Ari had always enjoyed dancing with Marc. He was tall and strong and had obviously had several years of lessons. She was free to enjoy the movement and the music without worrying he’d trip. It made it a real pleasure to dance with him.

And his hands felt just as strong and sure. His scent surrounded her, and she fought the urge to just breathe him in.

“You’ve always danced beautifully.” He whispered the words near her ear. “It’s always you I want to dance with first.”

Ari fought a shiver. Both at his words and how they made her feel. She fought the urge to press closer.

He must have felt it. “You cold?”

“No. But...your beard tickles.” Her cheeks heated when he laughed. His eyes heated, with a hunger she hadn’t expected. His hands tightened slightly.

For a moment, she lost the ability to breathe.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try to remember.” He guided her across the floor, almost effortlessly. Ari loved how it felt to dance with a confident partner. Dancing was one of her real pleasures. Something she knew she was good at. But dancing had never felt like this before. It was all Marc; she had no doubt about that. Something about him had her nerves going haywire—and not from fear. It took her a moment to realize it was because of how he felt pressed next to her, how he sent her senses reeling. “I didn’t know you were coming this evening. If I had, I wouldn’t have protested so much when Rayne told me I had to.”

“Payton’s upstairs. She has had trouble with morning sickness from the very beginning. Luc almost refused to come without her, but she suggested I come with him. I think I’m here to keep him in line. You know how my brother gets.” He’d already offended two Texas state representatives, a clothing manufacturer, a drunk woman who thought he’d be fun to play with, and some big cattle baron who’d wanted Ariella to come sit at his table—no doubt so he could play with her. “He’s already wound up.”

And that was just before the dinner had started.

“A Herculean task, I’m sure. I hope Payton is ok.” She appreciated the concern in his tone. And knew he meant it. He’d met her only sister-in-law several times.

Her only for now sister-in-law. She tugged up the top of the borrowed dress Jillian had altered. Payton was a bit curvier than she was, especially midway through her pregnancy. The dress had needed some fast modifications to keep Ari in it. “Luc’s assistant is staying with her. They’re good friends and Whilton makes certain Payton takes it easy. The doctor gave her something to help with the nausea, but she was so tired that Luc insisted she rest tonight. But she was worried he’d do something to offend someone. So she agreed to rest—if I came tonight.”

“So he flew to Finley Creek to get you?”

“Hmmm. Yes.” She would probably never get used to the way her brother did that. He hopped a helicopter the way Simon and the rest of her brothers hopped on their bicycles. “I’m glad to help out.”

“I’m glad you did. You made my night far more enjoyable than it would have been.” He turned her in time to the music, his strong chest brushing up against hers. Every nerve in body tingled.

Because of Marc.

When had that started to happen?

More nerves clenched her stomach, but they had nothing to do with the event and everything to do with the man.

The dance ended all too soon and he walked her back to her table. Marc settled into the chair next to hers for a few moments. He kept his hot hand on the exposed skin of her back. At one point his fingers spread and he almost caressed her spine. Ari could barely put two words together coherently.

This was Marc. She didn’t feel this way about Marc. They were just friends.

But as everyone tried and tried to get a word with him, or his opinion on something, or to invite him to various events and functions, he stayed next to her. He introduced her to the people he knew every single time.

Almost as if they were together.

It took her a while to realize that was exactly what he was doing. And she wondered at it. She chewed her lip as she watched him finally be pulled away by two state senators and the states’ attorney Carson Murtaugh.

Finally, he was pulled away completely. As soon as he was gone, Luc leaned closer. “I think you have made another conquest in the Honorable Marcus Deane. The wind blowing that way with the final Deane brother? He seems to be hovering over you tonight. And he certainly can’t keep his hands to himself. Touchy-feely, ain’t he?”

“No. Of course not. Marc is a close friend, Luc. Something I think we both have needed lately.” Sometimes in the crowd he was at the center, but he looked so alone. Like he was the eye of the storm, yet isolated. She understood that. It had to be difficult, for a man as family-oriented as him to play in these shark-infested waters. So alone.

Ari couldn’t resist looking toward him again. Just to see.

