Nolan and Bridget swung around the dance floor for most of Tobias’s set, only slowing down when Tobias did. By the time Tobias began playing a ballad, they were both breathing heavily and a little sweaty. Nolan wondered if Bridget realized her blouse was becoming a bit transparent, or maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part. No, he didn’t want that; if she was going to be showing anything that her blouse covered, he wanted it to be a private viewing.

He pulled her closer to him as they swayed to the music of Tobias’s steel pedal guitar. Nolan looked down at Bridget and was surprised to find her watching him. He smiled at her, and she gave him a shy grin. She bit her plump bottom lip and gave a little shrug, and Nolan thought he felt the smallest of squeezes.

Nolan cupped her face in his hand, curling an errant strand of hair that had escaped from her topknot. Bridget rubbed her cheek against his fingers, gave a little sigh, and closed her eyes. He moved his hand to her neck, caressing the smooth skin of her throat.

“What are you thinking about?” He barely heard her question because she’d spoken so quietly.

Nolan answered honestly without pausing, “That this right here is something I never thought I’d experience.”

“What?”

“Dancing with a beautiful woman to my brother’s music. It’s . . . amazing.”

Bridget didn’t respond. She just kept gazing up at him. To lessen his mounting anxiety, Nolan guided her into a gentle spin, which seemed to delight Bridget because she laughed before nestling back into his arms and resting her head on his chest. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and take her someplace where they could be alone, but the slow song ended, and Tobias launched into a fast-paced swing tune that had Nolan and Bridget laughing and twirling around Foley’s small dance floor.

He continued holding her close as the last strains of music reverberated through the air, and they stayed in the middle of the dance floor, just staring into the other’s eyes until Nolan heard the sound of a masculine cough.

“Oh, Dad! Hi!”

Dad?

Nolan matched the man’s bemused expression with one of his own. He put his hand out and introduced himself.  “Nolan Harper, sir.”

The man inclined his head as he returned the handshake. “Liam Doherty.” He arched an eyebrow, and Nolan followed his glance to where Nolan’s hand rested on the curve of Bridget’s lower back. Oops. Nolan cleared his throat and jerked his hand away, prompting Bridget to roll her eyes at both men.

Nolan noted that father and daughter shared the same dark eyes and hair, as well as a slim, muscular build. Once again, he felt like some sort of bumbling behemoth, especially when standing next to Bridget’s trim father, who wasn’t much taller than his only child. The man was in exceptional shape, though he didn’t look much older than Tobias.

“Nolan.” Speak of the devil . . .

“Hey, Toby. Have you met Liam yet?” Nolan stammered, suddenly nervous at the meeting of the families, much more nervous than when Bridget encountered his father. Maybe he was concerned because he actually gave a shit about the feelings of this group.

“Briefly. Tobias Harper. Thank you for letting me horn in on your popularity.”

Tobias cleared his throat as well, and Nolan blurted, “God, we all sound like we’ve got consumption.”

The group quieted, but then Liam and Tobias began to laugh, and Nolan breathed a sigh of relief. Bridget scooted nearer to him and slipped her arm around his waist as the group traded small talk until it was time for Skankin’ Janey Mac to take the stage.

Tobias joined Nolan and Bridget at their table for a few songs before leaning over to Bridget and speaking something into her ear. She grinned at him and nodded enthusiastically, and the big man gave her a wink and motioned to Nolan to join him outside.

“Did you have any idea that her father was in Skankin’ Janey Mac?” Tobias asked as he and Nolan wheeled the hard-sided guitar case through the parking lot to Tobias’s truck.

Nolan barked a laugh. “Uh, no. I mean, I knew her father was a musician, but I had no idea he was playing tonight at Foley’s, of all places.”

Tobias pulled the tailgate down on his truck and lifted one heavy case up into the bed. “I told you she likes you. Though, I saw that look Daddy gave you.” Tobias chuckled.

“Yeah, I don’t think Liam appreciated me almost touching his daughter’s ass.”

“Well, it’s a mighty fine ass.” Nolan shot his older brother a stern look, and Tobias cackled. “Oooh, someone’s a little protective. Boy, you need to ask her out on a proper date, and I mean a date. You need to get out there.”

“Hell, I wasn’t ever out there . . .”

Tobias snorted. “Believe me, I know.” He leveled a look at Nolan. “She’s not going to bite you. Well, she might. But it’ll be fun.” He wiggled his eyebrows comically for a moment but then grew serious. “Quit playing it safe, Nol. Staying inside the lines isn’t any fun. And you know, sometimes breaking the rules is exactly the right thing to do.”