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She may have smiled, but Gavin couldn’t see a trace of happiness in her eyes. Throughout the evening, he kept the conversation with her on lighter topics, staying as far away from anything that had to do with Dillon. Gavin learned that, although her teaching position was supposed to be full time, it fell through, and she would only be working part time as a substitute for now. Either way, she seemed happy about it. He ribbed on her a little more regarding his Yankees making it into the World Series, promising her that by the end of her lifetime he’d turn her into a certified fan. She begged to differ, but nonetheless, it made her laugh, and that’s all that mattered to him.

After everyone enjoyed dinner, Gavin’s parents approached the table. The stately couple’s arms were locked together, their faces flushed from dancing and champagne.

“Olivia,” Chad said with a smile. “My beautiful wife’s given me permission to dance with you.”

She cocked an incredulous brow. “Oh, has she?”

“Indeed, she has,” he laughed, reaching for her hand.

“Are you sure, Lillian?” Olivia smirked and stood up. “I just may steal him from you.”

“He’s a very debonair man,” Lillian smiled, her green eyes shimmering with delight. “He just might sweep you off your feet, kiddo, so I’d be careful.”

“Can’t say I’d disagree with you on that,” Olivia laughed and strolled over to him. “Come on, old man. I’ll show you how we younglings do it.”

Chuckling, Chad placed a kiss upon his wife’s cheek and led Olivia out onto the dance floor.

“You look beautiful this evening, Emily,” Lillian said, taking a seat next to her. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Blake, so do you. And I am enjoying myself. Everything’s spectacular.”

“Tsk-tsk,” she laughed, patting Emily’s hand. “Remember, Mrs. Blake makes me feel old. But I’m happy you’re having a good time.”

Emily smiled. “Thank you, Lillian.”

“You do look beautiful tonight, Mom.” Gavin rose from his seat and placed his hand on her shoulder. “I may have to keep an eye on you to make sure no other man steals you away from Dad.”

Looking up to him, she cupped her hand over his. “You’ve always been my biggest fan, Gavin,” she trilled with an adorning smile. “But, really, sweetheart, after thirty-five years of marriage, I’m not going anywhere. It’s pretty safe to say your father doesn’t have to worry about that.”

“Doesn’t have to worry about what?” Colton asked, approaching the table with a drink in hand.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Your brother’s just being overprotective,” she laughed, rising to her feet. “Where’s Melanie?”

Colton pointed over his shoulder. “She’s out in the lobby, calling the babysitter to check on the kids.”

“Perfect timing then,” Lillian replied as she locked arms with Colton. “Care to dance with the woman who brought you into this world?”

“Certainly.” He tossed back the rest of his drink. “I’ll try my hardest not to step on your toes.”

As son and mother whisked off to the dance floor, Gavin looked to Emily. “Would you like to dance?”

Biting her lip, Emily glanced around the ballroom and then back up to him. “Dance, huh?”

“Yes, dance,” he chuckled. “I promise I’ll be good.”

“That I highly doubt, but I’ll trust you this one last time.” He laughed as she removed the napkin from her lap. Standing up, she smiled. “But I must warn you, I’m probably no better than your brother is.”

“That’s impossible,” he said, smiling. “Just wait here a second. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded and watched as he strolled over to the band. He spoke with the lead singer for a few moments and then made his way back over to her, a mischievous smile running across his face.

“Why do you look like you’re up to something?” she asked, cocking a brow.

His dimpled smile widened as he reached for her hand, tucking it in the crook of his arm. “That would be because I am up to something.”

“And what would you be up to?”

Leading her out to the dance floor, he remained silent, but the smile on his face never faltered.

“Gavin,” she laughed.

“Emily.”

“What are you up to?”

He waited until the band struck up the chords to his request. “Do you listen to jazz?” he asked as he placed a hand on the small of her back. Lacing his other hand with hers, he tucked it against his chest and drew her into him.

Taken aback by their very close proximity, it took her a second to gather her thoughts. “Umm, yes, I have before. My grandmother used to listen to it while she cooked.”

“Mmm, are you familiar with this song?”

“I don’t know the name of it or the singer,” she answered, fighting to ignore how enticing he smelled. “But I do recall remembering how beautiful it was the first time I heard it.”

Looking down at her, he smiled as they swayed back and forth. “It’s called ‘La Vie en Rose,’ and the singer’s Louis Armstrong.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is. And this is what I was up to,” he whispered into her ear.

Trying to catch her breath, she bit her lip. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ve pictured us dancing together to this very song.”

“You have?” she asked, attempting to hide any hint of shock in her voice at his confession. She then inwardly laughed at herself, considering the confessions she’d made to him.

“Yes, I have. So thank you very much for this dance.”

“You’re welcome.” She could see the look in his eyes—the same one that nearly drowned her into him every time he stared at her like that. She averted her gaze over to his parents where they, too, were dancing. “It’s amazing that they’ve been together so long. It’s almost impossible to believe a love that strong exists.”

Gavin studied her face as she watched his parents. Something in her voice and eyes ached to have something deeper than what she had with Dillon. It was then that Gavin knew he needed to wake up with her lying next to him, longing to see what shade of green her eyes were when they were still lazy with sleep. He wanted her hair tangled in a mess and draped over his strong arms when he woke up to her smiling up at him. In the coldest of winters where blankets didn’t provide her body enough warmth, he wanted to be that warmth. Most of all, he wanted Emily to fall in love with him. It was more than a desire for her body; it was his need for her heart and soul. If he could have one night with her, Gavin was sure he’d be able to convince her that they were made for one another.

His warm fingers lazily traveled up her spine, coming to rest on the nape of her neck. “You deserve to be loved like that,” he whispered against her hair.

When he pulled back, their lips were close. With the slightest movement from either, they would connect.

With his whisper bracing soft and sexual, Emily pulled in a ragged breath and tried to ignore the electricity tingling over her skin. The combination of his touch and the seductive sound of his voice had her body aching with need. Now she was breathing harshly. She felt her breasts rising and falling and noticed his gaze flick over them as she looked away, not saying a word.

Gavin stopped moving, and Emily brought her attention back up to his face.

His touch was almost unbearable, whispering over her jaw, as his gaze penetrated into her. “I can still taste you on my lips.”

Heart ricocheting through her chest, Emily lost all ability to think and simply drowned in the feeling of his hands, now tenderly floating down her waist. Unable to speak, she simply looked up into his blue eyes.

“I miss the way your body feels against mine.” Wetting his lips, his hands clenched her waist tighter. “I miss feeling the way your pulse accelerates when I touch you.” He swallowed, closed his eyes, and inhaled her scent, the sweet smell of jasmine intoxicating him. Opening his eyes, his voice notched lower, softer even, as his hands framed her face. “I want to take my time with you, brushing my fingers over the spots that he’s neglected. He’s never loved you the way you need to be loved,” he whispered into her ear, pulling her closer. “Let me love every part of you. Your mind…” He trailed his fingers down her neck. “Your body…your heart…your scars…” His hands ghosted back down her waist. “Your quirks…your habits…your thoughts…all of you. Give me all of it, Emily.”