In a Moon Smile (42 page)

“I was thinking the same about you.”

“I wanted to ask you something...” he said. “If you don't want to, well, I completely understand.”

She waited, barely breathing.

“I'd like to take you to dinner,” Dalton said slowly. “If you'd like to go...”

The invitation made her smile too quickly. It made her eyes burn and her skin tingle. She should stick with the initial plan. Stay away from men. Again make a lame excuse like the last time he asked, and stay safe. Alone and lonely, but safe.

“Dinner, huh?” Chesney tried to speak in a nonchalant voice.

“The Nashville Inn, maybe,” Dalton said. “They serve great steaks there. And we can go dancing in a couple of local honkytonks.”

Say no. Say your schedule is packed. Say you’re inviting friends to visit so you’ve got to spend every spare moment working on the house.

“Sounds like a plan,” Chesney smiled. “That might be a nice break for both of us.”

Oh, holy shit. What in the hell are you doing?

Dalton brought his empty coffee cup to the sink. Looking pleased by her response, he was suddenly so close that Chesney bit her lip, trying to pretend that she couldn’t care less how close he might be.

“We've worked for weeks,” Dalton said. “All day, every day, without a break, so tonight let’s just have a good time. No paint. No hammers. No home maintenance talk over dinner, either.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Chesney nodded.

We don’t need to talk about anything, Mr. Moore. With your tongue in my mouth all evening, I’m sure I wouldn’t be thinking about the renovations at Chesney Ridge.

“I guess I'll start cleaning those gutters now.” Still grinning, he opened the back door. “I will pick you up tonight at seven o’ clock, okay?”

Still pretending that she barely noticed him, Chesney only nodded. But the moment he was out the door, she sprinted through the house and up the stairs to her bedroom closet. While she dialed Becca’s number to offer the update, Chesney chose a soft, teal sundress with thin straps. She rifled through her jewelry to find a pair of hoop earrings.

“You won’t believe what happened,” she gushed to Becca. “Dalton invited me out for dinner.
Tonight.
We’re going out for dinner and dancing.
Tonight.
Can you believe it?”

“You won’t believe what I have to tell you, either,” Becca squealed. “I’m spending my vacation in Bean Blossom, with you and Deke and Dalton.”

“Wow!” Chesney said happily. “It’s sounding serious.”

“It’s the real thing,” Becca said and then Chesney heard tears in her voice. “I’ve never felt this way ever, Chesney, but for some reason I’m not afraid of it. I’m…I’m…I’m just thankful for Deke and how quickly he has moved right into my life.”

“Bec, I’m so happy for you,” Chesney said softly. “And I’m so proud of you for not pushing him away.”

“I’m not saying that I don’t get afraid,” Becca said. “But I’m trying to overcome that fear. I’m even able to talk about my fears. I can say anything to Deke.”

She sighed again. “So anyway, a plan for dinner and dancing, huh? You and Dalton are moving right along, too.”

“It's only a dinner date, not a proposal,” Chesney reminded. “But I will call you tomorrow to report the sordid details.”

“Chez...” Becca's voice got stuck in tears.

“I know you’re afraid,” Chesney said gently. “But Bec, I promise you’ll be okay. I trust Deke with your heart. I promise I do. Don’t fight your feelings. He’s worth the risk. And you’re the woman who would make him so happy for all of his life.”

Chapter Twenty-four

As they moved through the crowded restaurant, Dalton’s hand was on the small of her back, gently guiding Chesney through the sea of people. His touch was like fire and Chesney secretly savored the moment. They were seated in a corner by a large window and Dalton grinned happily as the server poured wine. Chesney was amazed by the comfort level. It was so easy to converse, nothing felt forced. Though he said earlier that renovations wouldn’t be a topic of conversation, they laughed loudly, recalling various nightmares during the rejuvenation of Chesney Ridge. They smiled over the candlelight at each other and Chesney continuously told herself to stop looking at Dalton’s mouth.