There had been something in his eyes tonight. He had been tired. Worn down. A sliver of worry went through her. Marc was the type who took care of everyone else. Did he have anyone who took the time to take care of him?

Just Rafe and Travis, and now Jillian and Lacy. The recent virus had made that perfectly clear. And her. She’d sat next to him for several hours.

And then he had pulled her down next to him. He’d kept her next to him for a good five minutes before she’d been able to extract herself.

And the things he had said…She’d half thought he was delirious at first, talking to his late wife.

Until he’d said her name as he’d drifted back to sleep. He never called her Ari. It was always Ariella. No one called her Ariella like that. Just him.

Why hadn’t she noticed that before?

“Would it? You certainly looked so pretty together. I think that woman from the Snotty Garlic thought so when she was taking photos of you dancing. Bet you make the paper again.” Luc snickered at her after he said it. He really was in fine form tonight. Probably because Payton had dragged him up to their suite while Ari was getting ready. They were so cute together, and so in love.

But Luc could be so annoying.

He kept every copy of the Snotty Garlic Ari or her friends were mentioned in. For fun.

And the Garlic really liked the three of them. Almost as if they stalked them, at times. Mel and Houghton were particular favorites, too.

The Garlic had even put photos of her dancing with Marc for the first time everywhere in Texas. And made references to the Gorgeous Governor ad nauseam. “I’m not in the market for a man, especially a man like the governor. He’s a friend, that’s all. No matter what that stupid Garlic says. Just because Lacy and Jillian are with his brothers, doesn’t mean I have to be with him.”

She’d said the words before, but tonight was the first time she’d ever felt she was lying. She wasn’t, though. She didn’t think. This was Marc. She was not attracted to Marc.

Tonight was just an aberration. A residual over everything that had happened recently.

“No, you don’t. It is going to be kind of cool to have Jillian as our sister-in-law. Of course, she has to marry the troll for that to happen.” Luc grimaced and rolled his eyes.

“Seriously, do not start.” She winced. Every time Rafe and Luc were in the same room, they rubbed each other the wrong way. It was going to take her two older brothers a long time to learn to like each other.

She’d just settle for tolerate, as Jillian was close to Luc, too. It would make things much easier for all of them. Especially Jillian, who would thump the both of them over the head if they really needed it.

Luc took all her attention after that, keeping her moving from group to group. She danced with at least three other men he knew—and she barely remembered any of their names when she was finished. Luc even used her to charm an elderly investor. Ari didn’t mind that part too much; the woman was extremely likeable and funny. And had noticed Ari dancing with Marc. The woman had told her in confidence that if she was thirty years younger, she’d be dragging Marc into the nearest quiet corner.

But she agreed to invest in Marc’s company—and invited Ari to spend the afternoon with her sometime to talk to her about how she could help with W4HAV.

Ari took the first opportunity she could find to slip over to a quiet corner, just to breathe. Luc was in his element, pulling people toward him effortlessly. Him and Houghton. Mel was there to keep the conversations going, to greet and smile, and then—when the time came—urge the conversationalist away from her husband to make room for the next.

Mel was good at micromanaging, and she guarded Houghton's time fiercely.

Ari wasn't anywhere near that capable of helping her brother. She made a good showing, but unlike the extroverted Mel, it was draining her. She just needed a quiet place to think. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze from the open veranda relax her. Just for a moment. Tonight had been intense; she needed to think, to breathe. To recharge from the peace.

"Escaping? I was hoping for another dance."

Ari recognized his voice without turning to look. She felt his warmth and even smelled his cologne. The nerves returned to her belly immediately. "Governor Deane, I thought you were speaking with Representative Howard’s staff person. I'm afraid I don't remember her name." But she had looked beautiful in a dark red dress, with her blonde hair perfectly coiffed. With her curves that made Ari feel like a thirteen-year-old boy in comparison. Flat and scrawny. Ari had watched him for a few moments, thinking about how beautiful they had looked side-by-side. About how easy it seemed for that woman to speak with everyone tonight.

Thought about how if Marc ever remarried, it would most likely to be with a woman like that.

She’d even wondered if Jillian and Lacy would like that woman, would make room for her in their little world.

