“You’re a smart man. I knew I liked you for a reason.” Ruth waved to another friend that passed by them.
“Do you know everyone here?” He recognized a few faces from Ruth and Helen’s New Year’s Eve party, but otherwise no one looked familiar to him.
Ruth made a sweep of the room and nodded. “Just about. Helen, Will, and I went to high school together, and we had the same friends. And I’ve spent a lot of time with Helen’s family. Even went to Washington, D.C. on vacation with them one summer.” She turned her full attention toward him. “Are you uncomfortable because you don’t know anyone?”
Social gatherings of any size didn’t faze him regardless of whether he knew a single soul. “Not at all. Just curious.”
“Thanks again for coming today. I really appreciate it.”
He couldn’t think of anywhere else he’d want to be right then, other than perhaps alone with her at Cliff House or her apartment. “Anytime.” He added nothing else as a man identical to the groom joined them, and in all honesty, he didn’t know if it was the groom or the best man.
“Hi, Mitch.” Ruth looked at the man who joined them. “You finally escaped your grandmother?”
“Just barely. The woman is determined to see me married before she dies. Or so she says. She just spent the last fifteen minutes pointing out all the single women in the room she recognized and listing their fine qualities.”
Ruth looked back over at him. “As of today, Mitch is her only grandchild not married.”
“I think she had the most to say about you, Ruth.”
The urge to throw an arm over Ruth’s shoulders and announce to everyone that she was taken caused Warren to move closer to her.
“Let’s hope she and Helen never get together. Then we’re both in trouble.”
“Tell me about it.”
Ruth’s comment, as well as her earlier one about Mitch, helped ease a little of the possessiveness that gripped him. That didn’t mean he still didn’t want to brand her as his. While a kiss or two would accomplish that, he went for a more subtle approach and placed his hand over hers.
The moment their skin came in contact, she snapped her head around toward him. Her lips parted as if about to ask a question, but then she pressed them shut again. However, she didn’t pull her hand away, which gave him hope.
“I don’t think we’ve met.” Warren directed his words to Mitch as he extended his free hand. “Warren Sherbrooke.”
“Mitch Lee. It’s nice to meet you.”
Gradually, other guests joined them, and soon all eyes turned to the ballroom’s main entrance as the bride and groom entered the room. Once the applause stopped, the best man stood and gave his speech, which turned out to be the most humorous wedding speech Warren had ever heard. In fact, he expected the guests to ask for an encore performance; they seemed to be having such a good time. Eventually, Mitch sat and individual conversations began among the guests as dinner came.
Chapter 4
Ruth pretended to listen to the conversations around her. Carla and her husband sat at the table, as did Helen’s widowed aunt. Between the three of them and Mitch, a steady conversation permeated dinner. However, Ruth could do little more than nod thanks to the gentleman seated next to her. Ever since he’d asked her for dinner, she’d been little more than a walking mass of confusion. His actions today only intensified the problem.
When they’d first sat down and he’d touched her shoulders, she’d stopped breathing. Once oxygen returned, she wracked her brain for a way to explain the incident. Despite her best efforts, nothing materialized.
Then Mitch appeared, and she’d rejoiced. Or at least she had for a moment because no sooner did Mitch sit down and start up a conversation than Warren took her hand. It wasn’t the first time he’d held her hand. The epitome of manners, he’d offered her his hand before she stood on countless occasions. Tonight the feel of his hand linked with hers was different. More intimate. And it didn’t help that he kept his hand like that until dinner was served.
Now with the meal over and the dinner dishes gone, she wondered if he’d take her hand again.
On the dance floor, Helen and Will finished their wedding dance, and the speakers crackled for a moment. “At this time Will and Helen would like to ask the wedding party to join them in a dance,” the DJ announced.
Darn. With her thoughts centered on Warren, she’d forgotten about the customary wedding party dance.
“My favorite part of a wedding. The dancing.” Carla stood up. “I hope your cousin is a good dancer, Mitch.” After giving her husband a kiss, she walked over to Nathan Lee, the groomsman she’d been paired with and Mitch’s first cousin.
“She’s in for a rough one. Nathan hates dancing. He’s got two left feet.” Mitch stood and offered his hand to Ruth. “Don’t worry though, your feet are safe with me.”
She allowed Mitch to lead her away and tried to shake the sense that someone was watching her.
“I don’t think he could be any more obvious if he tried.” Mitch led her in a turn.
“The way Will keeps looking at Helen, I’m amazed he hasn’t tossed her over his shoulder and carried her off to the closest empty room.”