Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [75]
Giving him a questioning look, she saw him nod toward the dance floor. She tried to follow his stare, but her view was blocked by the crowd of people, who’d surged forward to surround Robin…er, Rob. She—he—continued to hold court onstage, with a supportive Sukie on one side and Ginny on the other.
Then the crowd shifted. Jacey sucked in a breath as she saw them. The two of them. Dancing there on the floor, oblivious to the cacophony, to the mania, to the hysteria.
The small orchestra was playing the Christmas Waltz, and beneath the soft spotlights, Drew Bennett and Tori Lyons slowly danced. Swayed. Loved. As blatantly and obviously…and beautifully…as anyone ever had before.
Tori wore a stunning burgundy gown, velvet on the top, with layers upon layers of lace, cascading to the floor, so she resembled nothing less than a fairy princess. A perfect Christmas angel, dancing with her tuxedoed Prince Charming.
Their eyes never strayed from each other. Their smiles were intimate, their whispers for no one else’s ears but their own. They didn’t see anyone else, didn’t hear anyone else. All around them the party went to hell, but the professor and his lady fair danced on.
They probably could have danced all night.
“Dad,” Jacey murmured, sensing Burt was about to walk away in dismay to cry over his ruined show. “Look.”
Burt paused, probably at first over his shock at what she’d called him. He followed her stare, then gave her a questioning look. Finally, he appeared to recognize who was dancing. “Is that…”
“That’s them. We might have our happily-ever-after yet.”
Ever the slave to her craft, Jacey swung her camera up to her face and began to tape them, to capture the moment.
But not up close. Only from afar. She wouldn’t dream of intruding on their privacy—she merely let the world get a glimpse of a true fairy-tale ending. Like opening a cherished Christmas card to get a peek at what was inside, then closing it again, secure in the good tidings it had brought.
Slowly, with Digg’s hand on her shoulder, and her father beginning to smile by her side, she sent a silent Christmas wish for many years of happiness to the oblivious couple, spinning away on the dance floor.
And then she faded to black.
Table of Contents
Prologue