“A dance?” Elaine asked as Davis pulled his truck into a dirt parking lot loaded with other cars.

“It’s a little fundraiser the Ashland Belle Society puts on every year. The society is made up of most of the nosy ladies you met at the grocery store. For all the trouble they stir up, they also provide a lot of help to people in need. It’s why I don’t mind cutting them some slack. They’ve been trying to get me to come to this event for a few years running, and I usually just volunteer for clean-up duty. This year I finally have a partner I don’t mind being stuck next to for twelve hours.”

“Twelve hours?” Elaine asked, eyeing the outdoor dance floor that had sparkling lights strung above it.

“It’s a dance-a-thon,” he explained, hopping out of the truck and rounding the front to open her door. She hesitated to step out.

“This proper date you’ve decided to take me on is a contest made up of dancing for hours on end?”

“To raise money for a good cause,” he reminded her, his hand hanging there waiting for her to take it. “I figured you were the competitive type. And you’re about forty years younger than half the contestants out there. Are you going to chicken out on me?”

“No,” she answered instinctively. Elaine was always a sucker for a dare, unable to turn down a challenge. Unlike most of her endeavors, however, this was a pretty intimate encounter. “I’m not chickening out. Is this really how you want to spend your night?”

“I can’t think of anything I’d like better,” he said, looking thoroughly relieved when she finally stepped out. “It’ll be fun, I promise. The Ashland Belle Society knows how to have a good time.”

“Davis,” Caroline called, waving them over to the dance floor. It was lined on either side with white tents, filled with tables of food that Caroline seemed to be arranging. “I can’t believe you actually came. This is going to be so much fun. Wait until the ladies see you.”

“I figured we’d be the talk of the town tonight,” Davis grinned, leaning down and planting a kiss on Caroline’s cheek. “I ambushed Elaine though. She didn’t know we were coming until just now.”

“Ambush is the right word,” Elaine groaned. “I’m not much of a dancer.”

“Oh, you don’t have to be,” Caroline said, waving off her worry. “This is just for fun. Come over this way and get your tags. Lucille, look who’s here.”

“Well pluck the stars from the sky and call them diamonds,” Lucille said, clutching her pearls and pretending to faint. “I can’t believe we have these love birds as contestants tonight. The pledges will go through the roof for you two. Here are your numbers, just stick them to your shirts.”

“Thank you,” Elaine said, following the instructions and secretly sizing up the competition. Davis was not wrong. Elaine liked to win. She liked to prove she was the best. It wasn’t always the best quality but she reminded herself this was all for a good cause.

“Now, you get five minute breaks every hour to get a drink or something to eat and use the bathroom. Or,” she whispered coyly, “to run off and kiss in private.”

“I doubt anything we do tonight will be private,” Davis countered. “But it’s all for charity, right?”

“Right,” Lucille agreed. “You can see the pledges here. Most of Indigo Bay will be here tonight. They’ll come by and make pledge donations for every hour you dance.” Lucille was positively glowing with excitement as she waltzed them around the area for a tour. “Caroline was sweet enough to provide the refreshments, and the music will be quite the assortment thanks to Mr. Nylie and his new downloading music device thingy. He’s promised a wide variety of styles. That should keep you busy.”

“What’s the grand prize this year?” Davis asked, playfully nudging Elaine. “I’m feeling good about our odds.”

“Don’t underestimate your competition. They may be old, but they came to win. That’s a very coveted prize you’re dancing for.”

“A new car?” Davis asked, goading her on.

“No, well not exactly. It is a form of transportation,” Lucille explained, and Elaine could see there was something she was holding back. “It’s an electric scooter meant for the retired community,” she half mumbled. “Maybe not glamorous for you two but our normal contestants have someone in their lives who could benefit greatly from the prize. It even has all terrain tires so they can go down to the beach.”

“Does it have a basket on the front?” Davis asked, looking very serious about the matter. “A bell?”