“It's been a big, big job, but it’s definitely been worth every single headache,” Chesney said of the project. “I have always known that I love that place. But I don’t think I realized how deeply connected I really am until I left for New York. All I wanted was to escape the city and get back home.”

She told Dalton that until now, she had never felt connected to anything. Finally, she had a place to call home. It wasn’t just a random place, either. It was Chesney Ridge, part of her family, her history, and it was filled with the sweetest memories of her life.

Chesney blinked, realizing that she was again staring across the table at that gorgeous man. He was wearing a blue button-down shirt and dress slacks. His sun-kissed hair was still shaggy around the collar of his shirt. That face, those eyes… She took a deep breath and pretended to focus all of her attention on the entrée. After the second glass of wine, Chesney considered whether she could now ask Dalton, face-to-face, about his history with Grace. How did he know her so well? How many times had he heard Grace say, ‘See yo
u in a moon smile?’ But Chesney
chickened out. Instead, she asked about his family.

“My parents recently retired,” he said. “They live in Florida now. My older brother is an engineer. He lives in Ohio with his wife and son.”

During a previous conversation, Dalton had said that his grandfather was his neighbor. She wanted to inquire about the grandfather. She fantasized about the possibility that Dalton might actually be related to Ben, her grandmother’s secret love.

Instead, she asked about his high school and college years.

Chicken shit! Just ask. Do it. Get it over with so you can move past the mystery. It’s driving you even crazier than you already are.

“What about you? Where is your family?” Dalton asked.

“My parents live in the Chicago suburbs,” Chesney said. “I am the oldest child. And their favorite daughter Charlotte lives a few miles from them, with my beautiful niece and my very straight-laced brother-in-law.”

Dalton threw his head back and laughed. “Do I detect some sibling rivalry?”

“Just a little,” Chesney smiled. “My sister has always been the family princess. And I, well, I’m the daughter no one understands.”

“Why?” Dalton leaned across the table, waiting for her response. He seemed to care about what she was saying. His eyes were piercing. She ached for just a moment, wanting more than anything to kiss him.

“I haven’t lived my life the way my family expected me to live it,” she said slowly. “And I must add that I have not done what I expected of myself, either. After college, my sister got married. But I moved for a couple of years to live in Manhattan. My sister has a husband and child. But I have now relocated once again. My sister is a wonderful mother. But I live with my puppy, Blossom, in what my family believes to be a money pit. Get the picture?”

“But you,” Dalton cocked his head, still staring. “What do you believe?”

“I believe, Dalton Moore, that I’m supposed to be at Chesney Ridge.”

“But your family’s problem is…what?”

“When I bought the house back, they decided I was off my proverbial rocker,” Chesney laughed. But then tears suddenly stung her eyes as her gaze met Dalton’s. “I don’t have words to describe how I feel about being here, Dalton. I love that old house. I love every overgrown bush and weed in the yard. I love that mosquito-infested pond. I love how I feel about myself since I mustered the courage to fulfill this dream. I’ve always wanted to be right here in Bean Blossom, and I’m so thankful that everything worked out the way it has. Even if my family thinks I’m insane, it’s okay.”

Dalton barely brushed the top of her hand and Chesney’s skin tingled. His eyes were so soft as he smiled and said, “Your family may not know this, but actually, Chez, I think you’re the true princess in the family.”

“Oh, you’re sweet, Dalton. Thank you,” she smiled and dropped her eyes.

As he poured more wine, the intensity of the moment faded and Chesney noticed how much she struggled when the conversation dipped into serious moments. She didn’t want to spin profound thoughts. In fact, she much preferred an entirely different mood for the evening.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked nicely.

“You really want to know?” When he nodded, Chesney said, “I’m thinking about loud music and a few Jell-o shots. That’s what I’m thinking.”

Stunned, Dalton began to laugh and Chesney fell in love all over again with those cute little crinkles around his eyes. “Waiter,” he said in a low voice. “We need our bill, please. This wild woman is ready to dance.”

