nice.”
She laid her head on his chest and sank into him, moving with him again without effort. At that moment, everything and everyone else in the room faded away. It was a world with him and Torie alone. He liked that world. And he wanted it. More than he’d ever wanted anything before in his life.
***
Torie melted into Keith. The man could move, she’d say that about him. Relaxed against him, she followed his lead around the dance floor, soaking him in. It was divine to dance with a man she could actually look up to. One who didn’t make her feel huge. His arms enveloped her, her faced tucked into his neck. He smelled of leather and pine. All male. So yummy.
He hadn’t explained his discomfort back at the table, but things were fine now. That was good enough for her. The moment was better than any she’d had in a mighty long time.
Her knees had all but turned to jelly when he explained why he called her Dragonfly. Her strength usually turned men away. It intimidated them. And she’d certainly never been considered delicate. Feminine, maybe, but somehow the tough side of her always overpowered the rest. Men didn’t seem to want to stick around long enough to get to know her delicate side. Keith saw it without even trying.
Even today while they’d worked out, he acted impressed by her abilities but still made her feel like…well, a girl. Living in a man’s world, she sometimes lost that side of her. Wanting to be treated equally, she wore a tough exterior at work, but in truth, it got exhausting. With Keith, she could let her hair down and just be.
“You still haven’t told me why you call me Captain America.”
She smiled. “Come on. You don’t know you’ve got that smoldering, good guy soldier-boy thing going on?”
He chuckled in her ear. She shivered. In a good way.
“Smoldering, huh?” His voice dipped low, causing her tummy to drop as well. “I do recall now you saying something like that the morning I brought you breakfast.”
Uh-oh. Hadn’t thought through that word before it left her mouth. She shrugged but didn’t answer. If she wasn’t careful she’d follow her gut and kiss him right there on the dance floor. Without mistletoe. In front of the all the drooling women nearby. Hmmm, that actually sounded rather appealing on a lot of levels, now that she thought about it.
His chest moved again with a laugh. “Now you’re thinking so hard I can see your mind spinning.”
“Can you tell what I’m thinking?”
He looked into her eyes. The steel blue went from soft to sultry. She swallowed. Hard. Apparently she wasn’t the only one thinking of hot kisses, even if half the town was watching.
The song ended and the DJ’s voice boomed through the room. Torie blinked and the moment was gone. Keith took her hand and guided them back to their table. The food had arrived, sprawled out in front of Tony and Rae.
“We waited for you like one pig waits for another,” Tony said with a mouthful of French fry.
Rae smacked his arm. “Mind your manners. Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
She looked at Keith and Torie as they took their seats in the booth. “He’s right though. We’re starving. You two looked like you were enjoying yourselves so we dove in without ya.”
“No worries.” Torie placed her napkin in her lap and took a long swig of water. The dancing, among other things, had certainly turned up her body heat.
“You know what you’re doing out there, Torie,” Rae said. It was a compliment.
“I’ve always loved to dance. My gram taught me some moves as well when I lived with her. Showed a few of those to Keith here today.” She smiled at Keith. Was he blushing?
“That’s nice,” Rae continued, oblivious to Keith’s discomfort. Tony noticed it though, and chuckled.
“Needed some dance lessons, did ya, Hulk?” Tony teased.
Keith leaned back in the booth and eyed his friend. He smirked. “I can dance circles around your butt any day, soldier, and you know it. You’re just jealous.”
Tony laughed out loud.
“Oh, you two.” Rae smiled. “Settle down. You both know that I’m the best dancer of the group, so back yourselves down.”
The two men frowned and looked at Rae. Torie smiled. Oh, she liked this woman.
Rae continued. “And from what I’ve seen of Torie here, I’ve got some new competition.” She winked. “After we eat and they get to the line dancing part of the evening, we women will show you boys how it’s done.”
She raised her glass and Torie toasted her. Oh yeah. Rae was her kind of people.
Both men shook their heads and dove into their meals. Torie liked the camaraderie between the three of them. It was obvious they were close.
“So, how long have you two been married?” Torie asked.
Rae’s eyes lit up as Torie expected. “Three years.”
Tony leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek. “I’d be lost without this one, that’s for sure.”
Keith avoiding eye contact with any of them wasn’t lost on Torie. She was a cop. She could read people, situations. He was uncomfortable—again.
“How did you two meet?
“Through a group at church, actually,” Rae answered. Tony happily munched his food while his wife talked. Keith ate as well, but wasn’t as relaxed as when they sat down.
“I’m a counselor that runs a group through our church. I work mainly with people who struggle with PTSD.”
Torie nodded and took a sip of her water. Now it was her turn to be uncomfortable. She’d read about PTSD and even considered she might have it herself with all she’d been through, but talking about it wasn’t gonna happen. That was for sure.
“So what do you do for a living, Torie?” Rae stole a fry from Tony’s plate. He swatted her hand playfully.
“I’m a cop.”
