“That means we have to go to the Grange doesn’t it?” He pouted and she nodded.

“But only for a few hours. Lise is with Susan and William along with Nicholas. I’m absolutely sure Maggie and Liv won’t want to stay too long. We’ll make our exit when they do.”

“Oh, good plan.” He kissed her neck and twirled her. “Perfect. The dress is perfect for dancing.”

“It’s a swing dress, it’s made for dancing. Good choice, Matt. Thank you for thinking of me.”

Once at the Grange, they checked in at the table but quickly headed out to the dance floor. He loved dancing with her. She was so good at it, people often stopped to watch her. And with her heels she fit him nicely, soft against the hard wall of his chest. Perfect.

“Look at them. Goodness sakes, there’s love for you.” Polly squeezed Edward’s hand.

“She looks lovely tonight. In love too. I think moving in was a good choice. I know you want them married and having babies already but she’s had a rough road to get to this point. She can see every day how much he loves her. How she fits into his life and his family. And people round town are starting to notice too.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Chase, how are you tonight?” Melanie appeared at their table and Polly turned a narrow eyed gaze on her.

“Better once you move yourself away from my sight.”

Edward smiled. “Now, lamb, I’m sure Miss Deeds here is only going to tell us she’s been powerfully wrong about our Tate and how she’s sorry she’s been spreading such lies about her all over town.”

“No, Mr. Chase, can’t you see? She’s a bad, bad person! She’s had Matt move in to pay for her house. She’s making it bigger on his dime. She’s just using him. I loved him, I hate seeing you all taken in by her this way. She’s a gold digger plain and simple.”

Polly snorted and Maggie tossed a crouton at Melanie’s head. “Hit the road, Melanie. You’re an idiot plain and simple. Suck it up, Matt chose Tate. He broke up with you long before he found Tate. If you don’t shut your mouth now, you’re looking at a tableful of trouble. I promised to hold Liv’s hair back when you got out of line again and she’s still wild with pregnancy hormones.”

Liv laughed and Marc patted her hand.

Cassie looked Melanie up and down. “What’s your deal anyway? You’re the nastiest piece of work I’ve seen in a long time. We don’t like you. We think you’re a hateful twit and Tate is one of ours. Matt didn’t want you. There are other men in Petal, not our men, they’re all taken and we don’t share. And we don’t take kindly to our own being attacked by the likes of you.”

“You girls scare me. I’m glad you’re on my side.” Shane winked at Cassie.

“Well, you’ve said what you needed to say and you’re wrong of course. But you know that and that only makes you even more pathetic. As I told your mother last week. And as you’ve continued this nasty campaign against our Tate, it’s been hard but I’ve had to shift my business to another florist cross town. Now, if you had any actual skills and say, a job or a business, I’d threaten that but you just live off your folks. Which sort of makes the whole idea that anyone with a job and a business the gold digger instead of you very ironic and ridiculous too. But I suspect you’d need a dictionary to know you were just insulted. So scamper along now before a drink gets spilled on you.” Polly waved her away and Melanie stomped off with a wounded squeal.

The men at the table clapped and each woman gave a bow.

“Matt, I think you should take the river road.” Tate looked out the window at the clear night sky, the stars twinkling bright above them.

“Okay, anything for you, Venus.”

She rustled around and held out her panties. “Good.”

“Jeez, Tate, you’re going to give me a heart attack!” He tried not to speed as he headed down the rural road that edged the river leading to the lake.

“Park, Matt. I can’t wait much longer.”

And she couldn’t. Tate needed him desperately and she wasn’t quite sure why but he had to be inside her and as quickly as possible.

He pulled off, parking under an old willow tree and she turned, moving the dress out from beneath her as she crawled toward him.

Scooting toward her, he met her halfway and she hopped on his lap, grinding herself against him as he kissed her. His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her to him as he ate at her mouth, devouring her sighs and moans.

The other hand found its way under her dress and between her thighs. “Holy shit, you’re scalding hot,” he whispered into her mouth and she squirmed against his hand.

“Please, put your c**k inside me. Please.”

“You undo me when you need me so much.”

She lifted up and yanked his pants open, freeing him. She slid the head of his c**k through her wetness before guiding him to her gate and sinking down on him.

“What brought this on? Not that I’m complaining.” He thrust up into her and she arched her back.

“I’ve needed you all day and we were rushed but dancing with you, your eyes on me all night, you’re so f**king handsome and sexy. I just…yes oh like that…needed you so bad.”

“Take your br**sts out for me, Tate. Hold them so I can kiss and lick your pretty ni**les.”

She gasped softly and undid the side zipper enough to reach into the bodice and free her br**sts.