Somehow Anna had managed to smile through the wedding, a ceremony as beautiful as it was heartbreaking to watch. She found Nick’s gaze on hers more times than not, his face solemn and his eyes soft. Warm. Like he knew a secret that involved her.

She also had miraculously made it through the endless array of wedding photos that were taken first at the church and then later as they arrived back at the Van Hollins estate, which had been transformed into a fairy-tale-like fantasy of twinkle lights, flowers, and music despite the day’s earlier chaos.

Now she only had to make it through this damned reception and, worse, that first dance, then she could escape with Tessa, who was going to be here by ten to rescue her.

If only the happy couple would hurry their butts up and get here already.

The reception was set up on the northern border of the Van Hollins estate where it met the vineyard of the adjoining property. From this vantage point, the guests could see the expanse of the Van Hollins home as it rose on the knoll above them. Anna meandered through the guests who, with drinks in hand, were waiting for the bride and groom to join them for the dinner and dancing.

Janie had lucked out, and the large white canopy that had been rented in case the weather took a turn for the worse wasn’t going to be needed. Instead, the tables were artfully laid out around a dance floor with lights strewn above them so it made it feel like extra stars looking down on them. Just as Janie had wanted. The band, located on an elevated stage at the head of the arrangement, was playing the typical music you’d expect at a posh event like this. The tune lifted and carried in the cool but fragrant summer air.

Anna was relieved for the wedges she and the other bridesmaids wore that prevented her heels from sinking into the grass, and that Janie hadn’t gone overboard with the dress choices for the bridesmaids. All of them were an acceptable color of a pretty fuchsia pink that didn’t remind Anna of a liquid antacid, and a flattering length and cut.

“You look a little better than when I last saw you. Still a little downtrodden, but better.” It was her aunt Lenore, dressed in a shimmery light blue dress, her silvery-white hair drawn into an elegant chignon. She looked like a fairy godmother, except for the wand. “I’m glad to see you returned.”

“Yeah. Me, too. You were right about running away, and fortunately, I saw that before it was too late.”

“I knew you’d end up doing the right thing.”

“I’m glad you have such faith in me considering you barely know me. Thanks.”

“I hope we’re still on for lunch when you return to the city. Maybe I could even come out for Thanksgiving. Make a thing of it with you and Janie and Dax, of course. Your mother would be welcome as well.”

“I’d like that,” Anna said and surprised herself with how much she meant it. “Although my friend Tessa might kill me if I stiff her on our Thanksgiving tradition of staying at her family’s farm. But I think I could figure a way to make it work out.”

Her aunt’s hand rested over hers. “Good. I look forward to it.”

The band that had been playing a pretty, if generic, tune cut off and Anna glanced up to see a few new figures had joined the band. One of them, a guy with dark blonde hair that was a little too long, faded jeans, and a guitar took center stage.

No. Way. It couldn’t be—

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m sorry to interrupt the previously scheduled musical score, but I’ve been roped into presenting something of a reprise to you and the bride and groom. Courtesy of the best man, my good friend Nick St. Claire.”

Anna’s head was spinning as she recognized Dylan Charles. The Dylan Charles along with who she assumed were the rest of his band. Nick knew him? Why hadn’t he said something when she was talking about liking his music in the car the other day? Whatever the reason, she shook her head at the miracle of the star up there, about to serenade her sister on her biggest day.

Despite her fury at Nick, she couldn’t help but feel touched by his gesture and wondered at the strings he’d had to pull to make this happen.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Dax and Janie St. Claire.”

The couple in question appeared from around the corner, hand-in-hand. When Janie saw who was up on stage, thanks to a little prodding from her new husband, she stopped and opened her mouth in surprise and let out a shriek before continuing onto the dance floor.

A moment later, Dylan Charles and his band strummed the first beats of a sexy, bluesy song from their first album, instead of the canned song the bride and groom had been practicing to. Tears welled up and threatened to spill as Anna watched Janie and Dax dance, their love and adoration for each other obvious to everyone.

Anna was so drawn into the song and watching the couple, she nearly forgot that in another minute or so she and the others were supposed to join them on the floor. She glanced around, finding Trish and Josh, Megan and Jake, and even Sara and Chris watching from the sidelines. It had been tense for a moment when Janie returned to the house and she confronted the woman, but Janie had a big heart and had been able to forgive her friend who actually appeared contrite. Even now, Sara was smiling at Chris as if with renewed interest.

Anna sensed someone reaching her side, and she turned her head to confirm his presence.

Why did men have to look so painfully, knock-the-breath-out-of-you sexy in tuxedos? It had killed her keeping her eyes off him as they stood in the church earlier, but now having him stand so damn close, she was finding it hard to breathe. She ripped her gaze from him and back to the floor.

You can do this. Just a few more minutes and you’ll be free.

“You look beautiful, you know,” he said far too close to her ear.

She couldn’t respond if she wanted to, her mouth so dry. It wasn’t as if Nick had been gone from her mind this entire evening. If only he had.

“How did you pull off this surprise?” she asked and nodded to the stage.

“Oh, Dylan and I go way back, and fortunately for me, he was playing on tour in LA, which made flying him here that much easier.”

“Janie loves it.”

“And you?”

She shrugged. “It’s nice.”

“Nice? Well, I was hoping for a bigger reaction than nice.” He was teasing her, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

The music kicked up and Anna knew it was time for them to get out there. Not seeing any choice, she took his hand—warm and strong and just as solid as she remembered—and followed him out to the dance floor. She looked at the spot above Nick’s shoulder as she waited for that note that would begin their last dance.

And then they were dancing. Swinging and swishing around, so in sync with the other, and for a moment, she felt that excitement in her belly as he swirled her around, looking at her in a way that almost made her believe he cared about her.