A few moments later, his arm was comfortably draped across her shoulders as they walked across the parking lot. “It's a country music bar,” Dalton warned as he pulled away from the restaurant. “It's truly very country. You walk in their dressed this way and you will likely be asked for an autograph. Are you up for that kind of environment?”

Laughing, Chesney rested her head against the passenger window. “After dancing at this bar, I can consider myself a native of Bean Blossom, instead of a transplant, right?”

“Sure,” he laughed.

Dalton was right about the bar. It was a hole in the wall called The Ragged Ass. He was also right about how other people would react to their entrance. Chesney self-consciously tried to offer a half-grin at the blatant stares, hoping to show that she wasn’t trying to show off and didn’t consider herself special. Tucked away on the edge of town, the interior of the bar was weathered barn wood. Wobbly tables were spray painted bright red with mismatched chairs around them. All the drinks were served in Mason jars.

You won’t get a martini or a cosmopolitan in a place like this.

A five-piece country band crowded to perform on the slightly elevated stage and a woman with big hair and bad teeth belted out some Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette favorites. The band members, dressed in matching denim shirts and with red bandanas around their necks, added harmony on cue. While Chesney watched the band, Dalton ordered Jell-o shots and beers. When the order arrived, they toasted Chesney Ridge with the shots.

“Care to dance?” he asked over the noise. Without waiting for her answer, he reached for Chesney's hand and led her to the crowded dance floor.

As Dalton placed one arm around her waist and one hand in hers, Chesney trembled inside. He pulled her close enough to talk softly in her ear about the band members. Each time he whispered who they were, where they lived, and how long they had provided entertainment here, chills shot down her spine. She pretended to care about the musicians and their different stories. But all she really wanted was for Dalton Moore's breath to stay hot against her ear. She wanted him to think about what it might be like to kiss her. Heck, she would even let him blame it all on the Jell-o shots. But Dalton didn’t appear interested in romance. He sang the songs along with the band. And Chesney decided that while she had assumed this was a date, that wasn’t how Dalton seemed to view the evening. His interest in her was strictly friendship. He had been a bit flirty over dinner, but now he was back to being kind and happy. No funny stuff. Not one single time did he accidentally on purpose allow his hand to slide too far down her back to land on her ass. Not one time did he nip at her ear or nuzzle her neck. 

By midnight, they were both yawning. With the window rolled down enough to feel the cool breeze, Chesney stared out at the clear, starry sky as Dalton drove her home. He was quiet and seemed preoccupied. Maybe he was worried that she expected more than dinner and a couple of slow dances with a friend. Well she would reassure him. She would lie until her last breath. Chesney knew, before Dalton parked by the barn, that she would insist they were only good friends. She would not bring up the fact that she was attracted to him, that she wanted to be in his arms, that she wanted to love him.

She dared only for a second, to glance across the truck seat. His jaw was firmly set. His mind appeared to be on anyone else but his passenger. No, there was no reason for a heart-to-heart talk. Obviously, she was mistaken. The twinges she felt when they touched weren’t mutual. No matter how sad it was to admit it, Chesney had to realize that this was not a mutual attraction. His touch was intoxicating to her. But her touch apparently ranked right up there with a hug from his grandma. Chesney felt so humiliated, she wanted only to get inside the house before Dalton saw her cry like a big baby. Dreaming up a love affair with Dalton was exactly that, a dream.

“Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?” She asked the question half-heartedly. She asked only as a mannerly gesture, knowing full well that Dalton would decline. She would nicely say good-bye as she exited his vehicle and wait until she got into the kitchen to crack up and bawl her head off.

“Sure,” Dalton said unexpectedly.

Her head snapped around to face him. “What?”

“Yes I’d like a cup of coffee,” Dalton said slowly. “If that’s still okay with you.”

Oh, shit. Shit. Shit. He’s getting out of the car and walking to the house. I have been drinking. In fact, I have been drinking a lot. I don’t mind to admit that I am fairly shit-faced. Oh Lord, please don’t let the Jell-o shots start talking for me. Don’t let me make a pass at this hunky handyman and ruin our friendship.