Daisy, who’d been tense before, melted against him, and those dark shining eyes fluttered. Whatever he’d been expecting from having this woman in his arms was nothing to the feelings that overwhelmed him in those few seconds.
He felt complete. Happy—no, joyous. He wanted to be able to kiss this woman every day.
Someone chuckled and it was enough to break the spell as Daisy’s eyes opened and, realizing they’d lost themselves over to the kiss, they broke apart.
Stan was saying something else but Jack didn’t hear him. He’d done what he was asked to do, played the part, and now he just wanted these people to leave so he could be alone with Daisy.
There was only one way he could manage both.
“Actually, if you don’t mind,” he interrupted. “I promised my fiancée that we’d have time tonight for some dancing.”
Without waiting for a response, he held his hand to Daisy, who took it without hesitation, her expression a blend of relief and…shock, might be a better way to describe it. A few other couples were already dancing in the middle of the patio and, returning his other hand to her waist, he eased them alongside the rest.
Words escaped him as his heart beat hard and fast, almost as if beating for the first time in a long time. Kissing Daisy had shaken him more than he would have thought. The thrill and joy he’d felt during the seconds of that kiss were still with him, however, buoying every step they took on the floor.
He could apologize, he supposed. For having to put her in the position where they had to give in to such a public display of affection but…he was far from sorry and he couldn’t say otherwise. Instead, he smiled, wanting to reconnect with the quiet woman in his arms, make her smile back.
“It’s a pity really,” he started, waiting for her to meet his eyes, which she did, uncertainty in hers. “A pity in that Glenda wasn’t here to give us some sort of rating on our performance.”
Her face was inscrutable as she processed this, before she sputtered and laughed. “I’m sure she would have found some room for improvement. Might even have stepped in my place to show us exactly how we could improve.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think we nailed it pretty well, for a first kiss and all.”
“Cocky,” she said, raising her brows, still smiling.
“I’m nothing but honest. But I could be wrong. Maybe there is room for some improvement. I’m game for some practice. You know, in case we get called to perform again.”
“I bet you would.”
The final notes of the song played but instead of releasing her, he held her hand closer, enjoying the weight of it in his. “There’s no way I’m going to let you slip away just yet, you know.”
On cue, the music of the next song started up.
She laughed. “Since I love dancing and you seem to be a passable dance partner, I’ll let you get away with it.”
“Passable, huh? I have a few more moves that just might surprise you,” he said, his tone tinged with innuendo.
“I am sure you do.”
And like that, any worry or stress he’d had at the prospect of faking this engagement disappeared. The feelings he had were real and he hadn’t felt this happy and hopeful in a long time.
This was fate. This woman was meant to be with him.
And she might not recognize that just yet, but he had time to show her otherwise. Starting tonight. He stepped lightly to the side, spinning her around, and she laughed as she came back into his arms.
Yeah. This just might work after all.
Chapter Ten
Daisy sighed as she looked out the window, the hotel disappearing from view as they rounded a curve. Her head was spinning from too much champagne, but with the kids tucked safely in bed, the stars shining down above her, and the magic of the night, she’d allowed herself the indulgence, just this once.
In fact, the entire night had felt like one indulgence after the other, beginning with the ring placed on her finger—even if it wasn’t hers forever. But it had been fun pretending that for a little while, this ring—and this man—were both hers.
Then there’d been the kiss followed by dancing under the stars. She couldn’t have imagined the night being anymore perfect.
She sank back farther into the seat, aware of Jack lost in his own next to her, and she remembered the kiss that had left her wobbly. And the warmth and electricity that sparked the moment their lips had touched, despite their audience.
Even now, with him just a few inches away, she wondered whether they could recapture that same