The closer they got to the open arena, the louder the music became, geared more toward the young kids, with what Sara recognized as Top 100 music keeping things hopping. And though Rafe remained by her side, there was no warmth between them anymore, no relaxed enjoyment of their time together.
She’d blown that in one selfishly spoken, fear-induced toast.
Sara didn’t kid herself, either. If not for his promise to the captain to help keep her safe, Rafe would walk away and leave her behind. But Rafe was a stand-up, honorable guy. And he deserved a lot better than a commitment-phobic woman like her.
The next hour flew by in a blur of people, introductions and wine being passed around by different distributors who wanted people to taste their product. Sara had no time alone with Rafe, and he made it a point of keeping busy talking to his friends and neighbors—and of introducing her as his ex-partner visiting from the city.
Not even as his friend.
Her heart lodged in her throat, pain she herself had caused nearly swallowing her whole. Just when Sara thought she couldn’t stand his aloofness anymore, the deejay suddenly began to speak into the microphone, capturing the crowd’s attention.
“I’d like to get this party started! I want more people on the dance floor, so if I say Snowball, you all know what to do!” The music immediately switched into high gear, and people began to couple up to dance.
Rafe grabbed Sara, keeping his word to stick close. He held on to her hand, doing the obligatory dance while keeping the pace slow, careful to watch out for her knee.
It was the first chance she’d had to get him alone, and though she wanted to apologize or at least try to explain her thoughtless words earlier, words failed her. She couldn’t just launch into a bumbling explanation of how much he meant to her, but she couldn’t allow herself to feel more.
“What’s Snowball?” she blurted out instead. She’d work her way up to the apology.
Rafe wasn’t in the mood to talk, but better to discuss the type of dance than get into a discussion of feelings. She obviously had none.
“Every few minutes, the deejay says Snowball and the music stops long enough for everyone to switch partners.” Which meant it was probably time for him to get Sara out of here, he thought.
He wasn’t looking forward to being alone with her in his house, where anything they did together was a reminder that they were just friends with benefits. Even now, the words stung.
He shouldn’t have been shocked by her proclamation. Even when they’d made love, he’d known the minute she realized there was more going on between them than sex. That second when they’d locked gazes and more passed between them, she’d panicked and attempted to pull back, but even then, she’d asked him to make love to her.
And he had.
Afterward, he’d refused to let his mind go anyplace but forward, and her words had been like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head. He ought to thank her for the cold shock of reality before he deluded himself even more.
“Snowball!” the deejay called out.
Shit. Rafe tried to hang on to Sara’s hand, but his brother immediately cut in, leaving Rafe with no choice but to switch partners and dance with Angel while keeping an eye on Sara from a distance.
“Uh-oh. You look like you want to kill someone,” Angel observed.
He frowned. “Sorry. I was just thinking it’s time to get out of here. The crowds are getting to be a little much.”
“I don’t blame you for being worried about her. Rafe, I really am sorry I let the Bachelor Blogger know where to find her.”
“I know that. You didn’t mean any harm.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at him. “Sara’s lucky to have you. I hope you know what a good thing you have and don’t let her get away,” Angel said.
Rafe shook his head, amazed by his sister-in-law. Separated from her husband, Angel had every reason to be bitter and disillusioned about relationships, yet she still believed in romance and forever.
Unlike Sara.
“Go cut in on Nick,” Angel suggested.
“In a minute. Is everything okay with you?” They both knew he was referring to Nick.
“Things seem to be looking up, but I take one minute at a time.” She smiled as they kept up with the beat.
“Snowball!”
“Bye!” Angel said, twirling away.
Rafe noticed one of her boarders grabbed Angel next, and he intended to get Sara before the other one zeroed in on her. But an old high-school girlfriend swooped in on Rafe first, and because they hadn’t talked in a while, she refused to take the hint and free him up.
“Snowball!”
He looked around for Sara and noticed her with a local. A woman who said her name was Joy grabbed hold of him for a few minutes before they were separated by the deejay.
“Snowball!”
This time when Rafe glanced around for Sara, too many other couples blocked his view. Panic consumed him, and he ducked out on the next waiting woman and began a hunt for Sara, pushing past old couples, young couples, people he knew and too many he didn’t while he roamed the grassy dance floor. It took what felt like forever for him to locate her, and when he did, she wasn’t with a dance partner, either.
Pale and seemingly frantic, her gaze darted around warily, looking for him. “Sara! I’m right here!”
She turned, catching sight of him, and he knew immediately something was wrong. “What happened?”
“Not you! I’m looking for him!”
“Who?”
She strained to look past him. He grabbed her shoulders. “Hang on. Take a breath and talk to me.”
She nodded. “I was dancing with Nick. Then someone I didn’t know, but he could have been my grandfather, and he was sweet, and then Biff, and then another man…” She narrowed her gaze. “Young, dark hair, white T-shirt, scruffy like he hadn’t shaved.”
“That sounds like half the men here.”
“It was quick. The quickest dance of the night. Unmemorable except for what he said. Anywhere, anytime. I told you so.” She shook her head. “That’s exactly what was in the note left at my apartment. We can get to you anywhere, anytime.”
“We’re getting out of here,” Rafe said.
Sara didn’t argue.
THEIR PERSONAL PROBLEMS took a backseat to the real and present danger. The Snowball dance and the partner switch had been a nice break from the intensity of being with Rafe, and Sara had even managed to put the danger factor aside for a little while. Until the stranger had whispered in her ear.