“As long as you’re okay. That’s all I care about.”
She melted. “I’m okay. Besides, they need to cut the wedding cake. I hear it’s chocolate.”
Cole chuckled. “You and that sweet tooth of yours.”
“It’s a wedding cake. Who says no to the wedding cake?”
“Single ladies,” the DJ said over the microphone. “If you’ll please come to the middle of the dance floor, the bride will throw the bouquet.”
Cole waggled his eyebrows. “I guess that’s your cue.”
“Oh no. I’ve never liked that part.”
“Never caught it before?” Cole asked.
“And then everyone looks at you and says ‘better luck next time.’”
He shrugged his shoulders. “You never know, Leah. Tonight might be your night.”
She slipped him a curious glance, but her grin gave her away. “Okay.” She slid past him to join the other single women on the dance floor. Holly beamed as she clutched her bouquet filled with red roses.
“On three, ladies,” Holly said. “One. Two. Three.” She tossed it over her head.
Leah heard the surrounding ladies scurrying to catch the bouquet. She reached up, rising on her tiptoes. She could have sworn the clustered flowers moved in slow motion. Her eyes bugged when she caught the bouquet. Everyone around her cheered and clapped. Leah froze. This never happened to her. To her dismay, she spotted Cole capturing the moment on camera.
She sped to Cole. “Please tell me you didn’t take my picture.”
He patted his camera. “Looks like you caught it.”
She clutched the roses. “I guess so. This never happens.”
“Maybe tonight is your night.”
She beamed. “Maybe.”
“Want to dance, Leah?”
She twirled around to see Tyler Gage. He looked suave in his tuxedo. Yet, she looked back over at Cole. “Do you mind?”
Cole gave a half a smile but gestured for her to dance. Leah handed him the bouquet and placed her hand in Tyler’s. He then led her to the dance floor. With one of her hands on his shoulder, he held her by her waist. Her eyes searched for Cole once more across the room. His eyes smoldered with intensity as he stared at her.
Chapter 17
Leah paced the floor, her chest tightening in fear. Could it work between her and Cole? The way he held her and swayed them across the floor. Their fingers intertwined, fitting together perfectly.
“So… you two kissed or didn’t?” Gemma asked. She cradled Chip who reclined in her lap on Leah’s couch.
Leah placed her hands on her hips. “Almost kissed.” She could barely breathe when his hand touched her cheek. He was only a breath away from her lips, and to her surprise, she leaned in closer. Her heart skittered in her chest. Then… she heard April shriek. Her throat had clenched when she heard Jeremy profess his love for April. Leah needed a minute, so she had retreated to the ladies’ room.
Gemma lifted an eyebrow. “And that’s a bad thing?”
She twirled around to face her friend. Her eyes bugged. “It’s Cole, Gemma. Cole and I have been friends since high school.”
Her friend’s mouth curved into a smile. “I don’t see the problem. For you to almost kiss means he was on the other side of that. He must like you too.”
“Even if that were true, we got caught up in the moment. I don’t want to like him. I can’t.” Leah plopped on the couch next to her friend.
“Why? Cole is a great guy.”