Dance Me a Dream (Wishful 7)

“Why?”

“Because you remind me of Jordan.”

“And Jordan is…?” Please don’t say a former girlfriend.

“Jordan Butler. My best friend growing up. You’re actually nothing alike on the surface. She’s short and dark, brash and reckless. But like you, she found her passion early in life. In her case, it was barrel racing. She was a really gifted rider, wanted to go pro. Probably would have.”

“I’m sensing a great big ‘but’ here.”

“Our junior year, she was in a car accident. She was lucky to make it out alive at all. They said it was a miracle she could even walk, but riding was absolutely out of the question. Her leg was too badly damaged.”

Tara’s heart squeezed. “Oh no. That’s terrible.”

“Jordan’s stubborn. She set out to prove them wrong. Endured countless months of physical therapy. Spent so many hours trying to get back in the saddle. But in the end, the doctors were right. It broke her heart. Her light went out. And nothing I could say or do could make it come back.”

“What’s she doing now?”

Jace twitched his shoulders. “I don’t know. Her family moved while we were in college and we lost touch. I think it was too hard on her to keep up with the people who’d been part of that world with her. I don’t guess I ever quite got over not being able to do something to help her, so when I saw that same look in your eyes, I had to try.”

Even though she’d been a complete stranger.

God, what a man he was.

Tara framed his face in her hands. “I’m sorry you couldn’t help your friend. But I’m grateful you decided to turn that big heart of yours toward helping me.”

Jace bowed his head, pressing his brow to hers. “I’m just glad I had better success.” He tipped forward, closing the faint distance between them in a soft, sweet kiss. “Come on. Let’s get to the show before we turn into frozen lawn statues for the green.”

~*~

“But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, ‘Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!’” Jace closed the book and looked up to see Ginny sitting bolt upright in bed, all but bouncing with excitement. He wagged a teasing finger in her direction. “That doesn’t look like sleeping all snug in your bed. You know Santa’s got radar for stuff like that.”

“But I can’t sleep! It’s Christmas Eve!” she insisted. “And it might snow!”

“I knew we shouldn’t have watched all three of The Santa Clauses. Drink your Sleepytime tea,” Tara said, coming in behind him with two mugs. “If it snows, and I’m awake to see it, I’ll wake you up.”

Ginny’s lower lip poked out as she took her tea.

“Best offer you’re gonna get, Peanut,” Jace told her.

“Okay,” she sulked. “But one more story while we drink tea.”

“Which one do you want? And you can’t say any of the Harry Potters or Narnia,” Tara warned.

“The Nutcracker,” Ginny said.

“Okay.” Tara dug around in the pile of books on the floor before coming up with a slim volume. “Now say good night to Jace.”

“Awww, but Jace has to stay and listen tooooooo.”

“Jace has to wrap that thing we talked about.” He gave her the don’t-spoil-the-surprise eyebrow.

Ginny clapped a hand over her mouth.

“You got everything you needed?” Austin asked.

“Yeah, we’re good.”

Tara looked between the three of them. “What are you up to?”