Music of the Heart(65)

When I stared at her quizzically, she smiled, “You’re so easy to read sometimes, Jake. I could tell from across the room that you were uncomfortable talking to him.”

“The bastard had the nerve to bring up my mom,” I muttered through gritted teeth.

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to talk about him or her, okay?”

“Okay, Grumpy.”

Only she could get away with teasing me. I glanced down to find her smiling up at me. “You can be such a little shit, did you know that?”

She laughed. “But you love it.”

“For reasons I can’t possibly understand, I do.” I pulled her tighter against me. “You smell so damn good.”

“I have you to thank for that. The spa really helped to clean me up.”

“Oh whatever. You always look beautiful and sexy.”

“I always want to for you—you and only you,” she murmured.

Taking her chin, I tilted her head before bringing my lips to hers. Although I wanted to consume her mouth, I held back. I’d missed her taste, the warmth of her tongue, the way she let her desire drive her body, rather than her insecurities or doubts. When I finally pulled away, we were both breathless. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”

She laughed. “You act like I’ve been on the other side of the world. We talk a million times a day.”

“Yeah, but I don’t get to kiss you a million times.”

“Then I guess we have a lot of lost time to make up for.”

I grinned. “I think so too.”

The announcement for dinner was made, so we headed off the dance floor and to the table we had been assigned. Just as I suspected, Lily and Abby had become fast friends, and Abby loved helping out with Jude and Melody.

After stuffing ourselves on the three courses, Abby and I sat around talking with the guys. As I watched her holding Melody and cooing softly, I couldn’t help the way my heart swelled with love. I’d never thought about marriage or kids before, but something about the way Melody played with the strands of Abby’s hair and gazed up at her made me rethink everything about my life. But I wasn’t Bray, so I wasn’t sure I was marriage and father material.

When Abby glanced up and caught me watching her, she smiled. “Wanna go see Uncle Jake?”

I held out my arms, and Melody happily came to me. I kissed her chubby cheek. “Hey baby girl. You gotta smile for me?”

Melody tilted her head and grinned, showing me her two, tiny bottom baby teeth. “That’s my girl.”

As I bounced her on my knee, AJ undid the first three buttons on his shirt and ripped off his tie. “I’m ready to dance.”

“You’ve been dancing the entire time we haven’t been on stage,” I replied.

“No, I mean, I really want to dance.”

“Ugh,” I groaned. “You mean that Mexican shit.”

“Jake!” Abby admonished, motioning to Melody.

“Angel, do you really think she hasn’t heard worse? We cussed like sailors around Jude, and I promise you his first word wasn’t fuck.”

She crossed her arms over her chest in a huff. “You’re terrible.”

AJ leaned his elbows on the table. “Anyway, as I was saying, I’m ready to do some dancing.” He waggled his eyebrows at Abby. “And I know the perfect partner. Come on, Angel. Let’s show these stiffs how it’s really done.”

Abby giggled and turned to me. “Is that okay?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Squealing with delight, she let AJ pull her up from the chair. He tugged her across the room to the dance floor. I watched AJ lean in and talk to the DJ. After a few head shakes, AJ bobbed his head. Once the other song ended, the DJ grabbed his microphone. “Okay, we’ve had a request for Paula Rubio’s Dame Otro Tequila, and according to AJ, he and Abby are going to show you losers how to break it down.”

A roar came through the crowd along with a symphony of high pitched female squeals at just the mention of AJ. In his element, he bowed gallantly before the music came on. The upbeat tempo and references to tequila got the crowd going even if they didn’t know the words. Then he and Abby began moving effortlessly around the dance floor.

I eased Melody from my lap to my shoulder as I watched Abby dance. Although I didn’t want to, I couldn’t help the jealousy pricking over my body at the sight of Abby getting so into the motions with AJ. I blew out of a frustrated breath, which Melody mimicked. When I laughed, she grinned. “See that girl,” I pointed to Abby. “I think I love her, and it’s making me act like a total idiot.”

Melody waved her tiny hand at Abby. “Yeah, even you are already in love with her, and you’ve known her like what, five seconds. She does that to people.”