“It has a horn,” Lucille corrected, pointing a threatening finger at him. “And it’s too late to withdraw now. Your names are already on the board.” She pointed over to a large white board off the side of the dance floor where a woman was hastily adding information. She’d just added Davis Mills and Pretty Blonde.

“Her name’s Elaine,” Davis said, pointing up at the board and frowning.

“I’ve been called worse,” Elaine shrugged. “When does the dancing start?” Just as she finished speaking the music crackled to life on the speakers.

“Right now.” Lucille grinned, pushing them out on to the dance floor. “All right contestants, it’s time to get started. Let’s see those dance moves.”

A gaggle of mostly elderly people flooded the dance floor and coupled up. The first song was an old slow one that everyone cooed nostalgically about. Davis pulled her into his arms and spun her whimsically around the floor. “I hope you can keep up,” he challenged with a breathy whisper in her ear.

“I hope so too,” she laughed, giving herself over to him as he led her through the dance. “You’re a better dancer than I would have thought.”

“Lessons when I was a kid,” he admitted sheepishly. “My dad thought it would help me on the football field, and he was right. My footwork improved a ton. Once I got over the idea of wearing tights it wasn’t so bad.”

“Tights?” she asked, pulling away to see his face. “I can totally see you in tights.”

“Enjoy that image because those days are over. At least you benefit from the torture I endured.”

“So what are we going to talk about for the next twelve hours?” Elaine asked, starry-eyed and mesmerized by the twinkling overhead lights.

“We can dream up ways to use our new motorized scooter. Did you hear we can drive it on the beach?” He winked and Elaine practically felt her heart flutter.

“You are the best distraction I’ve ever had in my life,” she said, resting her head on his chest. “You’re funny, smart, and sweet. I’m so glad it was you who found me on that stupid curb.”

“And that I didn’t call the funny farm to have them come take you away. I’m happy to be your distraction. I hope it doesn’t end at that though.” The song shifted to a love ballad, and he swayed her back and forth to the slow beautiful beat.

“How long have you had the cabin?” Elaine asked, resting her head gently on his shoulder. “You don’t strike me as a guy who wakes up and says, I want to live in a bright purple cabin.”

“It wasn’t purple when I bought it,” Davis admitted. “Julie had been gone almost eight months, and I got wind that things weren’t going great for her. There were rumors she might come back to Indigo Bay. I had given her all the space I could, and it was killing me. I bought the cabin and painted it her favorite color. I fixed it up inside the way I knew she’d like it. I made it a home, hoping that when she saw it she could picture the rest of her life there with me. I spent months working on every detail.”

“It didn’t work?” Elaine asked, oozing with empathy. “She didn’t stay.”

“She did for a little while,” Davis replied, attempting to sound upbeat. “But it wasn’t real. None of it was. There was a big explosive fight about me trying to hold her back. She took off again.”

“I’m sorry,” Elaine offered, squeezing him a little tighter.

“Two hundred dollars on Davis and the pretty blonde,” a voice called from one of the tents and every head turned. Davis was relieved something would break them out of this moment.

“Dallas,” Davis groaned. “I figured you’d come watch the show.”

“I was hoping you’d be back in your tights,” Dallas joked, waving two hundred-dollar bills in the air. “If it’s not too late to get them on, I’ll double this donation.”

“I like the sound of that,” Elaine joked. “If I didn’t already owe you a hundred dollars I’d go in on that donation myself.”

“You don’t owe me a thing, Elaine,” Davis assured her, the smile leaving his face. “I mean it. Whatever you decide to do, I don’t want you to feel any pressure from me. I really like that you’re here. I’m glad you’re feeling good right now. Life’s all—”

“It’s all mashed potatoes and cake,” she smiled, remembering how something that had gone wrong could turn out just fine if you let it.

“Yes,” he agreed, leaning down and kissing her cheek. “And I’m still hungry for more.”