Dance Like Nobody's Watching (Summer Lake 3) by SJ McCoy Read Free Book Online Page B

They'd become his friends over
the last few months. He liked that he could dip in and out of the
group up here. He only stayed as long as he felt comfortable, then he
went back to his computers and his work. No one minded. Usually he
spent more time with Scot than with the rest of them, but not this
weekend. This weekend he didn't feel uncomfortable at all.
    He was still sitting a bit too close to Missy, but
she hadn't moved away, in fact she kept giving him a grateful little
smile. She was enjoying herself, being with her friends, laughing and
telling jokes. She brightened the whole group. He enjoyed seeing her
happy. She still looked tired though. She'd finished eating and he
noticed that her beer was empty. He pulled another from the bucket
and offered it to her. She smiled at him. “Thanks, hero.”
    He popped the top with a grin. He liked it when
she said that.
    The band was playing a set of country music. “What
do you think?” asked Ben. “The guys thought some country
would go down well with the weekend crowd in here.”
    “Works for me,” said Jack. “But
then we're just country boys, huh, Dan?”
    Dan grinned and spoke in the Texan drawl he'd
mostly lost over the last ten years. “Yes sir, thankin' you
kindly sir. Just a pair of good-ole, down-home, southern boys.”
    “Oh, my God!” cried Holly. “That
is so damned sexy. Do it again!”
    Dan laughed as Pete nearly choked on his beer.
“Excuse me? Fiancée of mine!”
    Holly laughed at him. “Sorry, Bigshot, but
that is damned sexy!”
    “S'true partner,” Jack drawled. “All
the purdy lil’ ladies sure do love us country boys.”
    Emma smiled at him. “They most certainly do,
Tex.”
    Missy laughed. “Okay between this
conversation and this song, I just decided the theme for the party.”
    Everyone went quiet to listen to the band. Dan
recognized the song immediately. He smiled at Missy. “Cowboys
and Angels?”
    “Yep! It's great, don't you think?”
    He did.
    “I reckon that'll work for us little bro,
don't you?” asked Jack.
    Dan grinned. “Sure do. Tall, dark and
Texan.”
    “Oh, I can go for that,” said Missy.”
    “I can live with it,” said Pete.
    “What do you think, ladies?” asked
Missy.
    “I love it,” said Emma.
    “Me too,” said Holly. “And if we
can all get into the city one day, I know the perfect place to get
angel costumes.”
    “Slutty angels?” asked Pete hopefully.
    Holly smiled at him. “We'll see.”
    “At least we won't have to search too hard
for costumes,” said Pete. “I'll bet you two Texan boys
already have something that will work?”
    “Maybe,” replied Jack.
    “Looks like it's just you, me, and Ben
shopping for cowboy gear,” said Michael.
    “You'll have time,” said Missy. “And
you know what makes it even better?” She looked really happy
now. “It means Chance might come to the party since it won't be
a costume for him, just work clothes.”
    “Chance is coming?” asked Ben.
    “Yep!” Missy grinned. “I talked
to him last week and since my birthday falls on a Saturday he said
he'd come for it.”
    “That's fantastic!” said Michael.
    “Chance is really coming?” asked Emma.
Her hands were clasped to her chest and she had a dreamy look on her
face.
    Missy laughed. “Yes, Em, he's really
coming.”
    “Oh, Miss, that's the best news I've heard
in ages! I get to see Chance!”
    “Um, hello, wifey?” Jack put an arm
around Emma's shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. It didn't shift
the rapturous look on her face, though. “Hello? Your husband is
sitting right here, remember?”
    “Oh!” Jack laughed as Emma's hand came
up to cover her mouth. “Oops! Sorry. But it's Chance!”
    Jack looked at Missy. “Who is this Chance
character? And do I need to worry?”
    “He's my big brother,” said Missy
proudly. “He is wonderful. You can't blame Em. He has that
effect on everyone.”
    “Yeah,” said Ben. “You need to
lock up your women when Chance is around. He's