Focus. Dance. Don’t make eye contact.

Minutes later, her breath coming in choppy gasps, it was over. They all stood and faced the applause. She’d done it. She’d made it through the wedding, the dance, the seeing and touching Nick again. And now she could go.

As she slipped her hand from his, the wrenching it caused her heart made it the hardest thing she’d done.

But it was over, and the sooner she got away and found a corner to hide in, the sooner she’d be able to move on.

* * *

The moment the song had ended, Nick could feel Anna pull away from him, and not just physically. It was like a rift pushed up between them the moment she let go of his hand.

He needed her to hold on for one more second and give him one more chance—

“I’ve known the St. Claire boys for some years,” Dylan said at precisely the moment Nick needed him to, “and I can see that Dax and Janie are going to have a lively, fun-filled, and happy life together, keeping everyone on their toes” This earned a rouse of applause from the audience. “Now, at the groom’s special request, he’d like everyone to feel free to join in the dancing for this next song, one that he wanted to dedicate not only to his lovely bride, but also to the best man and the maid of honor, both of whom I’ve been assured are a big part of why we’re all standing here tonight.”

Nick watched the emotions as they ran across Anna’s face, first curiosity, then apprehension as she realized what Dylan was asking and, finally, horror as she looked back at Nick.

No escape.

He would have smiled in relief if he hadn’t thought it would push her to leave, despite Janie and Dax’s request.

He held his hand out to her again. “Come on, Anna. Dance with me? One more time?”

The opening notes streamed out and he watched her face freeze in surprise. “How did you—”

She was wondering how he knew this was her favorite song. Call it a little birdie in the form of a helpful roommate named Quinn who had reluctantly taken his call earlier this evening when he was setting his plan in motion.

He didn’t hesitate when her hand slipped back in his, soft and warm, and he placed his other hand around her waist. He inhaled the intoxicating scent that was all hers as she moved along with him to the beat, no longer stumbling as she had that first dance, but boldly and with confidence. She felt right being in his arms.

The sun had slipped fully behind the hills, leaving what felt like just the twinkly lights above them, and he gazed up for a moment at the sight, knowing that he still had a lot of talking to do before he could fully enjoy the beauty around him.

“Anna, I know that you still don’t believe me. You still think I’m going to run out on you. But if it takes me appearing on your doorstep with a giant boombox over my head every day and every night for the next ten years to convince you I’m not going anywhere, then that’s what I’m prepared to do. I messed up. In that brief moment this morning, I floundered. I can say that from the moment I saw you pulling away from the curb, I regretted my indecision. It nearly killed me to know that the best thing that had happened to me was driving away, possibly forever.”

He still got caught up remembering that pain, when everything had felt so dark and lost. Yet here she was, and he had another chance to get it right.

“Anna, you’re the one person who’s come in and out of my life who has ever truly intrigued me, challenged me, and pissed me off. In the space of the past few hours, I’ve come to realize that my life only has any real purpose when you’re in it. I know we have a lot to learn about each other, a lot to still figure out, but we have time. A lot of time. As long as we’re honest with each other and don’t hold back, I know we have a chance to have something truly magical. But I need you to give us another chance. I need you to forgive me. Because even though our time has been brief, I know that you’re the woman I’m meant to love. Meant to dance with for the rest of my life. Meant to laugh with and enjoy the challenges of every day with, because I will choose you first, Anna Blake. Always.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, and he couldn’t help but reach out to brush it away, rubbing the warm wetness between his fingers, just as he had last night before.

“Nick. I—” She stopped, too choked up, and he stared into the blueness of her eyes that were luminous and bright like the lightest shades of topaz.

She closed her eyes then, as if closing off his access to her mind, her soul. It felt so final.

Fear took hold of him that what he’d said, what he’d done, was still not enough.

He’d truly lost her.

* * *

The highs and lows of this day had nearly floored Anna more than once, but this moment now…with Nick telling her everything that she could have hoped to hear, whispering every assurance in that low, gruff way of his that had her knees wanting to buckle…

She was flying.

The dark desperation that had hovered over her had shattered, the pieces blown away with every word he uttered. Leaving only this light, blissful, and joyful feeling that made her believe this could be real.

She took in a breath, finding her chest shuddering from the relief and hope she was trying to find her own words to express. She was supposed to be the writer, the person who had a way with words, and here she was. Speechless.

Anna opened her eyes, telling herself not to get lost in the depths of those dark brown eyes before she’d said what she needed to say. “I have my own apologies to make. I shouldn’t have run away like I did. You once praised me for my persistence, and I usually am persistent in the other areas of my life, except where it involves my heart. But that’s going to change. Because I saw today that my life without you would be like…like trying to dance without a song. Without a tune. You are the music in my head, in my heart, my soul—God, I can’t believe I just said that—but it’s true,” she said and laughed, even through the tears clouding everything in front of her. “What I’m trying to say is that I’ve fallen hard for you, Nicholas St. Claire. It started ten long years ago and never really stopped.”

The wide smile that crossed Nick’s face was like a bright, shining light. Then he was crushing her to him, his lips firm yet soft as they touched hers, and it was as if she could feel everything he was feeling. The joy, the relief, the anticipation of tomorrow, as they clung to each other. The strains of the music surrounded them in the air and in their hearts.

Nick leaned back, giving her a chance to catch her breath as she met his gaze again. “I can promise you another thing, Anna Blake. Our life together is going to be colorful, exciting, and—”

“Magical,” she said, finishing for him.

“Exactly.”

Then he pulled her to him again and she closed her eyes, enjoying the elation and warm-fuzzy satisfaction of finally having her own magical happily ever after.