Page 46 of Something Like Shelter

Not really.

We were supposed to be convincing everyone else, but there was no one to act for right then. No coworkers looking for a chance to show her up. No boss looking for some reason to write her up.

Just Willa in my arms.

Her cheek was warm against my chest, and one of her hands rested lightly against my shoulder. I could feel the slow rhythm of her breathing, the subtle movement of her body against mine every time we swayed.

I could have held her like that for hours.

That thought landed somewhere deep in my gut.

It wasn’t supposed to feel good. It was just meant to be a favor. A night out. A chance to help a woman I’d known for years avoid questions she didn’t want to answer.

Instead, I was standing in a library with her in my arms, wondering what it would feel like if I got to do this again tomorrow.

And the next day.

And the day after that.

“Where’d you learn to dance?” she asked.

A chuckle moved through me at that. “My grandmother insisted it was a vital life skill, along with cooking and washing dishes. My grandfather used to take her dancing every weekend.”

“That’s really sweet.”

“Yeah, they had an amazing marriage.”

“Something to aspire to,” Willa said, but there was a sad edge to her voice.

It wasn’t the first time I wanted to ask about that missing mug in the sink, about the man who helped create Adelaide, only to decide he wanted nothing to do with either of them.

It also wasn’t the first time I needed to remind myself that it wasn’t any of my business.

If Willa wanted to tell me that story, she would.

Until then, I wasn’t going to poke what had to be a sore spot.

So, instead, we danced.

The next thing I knew, I was walking her to her door.

“Thank you so much for—”

“You don’t need to thank me.”

“I do. I was dreading this. But I somehow managed to have a pretty good time.”

“I’m glad. Me too. How about Tuesday?”

“Tuesday?”

“Brisket.”

“Yes!” she said, her smile huge. “Tuesday brisket. We will be there. With dessert.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Willa