Wyatt held Marigold close as they swayed on the dance floor to the soulful strains of Etta James’s “At Last.” The words of the song made sense to him now. His lonely days were definitely over and the skies above him could not have been bluer.
Even though right now they were actually a dusky purple with the fall of twilight.
He inhaled the fragrance of her hair. Lilacs. He’d never smell that scent again and not think of her. He smiled and whispered into her ear, “You look beautiful, by the way. Not sure I said that.”
She moved her head off his shoulder to look at him. “You did. At least twice.”
“Three times is better.”
She patted his chest. “I like how you matched your shirt to my dress, too. Don’t think I missed that.”
“Dexter Guildman is a force to be reckoned with.”
“I’ll say. And here I thought only Birdie had the lowdown on what happens in this town.”
He tipped his chin toward a spot behind her. “Have you seen Saffie?”
“You mean since she caught the bouquet? I can only guess. Where is she?”
“Dancing with Charlie Merrow like this is their wedding. Hang on.” He swanned Marigold around to change her line of sight.
Marigold laughed. “Oh, that child. Catching Pandie’s bouquet has only convinced Saffron more that she and Charlie are meant to be. That poor boy.”
Wyatt shrugged. “He seems to be okay with it.”
“I guess.” She was still smiling, though. “Maybe he likes the attention.”
“Maybe the Williams women are just irresistible.”
She smiled at him, one of those easy, knowing smiles that made her eyes sparkle like diamonds. Which was something he was seriously thinking about buying her. “Is that what I am? Irresistible?”
“You are to me.” He kissed the tip of her perfect nose. “This has all happened pretty fast, hasn’t it?”
She nodded. “It has, but then, going through stressful situations has a way of bonding people. Don’t you think?”
“I do. Especially when those stressful situations involve things like one person saving the other person’s life and giving up the essence of themselves to save that person.”
“You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
“You saving my life? No. Never.”
“But you gave that magic back to me.”
“You still saved my life.” He laced his fingers together at the small of her back, pulling her closer. “So in stress years, how long have we actually been…a thing?”
“A thing?” Amusement danced in her eyes. “I’d say a couple months, easy. I mean, look. You already slept over.”
He nodded with great thoughtfulness. “And made you breakfast.”
Corette and her fiancé waltzed by at that exact moment. Her mother shot them both a questioning look.
They laughed, and Marigold shook her head. “I’m going to have to explain that one.”
“You are a grown woman.”
“I know, but that’s what a close family is like. Especially a family of women. We’re up in each other’s business. You ready for that, Mr. West?”
He sighed contentedly. “Ready and looking forward to it, Ms. Williams. In fact, I’m ready for all of it. Love, marriage, kids—”
“Kids?” Her brows rose.
“I, uh, is that not—”
She kissed him, cutting him off. “I think you’d make a great dad.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I’ve seen you with Saffie. She adores you.”
An odd, nervous excitement swept through him. “I adore her right back. And maybe someday, if you’re willing and she’s willing, I could do for her what no one ever did for me.”
Marigold stared at him for a long moment, her lips parted, her eyes suddenly liquid in the sparkling lights of the tent. “Are you saying that you’d consider adopting her?”
He swallowed, hoping he hadn’t overstepped. “I am.”
She sniffed once, then laughed joyfully. “Yes, that would be amazing. Saffron would be willing, I’m sure of it. She’s always wanted a dad.”
The song came to an end, and the DJ announced the next song was for all the single ladies.
She took Wyatt’s hand and started to lead him back to their table.
He pointed at the dance floor. “You’re a single lady.”
She poked him in the ribs. “Oh no, I’m not. My days of living in Singletown are over.”
He slipped his arm around her waist, grinning as they walked to the table. “Is that so?”
“For sure. I’m moving out. My bags are packed.”
He was trying not to laugh, but he wasn’t sure when he’d had more fun. “I can’t wait to hear this. Where are you going then?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” She leaned up, took hold of his lapels, and kissed him again soundly before smiling at him like he’d just won something. “I’m headed West.”
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