Page 12 of Caden
Nearly an hour later, the meal over, the DJ that had been playing quietly until now, picked up the mike and announced the first dance. The first notes of a song came over the PA system and recognition made Caden grin. He watched as the bride and groom circled the table and began to dance together as the familiar notes of One Man Band by Old Dominion played.
“Not what I would have guessed for a couple that’s been together for so long, but it works.”
Olivia made a face. “I said as much to Lainey, but she insisted. This is the song Jared proposed to. I get it and when you know that it makes sense. But I had a couple of other songs picked out.”
“Like?” Caden found himself asking as he watched the couple on the dance floor sway back and forth while gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Mostly older songs, but things they’ve listened to for years. Don’t Take the Girl, We Danced, Amazed, that kind of thing.”
He looked at the pair dancing and then back to Olivia.
“Some of those songs are older than they are.”
“Nah, but some of them are from when we were kids.” She turned to grin at him. “Like I said, those two have been thick as thieves since we were kids. It seems like he’s always been around to me.”
“Did they ever date anyone else?”
To his surprise, Olivia nodded. “They did. In high school they were on again off again, then they went to different schools in college and decided it would be too hard to keep things together with the distance, but they kept ending up together. It was during their senior year they gave up fighting it. I know it hasn’t always been easy for them. They’ve had several rough spots, but they always managed to get through them, usually by leaning on each other. I have faith that now that they’ve made it this far, nothing can tear them apart.”
Caden wasn’t so sure, but he wouldn’t say anything, partly because a wedding wasn’t the place for that, and partly because he didn’t know these two. Maybe they were destined for each other. He glanced at Olivia again and wanted to drag her out onto the dance floor, just so he had an excuse to hold her close to him, maybe kiss her again. But he waited. He would get the chance he just had to be patient.
10
As the evening wound down, Olivia, her parents and siblings managed to get Lainey and Jared loaded into a car and gone, they were headed to a hotel in Bismarck for tonight then off to Florida for a week for their honeymoon. After that the party broke up rather quickly.
She and Caden weren’t the last to leave but there were only a few vehicles left in the parking lot as they walked out to his pickup, her hand curled around his arm as they strolled side by side.
“Thanks again for doing this for me,” Olivia said.
“I’m glad I did. It was fun. Are you done for the night, or could I take out for something? Dessert, coffee?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m about done for tonight. It’s been a long day and my feet hurt.” She had a couple things in mind she’d like to do with him, but they weren’t things she wanted to be seen doing, at least not in public. She couldn’t imagine her mother’s reaction if word got back to her. Though she’d done well, and had been very gracious when she’d met him. Hadn’t even blinked at his tattoos, much less shot Olivia the questioning look and later cornered her to grill her about what was she thinking like she’d expected.
When they reached the truck, he once more helped her into the seat before going around to his side and climbing in.
“Back to your place it is,” he said starting the truck. They didn’t say much on the trip.
Her mind was still on the wedding. Well, split between that and how to ask him in once they got back to her place. She didn’t know how he would respond, but she had been careful to have a couple of sips of champagne as they made toast early in the evening then stick to water or soda for the rest of the night. Olivia couldn’t recall if she’d already told him she wasn’t much of a drinker, but she’d noticed him watching what she’d drank all night. Not that she was worried about him, but she didn’t care for the effects of alcohol. And she didn’t want him to use that she’d been drinking as an excuse to deny her once they reached the house.
“What are you thinking?” His words startled her.
“Not much, why?”
“You’ve got a mischievous smile that’s got me worried about what you’re up to.”
“Nothing nefarious. I promise.”
She saw him glance at her in the dim glow from the streetlights before turning his gaze back onto the road. When they pulled up in front of her place, it took her a moment to register their arrival. By the time she did, Caden had gotten out and come around her side. He helped her down and while it was an old-fashioned gesture, she appreciated it because her heels made it difficult to get in and out of the lifted pickup.
Olivia wasn’t surprised when he walked her to the door, from what she knew of him, he would, and she’d counted on it. She unlocked the door then turned to him. A breeze blew through sending a shiver through her.
“You’re cold. You should go inside,” Caden said, a gentle smile curving his mouth.
“I will but I don’t want to go alone. Come inside with me.”
“I’m not sure if I should.” He glanced at the door then back toward his truck. “Are you sure you want this? I didn’t miss the unhappy looks your mom gave me when she thought no one else was looking.”
Olivia rolled her eyes and laughed. “I knew how Mom would react and I don’t care. She doesn’t run my life or make decisions for me. I do that. And I have no doubts. I want to see where this is going.” She reached up and grabbed a fist full of his shirt just below the collar then tugged him down until she reach him as she stretched up to kiss him.