Protect Me(55)

“Uncle Nate,” Brooklyn says as she blocks the entrance to the tent. “I want to dance,” she says excitedly. “We always dance,” she adds.

“Bean and I danced the night away at Maddox and Avery’s wedding and she made me promise her a dance tonight,” Nate tells me as he releases my hand and bends down to pick up his five year old niece.

“How can I turn down an offer like that?” he asks the adorable little blond in his arms. Nate is walking back out to the dance floor as I turn to make my way back to the table that is now vacant, since all of the other couples are still dancing.

I watch Nate twirl his niece around the dance floor as she throws her head back and laughs dizzily. I can’t contain the smile that spreads across my face as I study them together. Someday, Nate is going to be an amazing father. You can see it in the way he interacts with Grant, Bean, and Ryder. My gut tightens and my heart speeds up as I wonder what it would be like to have that…with Nate.

I’m lost in my own thoughts when I feel a tap on my shoulder. Startled, I turn to face Nate’s brother, Will.

“Hey, you look so lonely over here by yourself. Care to dance?” he asks with a smile as he extends a hand down to me. Will has a friendly, boy-next-door appearance that is enhanced by his glasses, and I can’t help but smile as I take his hand. He leads me to the floor that I just vacated with Nate and pulls me in close, but not too close. Will remains a respectable distance from me. It’s the kind of slow dancing you would do with your own brother or father.

“Enjoying yourself tonight?” Will asks with a smile.

“Absolutely. It was a beautiful wedding and reception,” I reply as he spins me towards Nate and Brooklyn. “No date tonight?” I ask.

“Uh, no. My new boss has me working crazy hours lately so I didn’t have any time to secure a date,” Will tells me.

“New boss?”

“Yeah, we call her Cruella because she’s bitchy and abrupt and none of us like her. She’s been there since March, I guess,” he tells me.

“Hey, keep your hands above the waist, little brother,” I hear Nate state sternly from behind me.

“Don’t worry, big brother. Lia has been trying to talk me into going out back behind the tent to make out, but I wouldn’t do that to you,” Will teases which makes Nate growl. It’s deep and possessive and gets the exact result Will was going for.

“He’s full of it, Nate,” I say with a smile and a wink.

“Bean here was just telling me that I was her favorite uncle, Will,” Nate says as he spins the little girl around in a quick spin.

Brooklyn laughs while Will comes back and says, “Of course she did. She knows you’ll cry like Ryder if you don’t get your way.”

“Not true. Tell him, Bean,” Nate says with Brooklyn.

“Just put these chumps out of their misery, Bean, and tell them once and for all that I’m your favorite uncle,” Travis says as he joins the conversation while dancing with his wife.

Brooklyn looks around at the eager faces of her uncle’s before she says, “Jake is my favorite uncle.”

Shock is evident on the faces of Nate, Will, and Travis. “What?!” all three say at the same time.

“You heard her, a-holes. I’m her favorite,” Jake says with a satisfied smirk.

“Can’t be true, Bean. I thought we were buds,” Nate says with a big pouty face.

“I’m sorry,” Brooklyn says. As soon as Jake and Erin dance towards the other side of the floor, Brooklyn turns to her three remaining uncles who are all standing dumbfounded in their place and says, “Uncle Jake paid me ten bucks before the wedding to say that.”

The look on their faces is priceless. All three burst out laughing and continue on with their dancing. Nate plasters a huge kiss on Brooklyn’s cheek before handing her off to Will.

“Trade me,” he says before taking me into his big, strong arms. Being snuggled against Nate is my safe spot. Nate may have the creek bank, but I have him. Wherever he is, that’s my spot. Right there next to him. I snuggle in as close as possible and can’t help but wonder just how long I really have him. Nate made it clear that he’s not looking for the happily ever after. Marriage and kids aren’t in his future.

But is it in my future? For the longest time, I’ve thought…no. Now, I just don’t know.

We dance to several more songs including fast ones before Nate starts pulling me towards the entrance of the tent. We wave our goodbyes to his family and friends, kiss the new bride and groom, and head out, hand in hand.

The mid-August night sky is bright and clear. Brilliant stars are everywhere giving it a romantic glow. Nate leads me to the Mustang where he removes a couple of duffle bags from the trunk.