The Truest Thing - Hart's Boardwalk

Unfortunately, his abidance didn’t last long.

* * *

“Emery, Joey, I hate to cut in, but I’m going to.” Bailey pulled up beside me and Joey on the dance floor. She was glowing with bliss. And a handsome, dark-haired man around my height with dreamy bedroom eyes accompanied her.

“Emery, this is Soren Michaelson. He’s an old college friend of Vaughn’s and lives in Manhattan. Soren, Emery used to live in upstate New York but now owns the boardwalk bookstore.”

Oh, hell no.

I hadn’t believed Bailey would try to play matchmaker at her wedding. But why not? It was definitely something she was capable of.

And she was doing it!

“Do you mind, Joey?” She asked.

Joey glared at Soren Michaelson. “I’ll allow it. But don’t get your hopes up, buddy. I’ve staked my claim.”

Soren grinned. “I respect that.”

“Hmm.” Joey cut me a look. “You want to dance with this guy?”

It was one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do, holding in my laughter. “If you’re okay with it, Joey?”

“Sure. Mom says I shouldn’t monopolize your time.”

“Will you dance with me?” Bailey held out her hand to him. “I am the bride.”

“Yeah, so you’re already claimed.”

“Come dance with me, Joe-Joe.” He took her hand. “While we dance, Aunt Bailey will explain to you how girls aren’t something you can just claim like a ball from the lost-and-found. Mmm’kay?”

Soren chuckled. “He’s a character, huh?”

I nodded. “He’s wonderful.”

“Dance?” He held out his hand.

Seconds later, I was in this stranger’s arms, still smiling about Joey.

“You can’t blame the kid,” Soren teased, eyes dancing over my face. “He has great taste.”

My cheeks heated. “Thank you.”

“So”—Soren swayed us a little more, his hand tightening on my back—“things I already know about Emery Saunders: Vaughn is protective of you.”

My eyes flew to his. “How do you know that?”

His lips twitched. “Because he threatened to castrate me if I, and I quote, ‘didn’t treat Emery with the respect and manners a lady deserves and attempted any funny business with her.’”

Vaughn said that?

Soren’s amusement grew at my shock. “He obviously cares about you, and it takes a lot to make an impression on Vaughn, so I’m already intrigued. I also know you run your own business, you have men falling in love with you before they’re even in high school, and you are the most beautiful woman in this room.”

A person could roast marshmallows on my cheeks, I grew so uncomfortable with his flattery. “And you do not know how to take a compliment.” He laughed and drew me closer until my chest brushed his.

Before I could respond, a shadow fell over us.

“Can I cut in?”

Jack.

We stopped dancing under the scowling façade of the father of my unborn child. The father who still didn’t know. The father who had promised he’d avoid me tonight. The father who was glaring at Soren Michaelson like he wanted to rip off his head.

And because I did not want to cause a scene at Bailey’s wedding, I murmured, “Of course.”

Disappointment clouded Soren’s expression. His grip tightened ever so slightly. “Later?” he asked me.

As nice as that sounded, as much as I’d love the opportunity to find someone who could drive Jack Devlin out of my heart, I was not on the market for a relationship.

Other than the mother-child kind.

I gave him a vague smile and nod, and he released me.

Seconds later, I was in Jack’s arms.

I tried to keep a distance but he pulled me close. Despite my struggle to keep thoughts of our night together out of my head, the memories flooded in. Although it had ended disastrously, I couldn’t deny that sex with Jack was beyond my wildest imaginings.

Gazing anywhere but at his face, I whispered, “You promised.”

He bent his head to mine, his lips brushing my ear and setting off a cascade of shivers down my neck. “Don’t make me stand by and watch you flirt with someone else.”

I jerked my head away and glowered. “Why? You’ve done it to me for nine years.”

Remorse and pain flooded his eyes. “Em …”

“I don’t want to dance with you, Jack, but I don’t want to make a scene. Will you please let me go?”

“Okay.” He loosened his hold to tilt my chin up, forcing my eyes to his. “But only right now. In this moment. I can’t let you go beyond that. I can’t.” Jack shook his head solemnly. “We’re not done, sunrise.”

No, we weren’t.

Just not like he thought.

Tears threatened to choke me, so I hurriedly pulled out of his grasp and walked away, trying to look calm as I made my way off the dance floor.

Unfortunately, the scene I’d tried to avoid found me anyway.

* * *

It was hours later. Our group of friends were crowded near a table at the back of the room. Bailey and Vaughn stood with their arms around each other, laughing and joking. Vaughn’s dad was dancing with Bailey’s mom, while Bailey’s dad had coaxed Cat and Joey onto the dance floor. Iris and Ira were laughing uproariously at something Old Archie and Anita were telling them a few tables over.