“Are you now trying to tell me she’s acting like this for the money, and not for you?”
His heart stabbed. What if she was? What if her father was right and she was only caught up in the emotions of the moment? Hadn’t she admitted she’d done that before? What if, once out in the real world, she realized she didn’t want this at all?
Luc swallowed. Cleared his throat. “I can’t answer that. Again, that’s something you should talk to her about.”
“You don’t know her, Luc. You might think you do, but you’ve been in this bubble and have no real clue. And you might think you have feelings for her, but I suspect we both know those feelings won’t last. And you’ll break her heart, and her mother and I will have to pick up the pieces, just like we had to do with her sister.”
Luc shook his head. “I won’t hurt her.”
“You say that now, but I know you will.”
“Dad?”
Luc turned, pushing past his frustration to find a smile for Bailey as she tucked herself close to his side.
“What are you two doing talking over here? Come on, everybody is enjoying themselves and you both look so serious.”
“Sorry, Bails.” He was sorely tempted to kiss her again, right in front of her dad, just to stake his claim. But that wasn’t fair or right or kind, so he let her lead him back to the crowd, offering a nod to Wayne. “Thanks for the chat, sir.”
“I’ll be watching you, Luc.”
His stomach dipped. And no doubt hoping he’d fail.
Before he could get swept into other people’s conversations, he had to have an important one with her, so he drew her aside and pivoted to face her.
“Is everything okay with you and my dad?”
“Yeah.” It would be. He hoped. He’d pray. “How about you? How are you doing? Is this crazy enough for you yet?”
“It’s so amazing. The whole night has been amazing. I’m sure I’ll be tired as anything tomorrow, but at least we can sleep on the plane, right?”
He nodded. They’d fly back tomorrow afternoon, then the real fun would begin. Him with prepping for hockey, her back to her studio. And they’d see if Wayne was right and whether this was a bubble or was something real. His heart tensed. “Bails, about before, I just wanted to make sure you were okay about that kiss.”
The sunshine in her face faded, and she nibbled her lip. “It took me by surprise, that’s all.”
“So you didn’t mind?” He had to know. Especially after her dad had sown seeds of doubt about whether this could work.
“I don’t mind if… if this means we really are a couple now.”
“Of course we’re a couple.”
“Really?”
“One hundred percent.”
Joy lit her face, and she jumped into his arms, and he automatically caught her. Then she smiled and leaned close, and her eyelids drifted closed, and her mouth was on his, in an innocent fairytale kiss worthy of that pink dress she’d worn for their waltz. Then her lips firmed, tentatively exploring. He wrapped both arms around her more firmly and let her continue, then kissed her back in a way that would make her feel in no way uncertain about his feelings. Her hands dug into his hair and her lips slowly parted and he was sorely tempted to deepen things, but knew they were too new, and this was hardly the place for that kind of kissing.
He ended the kiss in a series of three pecks and caught his breath, and she leaned her forehead against his, their noses touching. No. Wayne was wrong. This was real, this would last. It had to. He was never not living without this woman in his life. Especially knowing he’d be forever missing out on the best kisses of his life.
“So Bails, does that answer your question?”
Her smile shimmered joy through his soul. “Yes.”
He had to kiss her again, then, conscious that with her in his arms like this, her gold dress with its split was probably revealing more than it needed to, he gently lowered her without breaking the kiss in a graceful move worthy of a ten.
She pulled away, sighed, and smiled up at him. “Look who’s got all the moves.”
“I’ve had a great teacher.”
Bailey laughed, and he smiled at his favorite sound. “Does this mean we’re Instagram official now?” she asked.
“Only if we post something to Instagram. Which means we better do that.”
She touched her hair which she’d taken out of its tight hold. “Do I look—?”
“Perfect? Of course you do. You look great. Come here.” He tucked her close, stuck his phone on selfie mode and snapped a few pictures of them, then asked her to choose. She did, and he sent it to her number. “Let’s post it when we’re at the airport tomorrow.”
“You mean today.” She pointed to the clock.
He glanced across the hushed room, to see all eyes on them. Judges, contestants, crew, his friends, hers, his folks and her parents.
And sure enough, Bailey’s dad was frowning at him.
CHAPTER 18
Winnipeg