And where Ari would fit.

One of her biggest fears was them growing farther apart when Jillian married.

Unfounded, of course. But her anxiety had momentarily gotten the best of her. She hadn’t felt that unsure of herself in a long time.

Her inner wimp had escaped the hold she usually kept on her, apparently.

He gave her a look of horror that had some of her ridiculousness subsiding. "Her name is Rachel, or Rebecca—to be honest, I don't really remember. But she somehow always seems to find me in gatherings like this. And her hands are very scary. I'm not sure why."

Because his chest looked broad and strong and perfect. He looked perfect; almost unreal. And to top off how good he looked, he was genuinely a kind man. It would make any woman want to touch. Ari’s fingers twitched. "I think I can figure it out. You look very nice this evening. Except," Ari smiled when she realized what it was that didn’t look quite right. "Either that's mustard on your cummerbund, or someone's been in the yellow finger paint."

The governor of Texas had a bright yellow handprint right there on the silver silk. Child-sized. Perfect. It was a left handprint.

Isaac was left-handed.

"Seriously? Isaac wanted an extra hug. I'm not sure how I missed it." He looked down and covered the stain with his much larger hand, and smiled. In just that way he had that made a woman all gooey inside. Even her. Especially her. One of her favorite things about Marc was how much he loved his children. "Wonder what the Snotty Garlic will make of this?"

The tabloid would make a field day out of it. Like they had every single time they mentioned the children. Someone at the Garlic had a huge crush on Marc. One of the things the writer admired most was how he treated his kids.

Ari had to agree. Mostly because she had seen him in action, and she knew that it was genuine. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. A tall man with sandy brown hair was staring straight at her. With intent.

“Ariella? What’s wrong?”

“Will you dance with me? Keep me away from Banks Claireson? Luc promised to, but he’s occupied with Casten Murtaugh.”

The humor slipped out of his green eyes. "You okay? Is Claireson drunk again?"

“I don’t know.” She shook her head slightly. She’d barely avoided Banks at least twice in the last hour. He really wanted an in with Luc. And he was more than willing to use her as that in. No matter how much she told him she wasn’t interested. Or how she tried to avoid him. Banks Claireson was more than just pushy—he was relentless. "Nothing overt. Nothing that hasn't happened before, either. But Mr. Claireson is obviously looking for Luc to invest in Claireson Pharm. He thinks I can influence my brother. And he thinks I want to dance with him again. And go out with him. And have breakfast with him. I don’t think he would mind if we spent the time between dinner and breakfast together, either. There are a few other men here who’ve implied the same. Thanks, but no thanks." She shivered. These types of men were not the kind that would ever appeal to her.

No. She wanted a different kind of man to love. One who was kind and quiet and family-oriented and made her feel safe, and like she mattered to him as much as Payton mattered to Luc.

Luc would die for her sister-in-law in a heartbeat. And he’d proven it before. Just like Rafe. And Travis. And Houghton, Chance, Elliot, and Mick.

But it wasn’t what they’d done for the women in their lives that mattered so much—it was how they loved them.

She wanted that.

Not some man who was out to get what connections she possessed to the richest man in St. Louis—or Houghton Barratt.

Ari might be a quiet, scrawny super-wimp, but she wasn’t going to be used to hurt or manipulate the ones that she loved.

His expression darkened even more, if it hadn't been him she probably would've taken a step back. He looked intimidating, and that made her nervous. It was Marc—she knew without a doubt that he would never hurt her. Ari forced herself to relax.

It was just Marc. No matter how strange he was making her feel tonight, how awkward and breathless, it was just Marc.

His expression cleared, and he was safe again. Strong, kind, and protective. She pulled in a soft breath and forced herself to let go of the nerves for once. It was just Marc.

"Just consider me your knight-in-shining armor, then. This evening is winding down soon, I'm sure. I'll protect you for the rest of the evening, if you’d like. But only if you smile at me a time or two. You have a beautiful smile. I'm trying to figure out why I like yours so much better than I like my own brother’s. Maybe because he would smile right before he beat me up as kids. I might be older, but Rafe has always been bigger."