The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks [94]
Sometimes she also found herself dreaming of someday walking down the aisle with him. She could deny it, she could ignore it, she could tell herself that neither of them was ready yet. And maybe the last part of that was true. They hadn’t been together very long, and if he asked her tomorrow, she liked to think that she would have the wisdom to say exactly that. Yet . . . she wouldn’t say those words, she admitted to herself in her most brutally candid moments. She would say Yes . . . yes . . . yes.
In her daydreams, she could only hope that Taylor felt the same.
“You seem nervous,” Taylor commented, studying Denise’s reflection in the mirror. He was standing behind her in the bathroom as she put the finishing touches on her makeup.
“I am nervous.”
“But it’s only Mitch and Melissa. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
Holding up two different earrings, one to each ear, she debated between the gold hoop and the simple stud.
“For you, maybe. You already know them. I only met them one time, three months ago, and we didn’t talk all that long. What if I make a bad impression?”
“Don’t worry.” Taylor gave her arm a squeeze. “You won’t.”
“But what if I do?”
“They won’t care. You’ll see.”
She put the hoops aside, choosing the studs. She slipped one into each ear.
“Well, it wouldn’t be so nerve-racking if you’d taken me to meet them sooner, you know. You’ve waited an awful long time to start bringing me to meet your friends.”
Taylor held up his hands. “Hey, don’t blame me. You’re the one who works six nights a week, and I’m sorry if I want you all to myself on the one night you have off.”
“Yeah, but . . .”
“But what?”
“Well, I was beginning to wonder whether you were embarrassed to be seen with me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I assure you that my intentions were purely selfish. I’m greedy when it comes to spending time with you.”
Looking over her shoulder, she asked, “Is this something I’m going to have to worry about in the future?”
Taylor shrugged, a sly grin on his face. “It depends if you keep working six nights a week.”
She sighed, finishing with the earrings. “Well, it should be coming to an end fairly soon. I’ve almost saved enough for a car, and then, believe me, I’ll be begging Ray to scale back my shifts.”
Taylor slipped both arms around her, still staring at her in the mirror. “Hey, have I told you how wonderful you look?”
“You’re changing the subject.”
“I know. But damn, look at you. You’re beautiful.”
After eyeing their reflection in the mirror, she turned to face him.
“Good enough for a barbecue with your friends?”
“You look fantastic,” he said sincerely, “but even if you didn’t, they’d still love you.”
Thirty minutes later Taylor, Denise, and Kyle were walking toward the door when Mitch appeared from around the back of the house, beer in hand.
“Hey, y’all,” he said. “Glad you could make it. The gang’s out back.”
Taylor and Denise followed him through the gate, past the swing set and azalea bushes, before reaching the deck.
Melissa was sitting at the outdoor table, watching her four boys jump in and out of the swimming pool, their noisy cries blending into one jumbled roar punctuated by sharp outbursts. The pool had been installed the summer before, after one too many water moccasins had been spotted near the dock on the river. Nothing like a venomous snake to sour a person on nature’s beauty, Mitch liked to say.
“Hey there,” Melissa called out, getting to her feet. “Thanks for coming.”
Taylor drew Melissa into a bear hug and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“You two have met, right?” he said.
“At the festival,” Melissa said easily. “But that was a long time ago, and besides, you met a lot of people that day. How are you doing, Denise?”
“Good, thanks,” she said, still feeling a little nervous.
Mitch motioned to the cooler. “You two want