Where One Goes(31)

Then we’ll dance to the radio, right up ’til dawn.

’Til you drift off to dream in my arms.

My heart aches as I take in the meaning behind the lyrics. Ike is telling me what we would do if we could; if he were alive and able to touch me. My eyes water as tears threaten to spill, my throat tight with emotion.

“Open your eyes, Charlotte,” Ike whispers, and I realize the song is over. I squeeze my eyes closed tighter, wishing I could hang on to this beautiful moment. I don’t want to let it go; the vision that’s all so clear in my mind of dancing in the arms of Ike McDermott. When I open them, we’re still swaying side-to-side in perfect unison. “Thank you for dancing with me,” he says, quietly, and smiles softly, his brown eyes shining. God, he’s a beautiful man. Before I can respond, there’s a knock at the door and he quickly morphs outside, and then back in. “It’s Anna.”

I’m still holding the chair, frozen in place, trying to figure out how to move again. That was the best dance I’ve ever had and we didn’t even touch. Anna knocks on the door again, bringing me back to reality. Shaking off the completely romantic moment Ike and I just shared, I saunter to the door and open it.

“Damn, you look good, girl,” Anna cheers. She looks pretty good, too. She’s wearing a black dress with a tight cardigan and her hair is down; straight and sleek. “Here.” She shoves a green, cotton dress toward me.

“This is it?” I hold the dress up and try not to grimace at how small it looks. “I thought you were bringing a couple dresses for me to try on?”

“This is the one. I know it will look hot on you. I have a knack for these things.”

“If it will even fit,” I mumble as I hurry into the bathroom and change.

When I come out, Anna grins. “I knew you’d look hot.”

My gaze moves to Ike briefly and he’s staring at me, his jaw set tightly. “Beautiful,” he whispers, and I can’t help the smile that breaks out on my face. “I’m going to go check on my folks,” he says to me, even though I’ve torn my eyes from his and am busy collecting my purse. Then, he disappears. I frown, wondering if he’s upset about something.

“It hugs you in all the right places,” Anna says, speaking of the dress.

“Little bit low in the front, don’t ya think?” I ask as I attempt to tug the low-cut dress up to cover my cleavage, which is spilling out. I slip on my leather jacket and check myself out in the mirror one more time.

“Yep, and that’s why George is going to have a stroke when he sees you in it.”

“Excuse me?” I almost choke as I spin around to face her. “George?”

“Yeah, he and Sniper are outside waiting for us.”

Don’t roll your eyes and groan, Charlotte. Why does George have to be going? I’m surprised he didn’t back out the moment he found out I was going.

“And why would I want to impress George?” I ask with a little edge to my voice.

She gives me a knowing look. “Because you have a crush on him.”



Anna and I sit in the back of Sniper’s car while he and George sit up front. I insisted she was wrong about the crush on George, but she just smiled and patted my shoulder, saying, “If you say so, honey,” then hightailed it out to the car.

They all make small talk while I stare out the window, wondering where Ike is. That dance was truly one of the most romantic things I’ve ever experienced. It isn’t until we reach the dance hall that everyone is able to see what I am wearing. George gives me a once-over, his lips flattening, before making a beeline for the bar. Guess he isn’t too impressed, after all. Once Sniper sees my outfit, he—of course—tells me I look sexy as hell. I feel a little awkward as Anna is right beside me, but she doesn’t seem to care. I guess it helps he has his arm around her waist.

Sniper, Anna, and I take a seat at a table near the dance floor. Anna was right, this isn’t a dressy dance, and I wish I would have fought her on making me wear this. I’d feel so much better in my jeans. “I’m going to go get us all a drink.” She stands and scurries off toward the bar.

“You two don’t seem to be getting along too well, lately,” Sniper mentions.

“Have we ever gotten along?” I counter, knowing he’s speaking about George. My gaze moves to find him, and I spot him at the bar, laughing with a guy he’s speaking with.

Sniper’s lips form in to a sad sort of smile before he opens his mouth to respond but Anna appears with our drinks, stopping him. “Sniper, I love this song,” she tells him, obviously hinting she wants to dance. He takes his beer from her and draws a long swig before setting it down, taking her hand, and leading her to the dance floor. “I’d love to dance with the most beautiful woman here,” he tells her.

The song is pretty upbeat, and the two dance together amazingly. They laugh as he twirls her, and while I smile, my heart aches a little. Sometimes I don’t realize how badly I need something until I see someone else with it. I want to be happy and basking in the glow of early love; that prelude to the delicious things to come. I haven’t thought much about it over the past six years; I mean, not really. I’ve been lonely, but it never occurred to me I craved that kind of relationship; mostly because I truly believe no one could deal with me and my gift. My own parents sent me away, so why would any man want to burden himself with me? So I settled into a life where love didn’t exist. At least not until the McDermott brothers came in to my life. Ike has certainly made an impression, which makes me even more pathetic. I can’t have a relationship with him, so why am I allowing myself to even imagine it? Then there’s George. Our relationship to date has been so hot and cold, I’m not sure what to make of it. No matter what, George has some changes to make, and they’re deal breaker changes. I chance a glance at him and see he’s still standing at the bar, facing the back. Misty approaches and rests a hand on his shoulder. I make a gagging motion, not thinking anyone might be watching.