She pulled out huge rib eye steaks that must have cost her a fortune. Then I remembered who she was dating. She had a garden going and had made a fresh lettuce salad as well as twice-baked potatoes. They weren’t exactly on my diet, but it was too good to pass up. By the end of the meal, even I was full.
Greg and I cleaned up while Dad got to know his future sister-in-law.
“So, is it true that what happens on a ‘guys’ weekend’ stays there? Kind of like the Vegas ads?” Greg asked.
“It depends, what you’re planning?”
“I thought I might have a little fun tonight.”
“I think we’ll all have fun tonight,” I said, purposefully misunderstanding.
Greg sighed. He just nodded, not wanting to push it. He knew how I felt about Angie and Kyle. He suspected that I might side with them if it came to that. He was 100% wrong on that one; I knew I never would. He was my brother, after all. I might get pissed at him, but he was family. What I wouldn’t do was allow harm to come to them if I could prevent it. That included kicking my brother’s ass if he tried to cheat.
“What’re you going to do about Grace?” Greg asked to change the topic.
“Nothing. That’s between her and Uncle John. I just hope I don’t need a scorecard tonight to figure who I can and can’t dance with.”
“You should be okay as long as you don’t go horizontal.”
“I should be okay. Last time I was here, it was slim pickings. Plus, all the good ones were taken,” I shared with Greg.
THEY HAD A COUNTRY and western band at the Hall. I took off my jacket and left it in the truck. Dad and Greg kept their coats on. The Moose Lodge was set up with the bar on one side and the dance hall on the other side of the building. The kitchen was in the center, dividing the two. That allowed underage people to attend the dance.
They snuck Greg into the bar and I went to the dance side to get us a table. Grace saw me right away.
“Hey, you made it. I heard you were out at the big lake today.”
News travels fast in a small town.
“I was. I had a good time. We didn’t catch much, but we had some quality male-bonding.”
“I hear that Darleen’s going to be here tonight.”
I just shrugged.
“That’s nice. I hope she has a good time.”
“So you’re not interested in her?”
“I have no idea, I just met her. She seemed okay, but I’m only here this weekend. If something happened, it would just be casual. I have no idea if she’s even into that.”
Grace got a big smile.
“I might know someone who’d be interested.”
“That’s great. Be sure to introduce us tonight.”
Thank goodness, Grace could see I wasn’t taking the bait.
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Save me a dance,” she told me as she went to the bar.
I found a table that seated six and claimed it. The place started to fill up and people were asking if I had open seats. I sent Greg a text and told him that if they didn’t come soon I was going to lose our table. They showed up before anyone forced the issue.
The music started and it was obvious I would have to use my newly acquired two-step skills. Greg and I were checking out the available talent pool. That’s when Mary Vander walked in. How had I forgotten her? I’d met her at the County Fair last year. She was showing a bull for a 4-H project. I’d gotten to know her because Uncle John bought the bull. We had to go to her farm to pick him up. She had shown me the farm while her parents talked to my uncle.
She was with a group of friends. I winked at Greg to let him know I was going into enemy territory.
“You want a wingman?” he asked.
That wasn’t a bad idea, except I didn’t need him stealing Mary. I pointed out who I was after and he grinned.
“Let me soften her up,” he told me.
I followed him over.
“I do declare, you’re right, David. The heavens are weeping because an angel has fallen to earth. What is your name, darling?” he said to the girl next to Mary.
The girl’s eyes got big and I thought she was going to pass out.
I stepped forward, cutting Mary off from the group.
“Miss, are you okay?” I asked the shocked girl.
Greg stepped forward and whispered something in her ear that caused her to take a deep breath. As he was doing that, I turned around and took Mary by the arm.
“I’m sure they’ll sort that out. May I have this dance?”
She followed me to the dance floor. Mary was in dark blue jeans and a country blouse with some frills on it and a white cowboy hat. She was of medium height, with straight black hair. We danced well together. I didn’t release her for four songs. By then, we both needed a break and a drink.
Greg had made a point to dance with all of Mary’s friends. We got a couple of bottles of water just as the band took a break so we could talk.
“Your friend was pretty slick. I don’t think Becky knew what hit her. Is he your wingman very often?”
“Actually, that’s my brother Greg. I told him I was going to ask you to dance, and he wanted to have a little fun.”
“So is what Grace told us true?”
I almost hated to ask.
“What’s that?”
“That you’re only looking for a one-night stand.”
“If it were true, I’d have asked Grace to dance, and not you.”
Mary had a good laugh at that. I had a feeling I needed to warn my uncle. Grace’s big mouth was sending off warning signals, and she might make trouble for him and Bonnie.
“Ouch, but I think she deserved it.”
“I wouldn’t say no ... if you’re interested,” I said in a conspiratorial whisper.
She looked me up and down and then shook her head no.
“Oh, well, maybe we can just make out,” I offered.
“You’re terrible. There’s no way I’m letting you near me when we’re alone.”
I leaned forward and gave her a kiss. She didn’t say anything about being in public. The music started and I pulled her back on the dance floor. We were on our third dance when she suddenly stiffened up.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“I completely forgot. I came to the dance tonight to meet Lucky Edwards.”
“His name is Lucky?” I snorted.
“Don’t ask. His real name is Isaiah.”
“Want me to go with you to smooth it over?”
“No, you might have to punch him. I don’t want him getting hurt.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll be here.”
She went to see Isaiah and I went back to our table.
I flagged down the waitress. It looked like Dad and Uncle John were having a good time. I ordered a pizza and a couple of waters. I figured some food wouldn’t hurt them. Greg came back and Grace came over and asked him to dance. She gave me a smirk that I just ignored.
There was a commotion at the entrance. A group of teens who looked like they’d been drinking came in. One of the boys was being escorted out, and the others were laughing at him. I got up to take a leak, and on the way back one of the drunken girls stumbled into me. Great, just what I needed.
She looked at me and smiled. She was pretty, with pure blond hair and bright blue eyes.
“Dance with me?” she asked.
What the hell? I took her out on the dance floor and she was good, much better than Mary was. This girl seemed to float. She reminded me of Dana in my dance class from last semester. I decided to try some of the fancier two-step moves that the girls had taught me. This girl just followed my lead. We were making a slow circle around the dance floor, and soon we found we were the only two dancing. Everyone else was watching.
I could understand why. She was something to watch. When it ended, she gave me a big kiss and then ran off to be with her friends. I just had a big stupid grin on my face as I walked back to my table. I was ambushed by an older lady. She could also dance. The older ladies had staked me out because of my skills. I ended up dancing all night courtesy of my mystery girl. No one seemed to know who she was.