Our Now and Forever(51)

The only reason Snow had never joined the committee herself was because she didn’t feel she had much to bring to the table. She didn’t know the first thing about restoring a theater, and when the group extended the call for fundraising assistance, she’d stepped up as a willing merchant. Until Caleb came to town, she’d assumed that would be the extent of her involvement. Now she wasn’t so sure.

If he made commitments before heading back to Baton Rouge, Snow would be obligated to step up in his place. She’d created this cluster of a situation, and she was quickly losing control. She couldn’t exactly tell Caleb to stop talking to people because his time in Ardent Springs was temporary no matter what. Then the arguments and head-butting would start all over again.

While Caleb paid the check at the checkout counter near the restaurant entrance, Lorelei pulled Snow aside. “So?” she asked. “How’s it going?”

Snow watched the young cashier blush while taking Caleb’s money. “Not good,” she said. “Can’t you tell Spencer to ignore him or something?”

“According to Spencer, Caleb deserves a chance,” Lorelei said.

“You two have talked about this?”

Her friend shook her head. “I didn’t tell him that you’re only pretending to give the relationship a go. I love Spence, but the man code runs deep with him. He’d tell Caleb in a heartbeat.”

“He can’t do that.”

“I know,” Lorelei said, her voice carrying a heavy dose of frustration. “But do you see how he looks at you, Snow? That isn’t the look of a man planning to walk away.”

“I don’t need this right now,” Snow said. She didn’t need Lorelei voicing the doubts dancing through her mind. “We are not staying married.”

“Good Lord, woman. Why not?” Lorelei’s voice shot well past whisper level.

Though the question of their compatibility grew dimmer by the day, Vivien’s threat wasn’t going anywhere. And Snow harbored no illusion that Caleb would be content to remain in Ardent Springs indefinitely. At some point, he’d insist they go back to Baton Rouge, and Snow could not handle a rerun of that miserable episode.

“Keep it down.” Sparing another glance at her husband/date, she whispered, “Whatever you do, do not tell Spencer anything.”

Lorelei huffed as Caleb joined them and asked, “What’s going on over here?”

“Nothing,” they chirped in unison.

“Don’t ask,” Spencer said as he stuffed his wallet into the back pocket of his Wranglers. “We ready to do some two-steppin’?”

“To do what?” Snow asked, cutting her eyes to Caleb. “What is he talking about?”

“I told you there would be dancing tonight.”

“I don’t dance,” she replied, shaking her head double time.

Lorelei took her by the arm. “Relax. It’s like riding a bike. In time to the beat and with a spin here and there.”

“Oh no,” Snow argued, putting on the brakes as Lorelei pulled her toward the door with an evil gleam in her eye.

Caleb joined the effort and pushed from behind. “Don’t worry, darling. I’m a great lead.”

Before she knew it, Snow found herself being dragged through the entrance to Brubaker’s Bar. She’d never been inside the dance hall before. Had avoided it in some ways because it reminded her of her singing days in the clubs in Nashville.

As much as Music City looked like the friendlier side of the business, the view from inside was as cutthroat and seedy as anything that supposedly went on in New York or LA. And the coating of Southern charm didn’t make it any more palatable.

But she did miss being on stage. At least a little. After showing ID and paying their cover, the group stepped into the bar and wended their way through the crowded room. Brubaker’s was apparently the place to go on a Friday night. Caleb held her hand, cutting a path for her, while Spencer led the charge in front of Lorelei. The music was so loud Snow could feel it in her chest.

Spencer found Cooper at a cocktail table on the left side of the dance floor, which took up most of the room. Couples twirled by while a small group in the center of the floor performed a line dance.

Snow had been out of the scene too long to know the name of the dance. It had always been a good thing that she was on the stage, because she was born without a lick of rhythm. During their two months of dating in Nashville, Caleb had taken her to a couple of similar establishments, but she’d gotten out of having to dance thanks to his large group of friends who exchanged partners like the local church ladies exchanged recipes.