Love Starts with Elle(54)

“Sure is, but he’d give you the shirt off his back and the last dollar in his pocket.”

“A lot of people in this town love you, Elle. And don’t tell me it’s because you grew up here.”

“Well, it’s true.”

He touched her chin. “There’s something very beautiful and tender about you. I bet half the men at the party would take a punch in the gut if someone threatened you.”

She moved away. “Don’t say things like that, Heath.”

“It’s true.”

She shook her head. “I thought tonight was about friends.”

He lowered his hand and stared toward the dance floor. “Right, right, friends.” Without pausing to consider his emotions, Heath knew he wanted more. But she’d stationed the No Detour signs. Maybe she was right. He’d be going back to New York by the end of summer. Why start what he couldn’t finish?

“Hey, you two, come on, hit the dance floor.” Bo popped Heath on the back as he bustled past. “You can moon over each other later.”

The music was loud and the heels of the dancers smacked against the plywood. If he didn’t have two left feet and no rhythm, Heath might have led her to the dance floor, but he’d rather wait for a slow, swaying dance tune.

“You want to dance?” Elle asked.

“Only if you want.”

“I’m good here.”

“Me too.”

She hollered over to Venus for her friend Jess to bring a couple of brownies and Diet Cokes. When Jess came over a minute later, Heath marveled. He couldn’t think of one friend in New York who would respond nicely to such a request. “Get your own bleeping brownie. Who do I look like to you?”

“So, can I ask you a question?” Elle asked, breaking off the tip of her brownie.

“Absolutely.” Heath took a big brownie bite. Man, when was the last time he’d eaten any homemade desert? He was going to have to learn how to make these.

“How long were you married to Ava?”

“Sixteen years. We met in a political science class our sophomore year at Yale. Got married two years later.” Heath stuffed the last half of the brownie in his mouth, wondering if a Martian could venture over to Venus for a second piece.

“Was it love at first sight?”

“For me, yes.” He waded up his napkin. “But Ava was this beautiful, smart, classy woman every sophomore man wanted. I was just another goofy guy with too much ego in a line of goofy guys with too much ego.”

“Tough times in the Ivy League.” Elle broke her brownie in two and gave half to him.

“If the entrance examines don’t kill you, the competition among geeks and supergeeks will.”

“Come on, isn’t Yale the land of Chip and Babs, lots of money and perfect gene pools?”

“Things have changed. As it turned out, though, I was the only geek who believed in Jesus, so guess who moved to the front of Ava’s class?”

“Jeremiah claimed he was enamored the first time he saw me. But my heart didn’t get wrapped around the love axel until he kissed me. Then it was all over but the singing.”

“Must have been some kiss.” Note to self. He wasn’t planning on kissing her, but if he did, accidentally or something, this tidbit was nice to know.

“Was it the kiss or just this really gorgeous man giving me his attention, coming along when I really wanted to get married?”

“Fine line sometimes between love and infatuation.”

“How did she die, Heath? Can you tell me?”

“Tragically.” He brushed his finger lightly down her nose to its soft tip. “I promise to tell you. I’m just having a good time tonight and—”

“I understand.” Elle crumpled her napkin, holding out her hand for his trash. “Is her light too large to stand under?”

He dipped his head to see her eyes. “No, it’s not.”

“You don’t compare every woman you meet to her?”

“I did at one time. I’ll always love Ava, Elle. But if God blesses me with another love, she won’t have to stand in Ava’s light or shadow.

Why do you ask?”

Elle shrugged. “Just wondered what life looked like from your chair.”

“How about you? Do you compare men to Jeremiah?”

“You mean, ‘Oh, here, take my heart and see if you can stomp on it harder than my ex? Oh no, sorry, didn’t hurt me enough. Bye-bye.’”

Heath slipped his arm around her and pulled her to him, kissing the top of her head. “Come on, he had some great qualities or you wouldn’t have fallen for him.”

“True. Some days I wonder if maybe . . . I don’t know, if things will settle out there in Dallas and things could work out.”

“Perhaps.” The news disappointed him, but it wasn’t a total surprise coming from her heart. All the more reason for him to cool his own infatuation.

“My sister Candace thinks I sabotaged the relationship, but I didn’t know . . .”

The band slowed down the music and the plywood-floor dancers moved together. Heath slipped off the picnic table. “Enough talk. Would you like to dance?”

“I’m beginning to see a pattern here.” She put her hand in his without hesitation.