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“Cousin Herbert is looking this way, you have to keep dancing with me,” Sage glanced over Nikolai’s shoulder, ignoring his wince when she’d, yet again, kicked his insole.
“My pleasure,” he grunted, biting into his knuckle, then laughing at his own joke.
“I hate dancing.” She looked up into his beautifully patient soft blue eyes. He smiled, but his intense stare caused her to lose track of where she stepped and her right foot landed on his big toe. If he’d stop looking at her like that, maybe she’d stop stomping on his feet.
“I can’t imagine why.” He spun her, then wrapped his arms around her from behind. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he hugged her tight and swayed from side to side. “Don’t lift your feet, hon, and we’ll be fine. It’s not hard at all.” His mouth trailed light kisses down her neck on onto her shoulder.
The reception had gone off beautifully. String lights hung from the birch and oaks in the back yard of the Victorian house. Glowing candle lanterns sat on each table. The weather remained warm enough that they were able to stay outside with a few fires burning around the yard in small circular pits. Mr. Ethan agreed to join the band with his violin and played a couple of waltzes for Lana. She danced blissfully with her new husband.
“I get a room all to myself now,” Sage grinned, pulling Nikolai’s arms tighter around her waist. “Carol is threatening to move in to get away from Meghan. Seems she’d not gotten the April Fools jokes out of her system yet. But far as I’m concerned, she has another think coming.”
He chuckled into her hair which she’d let hang loose in ringlet curls. “Maybe she won’t have to share with Megs for long.”
“Why do you say that?”
He spun her around again so she faced him, but held her close so she couldn’t move her feet too much. “Because. We’ve been friends for a long time, right?” When she nodded, her gaze locked on his handsome face. He continued, “Then, is there really any reason to have a long engagement?”
“You haven’t exactly asked me to marry you, yet.”
“Oh, but I plan to.”
“You do?” She stopped swaying. “When?”
“There you are,” Moi interrupted, stopping beside them. Nikolai wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into their little circle. “I knew it would be like this. You two always wrapped up in each other.”
Nikolai planted a kiss on top of her head, laughing.
Moi had called Sage the morning after her first day of work and came right out asking if he’d told her anything important. At first, Sage had been worried she’d be mad about her breaking their pact, but the all-knowing, all-seeing Moi said she knew it was inevitable and was glad they’d worked things out. Now she was hounding them both for a pact that they’d get married and together forever.
Sage was fine with that.
She narrowed her eyes at her friend who’d managed to score several dances with a certain dreamy cook. “Don’t think I haven’t seen you and Leon stuck together like glue all night.”
She winked with a toying smile as she glanced over her shoulder and waved at him. He blew her a kiss back. This might be serious!
Smirking up at Nikolai, she said, “Now he’s in my league.”
Nikolai looked up at the dark sky, shaking his head.
“We need to get over to the bridal table,” Moi tugged at Sage’s hand. “Lana is getting ready to throw the bouquet.”
Sage allowed herself to be dragged away, but said over her shoulder, “We’re not done with our conversation, Mister.”
* * * *
“No, ma’am, we’re not.” Nick pressed his hand to the small box he had tucked in his coat pocket. Between the money he’d made from the restaurant this week, and what Mr. Lockstar paid him for the work on his wife’s computer, he’d had enough to get a simple ring. One he knew she’d love.
Not wanting to take any of the attention from Lana’s wedding, he’d decided to wait until the reception was over. But he planned to ask her. Tonight. And he hoped she’d agree to a summer wedding.
They’d both have completed their coursework for a bachelor’s degree and could start their lives. He was so ready.
“Hey, Mr. Prater. Been looking for you, son.” Mr. Lockstar approached with a pretty brunette woman clutching his arm.
“Is that him?” She asked.
“Sure is.” He extended his hand and Nick shook it. “This is my future partner, Mary. The smart fellow who fixed your computer.”
“Fixed? Improved it is what he did.” She wrapped him in a quick hug. “I was so worried that I’d lost all my pictures. Nowadays we hardly get them printed and I’d not saved them anywhere else. Thank you for leaving me a note telling me how to sign up for a cloud account. I never want a scare like that again.” Her hand rested on her chest.
“I’m glad I was able to save your files, Mrs. Lockstar.” He turned to Mr. Lockstar. “Did you mean it, sir? About being a future partner?” He’d hoped for a job helping to sell stock and had planned to find an inexpensive apartment in town where he and Sage could work out of their home doing repairs and graphic designs.
“Sure do. And call me Cole from here on out. I’ve talked to the realtor about expanding to the spot next door. Actually, I’ve been thinking about it for some time. It connects to my store and I’ve been storing some of my extra stock over there for some time.” He chuckled and held a finger over his mouth. “My wife here has been on me for a while about getting help.”
“Sure have. I want him home a little more, and not so exhausted. I have to go buy a gadget just to see him.”
Cole waved her off. “It’s not that bad. But I would like to be open longer hours. And I like your ideas, Nick. I also know you’re in need of a place to live. Come work for me. You can run the tech part of the shop, rent the smaller section from me. If things work out, we’ll talk about that partnership. Oh, and the apartment above comes with the deal.”
“No kidding, sir? That... wow. That’s... I can’t tell you how much—”
“How about we shake and call it a deal? I’ve talked to Ethan Winters who highly recommends you. He’s the one who said you needed a home to start a family.”
“He did?” Nick’s head spun. He caught sight of Mr. Ethan and Haley standing together as the women gathered around Lana to catch the bouquet. This was even more than he’d hoped for.
“I like your gumption. I think we can help each other out. Come in early Monday morning. We’ll sit and iron things out more.”
“Yes, sir.” He shook Cole’s hand, and then his wife’s.
“All right ladies,” Lana called out from where she stood on a chair while Drake made sure she didn’t fall. “The one who catches it can go see Miss Madison to schedule your wedding reception. Better get in quick, I have a feeling she’ll be booked up soon.” Turning her back to the group, she tossed the white flowers high over her head. They tumbled through the air and landed in the midst of a cluster of outstretched hands.
Several awwed and began to move away, leaving one with brilliant red hair and wide green eyes staring down at the daisies in her hand. A pile of petals lay at her feet. Sage held the bouquet to her nose, her gaze giving away the smile hid behind the broken petals.
Nick turned to Mr. Lockstar. “I’ll definitely need that apartment, sir. Pretty soon, too.”