Crushing on Love (The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor, Book Four) (28 page)

The song ended while Steve was talking with Mack. He watched Shannon come off the dance floor. Her family gathered around her. Her eyes skittered nervously around the barn, and he knew she was looking for him. He raised a hand over the crowd, and when she saw it, her eyes lit up.
Soon, baby
.

“Thanks for the key, Mack,” Steve said. “And for helping with the other stuff.”

“No worries, buddy,” Mack assured him. “It’s amazing what can happen over the course of several weeks.”

Thinking of Shannon, he said, “It is, Mack. It truly is.”

Rex stepped up to the stage with his baby in his arms and took possession of the microphone. Baby Hal gurgled, and it amplified over the mic, drawing the crowd’s attention. A low laugh rumbled through the barn as Steve weaved his way toward Shannon.

Rex kissed his baby’s head. “My boy’s got a lot to say on this special night,” Rex said, earning another group chuckle. “I think I speak for everyone here when I say thank you to Steve, Shannon, and Treat for putting the rally together and for allowing all of us to become a part of their monumental effort toward preserving Weston’s heritage. How about a big round of applause to bring the three founders of the Colorado Land Trust up for a dance?”

Applause and cheers sounded around the barn.

Shannon shook her head, confusion riddling her brow as Treat and Max walked onto the dance floor and Steve took Shannon’s hand in his.

“Steve, you have to correct him,” Shannon said urgently.

“You were more a part of this than either Treat or I were. Congratulations, Butterfly. The three of us are partners now, if you want that.”

“But…” She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears again. He’d seen enough tears from her for a lifetime, but at least these were tears of joy.

“I love you, baby.”

She covered her mouth with her hand, blinking away tears.

He gently lowered her hand and cupped her face. “Do you want this? To be part of what we’ve created?”

She nodded emphatically, her eyes full of love. “But how…?”

“Remotely. Treat and I agreed that the Colorado Land Trust wouldn’t have come to fruition without you. You’re the heart and soul of it, and we’ll make it work any way you need us to.”

More tears fell, and he pressed his lips to hers. Everyone was watching them now, and he proudly offered her his arm. “I believe this is our dance.”

“You don’t dance,” she whispered. “You don’t have to…”

“For you I’d walk through fire, baby.” He walked her to the middle of the dance floor, his nerves buzzing like live wires as dance steps played out in his head.

“Grizz?” Her eyes moved nervously over the crowd. Everyone seemed to be waiting for his next move as much as he and Shannon were.

Steve slid an arm around her and began dancing. “Triple-step, Butterfly. Try to keep up.”

“Ohmygod,” she said as they glided across the floor. More happy tears fell from her eyes. “You can dance? How…?”

He twirled her around and she laughed—music to his ears.

“You can dance!” She looked out at the crowd and said proudly, “He can dance!”

Everyone cheered and clapped, and as couples joined them on the dance floor, making supportive comments—
I knew you could do it! Hear you’re good at swing dancing. Save me a dance. We’re so glad we can talk about it now!—
it became clear to Steve that the Weston grapevine had been buzzing all this time. And they’d protected his secret—and by doing so, they, too, were giving Shannon an unforgettable night.

“How?” she asked again, and he told her the whole embarrassing story.

“I’m sorry I had to lie about attending all those fake meetings, but I had to go when everyone was free.”

“Oh, Grizz! I love you so much. All those stolen hours were worth it.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Rex danced over with Jade and baby Hal and cleared his throat, interrupting their kiss.

“The story of Steve’s dance lessons will be told over holiday meals for generations to come,” Rex teased.

If Steve had his way, he and Shannon would be telling the story together over holiday meals for years to come.

Now that the cat was out of the bag, every woman in Steve’s life wanted to dance with him. “Go, go!” Shannon urged him as he was passed from Jade to Savannah, then Rachel and Jo.

“Isn’t it strange?” Jo said as they danced. “I’m looking for Mr. Right and your soul mate saunters into your life?” Shannon didn’t
saunter
anywhere. She was the very essence of life itself. She flitted, burst, or charged, but saunter? Not a chance. Remembering his father’s words, he smiled. Shannon had indeed invaded every aspect of his life and his being.

He danced with Tempest and Shannon’s mother, and after dancing with almost every female in the darn town, he sought out the only woman besides Shannon who had been on
his
dance card.

“Mom?”

His mother’s expression warmed. “Steven,” she said softly. “I never thought I’d see the day my handsome son was gliding across a dance floor. I’m so proud of you, honey.”

“Will you dance with me?” He reached for her, and she placed her delicate hand in his. As they walked onto the dance floor, he caught sight of his father watching them and felt a strange sense of pride.
Every man should dance with his mother
. It was a strange and out-of-place thought, and he realized he’d had several of them lately—thoughts of the future, of a family of his own. And now, of something he’d want to pass along to a son of his own one day.

“You’re a lovely dancer, Steven,” his mother said. “When I heard you were learning to dance for Shannon, I knew this was the real thing. I’m so happy for you, honey. I know how hard it must have been for you to turn to Rex for help.”

“Nothing is too difficult where Shannon is concerned. And, Mom? I was wrong the other day.”

“About?” Her thin brows furrowed.

“I thought when Shannon went back to Peaceful Harbor I’d be able to carry on doing what I love most. But
she’s
become what I love most.
She’s
my life’s passion.”

“I know, honey.” She gazed up at him with a smile that told of wisdom Steve had yet to learn. “You’ll figure it out. The two of you will. When it’s time, when it’s right, you’ll both know.”

His eyes drifted to Shannon, talking with her father, Ty, and Tempest. She was so close to her family, he wondered if she’d ever be ready to move away from them. He promised himself he wouldn’t pressure her, but as her time to leave neared, it was proving to be harder than he thought.