Tony’s eyebrows lifted. “Really? Ow!” He rubbed his leg and glared at Rae.
Torie laughed. “It’s okay. I get that reaction a lot.”
Tony eyed his wife cautiously. “You just don’t…”
“Look the type. I know.” Torie munched on a celery stick from the hot wings basket.
“Sorry.” Rae gave her husband the evil eye. He shrugged and looked legitimately confused.
Keith laughed.
“What?” Torie asked, glad he joined the conversation.
“Nothin. I just had the same thought as well that first day you pulled up in your rusty old truck.”
Torie’s jaw dropped. “How dare you! My truck is not rusty.”
Keith pointed at her. “But you admit that it’s old.”
She closed her mouth and frowned. “I admit no such thing. And you’ve never said a word about that day.”
He shrugged. “We were focused on Dane and Aimee. But I agree with Tony. Your first impression isn’t cop.”
Tony looked at Rae as if to say, “See? I’m not the only one.”
“So what was your first impression of me?”
Keith’s jaw twitched and he looked away. He had to think about his answer, did he? Well, she wouldn’t fess up to him either what her first impression of him was. She’d gotten out of her truck and walked over to the corral where he was training a new horse. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. And the way he guided the large animal beneath him with grace and patience was a sight to behold. He’d blown her away. Of course, then he’d gone toe to toe with her about how to handle Aimee’s situation. That ruffled her feathers, but only because her attraction to the man was off the charts. And most men didn’t cross her. They just…didn’t.
“Oh, would you idiotic men just say what you’re thinking.” Rae jumped in. She looked straight at Torie. “You must know this, girlfriend. You could be a supermodel. You really don’t scream cop, which makes me like you all the more. A kick-butt woman inside that exterior? I can stand up and applaud that.”
Torie smiled at the woman across from her. Not unlike Aimee, Rae had the fire of a redhead, for sure. And that was the first time that description of herself didn’t bother her. Most women were intimidated by her. Rae honestly saw her as an equal. It was refreshing, to say the least.
“Ok. I’m done with you two men,” Rae went on. She pushed on Tony’s arm. “Let me out of this booth. They’re playing my favorite song and it’s line dancing time. Come on, Torie.” She waved at Torie to join her.
Torie smiled and nudged Keith as well. He moved and gave her his hand to help her out of the booth. His touch brought back their near kiss on the dance floor and her cheeks flushed with heat. She mustered a weak, “Thanks” then followed Rae through the tables to the dance floor.
***
Keith and Tony sat in the booth and watched the girls dance as they slid and scooted along the floor. Rae was right. She could out-dance all of them. Although Torie was a super-close second and the woman he couldn’t peel his eyes from.
“You’ve got it bad, man.” Tony shoved the last bite of his burger into his mouth.
Keith shook his head. “Shut up.”
Tony grinned. “You know I’m right. You can’t take your eyes off her and you’re all fussy under the collar. I’ve never seen you this way. Not even with…”
“Don’t.” Keith put a hand up to stop his friend. “I don’t want to talk about her tonight.”
Tony nodded. “Fair enough. Sorry.” He wadded up his napkin and tossed it on his empty plate. “I’m just sayin’. It might be time for you to venture out again. I’m not saying you have to marry anyone. Just go on a few dates. Get out there again.”
Keith shook his head. “No. That’s pointless.”
“Look, man. I know you’ve got it in your head somehow that your life isn’t cut out for marriage, but look at me and Rae. You can make it work.”
Keith turned his attention back to Torie. She threw her head back and laughed at something Rae said then shook her hips to the music. Tony was right. He had it bad. She had him turned upside down and sideways.
“I love my wife more than life itself, but I’m not blind. Torie is beautiful. And she brings something out in you I haven’t seen in a really long time.”
Keith looked at his friend. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“A smile, idiot. She makes you happy. And you’ve got yourself stuck in some stupid mental rut that says you don’t deserve to be happy. But you’re wrong.”
Keith shook his head again. Maybe Tony was right. Maybe he was letting the past control his future. He still had doubts. “But I barely know her.” The words sounded lame, even to him.
“Then get to know her. You’ve gotta pray about letting this go, man. The crap you hold onto. Life is messy, yes. But we aren’t designed to go through it alone.”
Tony leaned his elbows on the table and looked Keith in the eye. “She’s special and you know it. Don’t let this chance pass you by because you’re too stubborn to grab on while you can.”
Keith took a deep breath. Tony was right. He had to let go of the past and move forward. He’d like to do that with Torie. See where their paths might lead.
He smiled. “Thanks.”
Tony leaned back again in the booth. “I’m happy to kick you in the butt anytime.”
Keith laughed and looked again to the dance floor. His smile faded, however, and his gut churned. The song had changed and couples were forming. A tall man in a dark brown cowboy hat had his arms around Torie. Keith couldn’t see the man’s face, but the fire that ran through his blood told him exactly who it was. All that Tony had just said flew out of Keith’s head. The past smacked into him like a punch to the jaw and he only saw red.