“What if our
right times
never fall into sync?” he asked through a thick throat.

“Then you’ll change your life to accommodate hers.”

As the song ended, he touched the key in his pocket.
I already have
.

MOONLIGHT SPRINKLED THROUGH the treetops, dotting the road as they drove up the mountain. It had been a perfect night, one Shannon would never forget.

“You learned to dance for me,” she said as Steve reached for her hand. “From my family.” She still couldn’t believe he’d gone to Rex. What she wouldn’t have done to have been a fly on the wall in that barn.

“I did.” He gave her hand a little squeeze.

“You and Treat want to make me a partner.” She still couldn’t believe that either. Treat and Steve told her that they were toying with the idea of expanding the Colorado Land Trust to all of Colorado and making more deals under the business model the three of them had put together. There was a lot to do legally, but the idea of being involved and doing what she’d loved doing for the past few weeks thrilled her.

“We do, baby.”

She gazed up at the man who never stopped thinking about her. Not for a minute. “It’s a big commitment.”

“Yes, and you have plenty of time to think about it on your long flight home tomorrow, but tonight,” he said as he parked the truck, “I want to show you something.”

He leaned in and kissed her. Then he opened his door, and a roaring, thunderous sound boomed around them. Before she could ask him what it was, he closed his door and walked around the truck. She saw it now, the way he moved more fluidly than he had before he’d learned to dance. The pieces of his secret dance lessons were all falling into place. His sporadic humming, the way he seemed to fight to keep his feet still when she’d danced around him the past week. How had she missed all of that?

He opened the passenger door, and she put her hands up to her ears to block the noise. Steve flashed a Cheshire-cat-like grin and helped her put on the sweater she’d brought with her.

“What is that?” she hollered over the roaring noise.

He helped her from the truck and said, “Close your eyes, baby.”

She did as he asked. “Usually you tell me to
open
my eyes. What do you have up your sleeve, mountain man?”

With an arm securely around her, he guided her toward the backyard.

“Just a little something for my favorite person.”

The noise grew louder. Then Steve’s cheek touched hers and his deep voice penetrated through it. “Open your eyes, Butterfly.”

She opened her eyes and inhaled a mouthful of snow.
Snow!
She held her palms up toward the sky, in complete and utter awe of the winter wonderland before her. She blinked against the cold snowflakes shooting out of the snow machine. The backyard was covered with fluffy white snow. It glistened off the back porch and the steps where she watched the sunrise. Snow covered the tips of the tree branches, and when she turned her face up toward the sky, snowflakes rained down on her cheeks. And there, basking in the moonlight, his short hair covered in white, was her night in snowy armor.

“Grizz!” she yelled over the noise, and launched herself into his arms.

He caught her and stumbled back, both of them laughing. “Now you’ve seen what the cabin will look like in the winter.”

She squealed and pushed from his arms. Then she packed snow into the worst snowball ever and threw it at him, starting a battle of awful snowballs that fell apart like fairy dust. They laughed and ran around beneath the falling snow until they were out of breath, their skin pink from cold. He tackled her in the snow and spread her arms out wide. She was shaking, but not from the cold.

He pressed his lips to hers. “My very own snow angel.”

“You love me,” she said with a smile so big her cheeks hurt.

“More than you know,” he said, and then he kissed her, melting the snow from her limbs. Just like that, the spark between them caught fire, and he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Grizz!” She laughed as he turned off the snow machine and then slid her down his body and cradled her, kissing her as he carried her inside.

He set her feet on the floor, and they stumbled into the living room in a tangle of limbs and crashing of teeth and tongues. Their clothes were drenched. Steve peeled her sweater off and tossed it aside, then fumbled with the tie on the back of her dress. Finally he gave up on the stubborn knot and tore the dress over her head. She’d purposely forgone underwear to remind him of their first night together. She was still wearing her boots, which made her feel naughty. He stepped back with a predatory gaze, drinking in her nakedness. His eyes moved slowly down her body, lingering on her breasts, and she felt her nipples rise in anticipation of his touch.

“Grizz,” she said breathily.

“Shh. I’m not rushing our last night together.”

His words made her wanton and sad at once.
Our last night together
. His gaze slid lower, then lower still. She trembled with need and he hadn’t even touched her yet. He grabbed his collar with two hands and tore it open, sending the buttons
ping
ing across the room, and dropped the black button-down to the floor.

His abs flexed as she reached a shaky hand toward him. He caught her wrist and lowered it down to her side. Oh, how she loved when he took control.

“I’ve been waiting to touch you all night.” He kissed her deeply, sensually.

She watched as he unbuttoned and then excruciatingly slowly unzipped his jeans, exposing a hint of dark hair, his thick arousal outlined by the denim. She was so eager for him, her body felt electric. She’d watched him dancing with all those women, and all she could think about was getting back to the cabin and making love with him. Her insides quivered as he pushed his jeans over his hips, off his powerful thighs. He was a thing of beauty, a masterpiece.

He pulled off his boots, stepped from his jeans, and slid a finger beneath her chin. One finger. A single touch—she felt a
zing
all the way down between her legs. He lifted her chin, bringing her eyes to his, and a sexy grin curved his perfect lips as he stepped closer. He gathered her against him with a heady grunt, one hand splayed across her back, the other sliding deliciously up and down her torso. His arousal grazed her belly, the hair on his legs tickled her thighs, and his hand slid over her hip and clutched her ass—
hard
.

“I love you, Butterfly,” he said so softly she had to strain to hear it. His eyes were drenched in love, reflecting all of the emotions backing up inside her.