Dancing in the Dark, page 21
part #1 of Aspen Gold Series
“I requested this song for us.” He took her hand. Smiling guests parted for them to make their way to the dancefloor.
He sang softly against her hair, “’I found a love…for me….’”
“Could you be any more perfect yourself, Dusty Cavanaugh?”
“Don’t puff me up into something I’m not. I’m just a guy…dancing with a girl.”
She laughed aloud. He made her deliriously happy. He was funny, romantic, kind, and he even knew her favorite songs and foods and movies.
“They’ll be playing this every half hour, so that way I can’t lose you for long. Find me each time.”
“Did you pay extra for that?”
“Yeah. Pricier than slipping Loydell a roll of quarters.”
“Is that what you did at the VFW that night?”
“Maybe. And I wanted you to get more use out of Grandma’s dancing slippers.”
Kendra pulled aside the hem of her skirt, so he could see the satin embroidered slippers Naomi had given her.
He smiled and met her eyes.
Another couple maneuvered close to them. Crosby was dashing in dark trousers and a cream-colored summer jacket. Kendra didn’t recognize his short dark-haired plus one. He introduced her as Gemma.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Gemma,” Kendra told her. They changed partners for the next song, and she told Crosby softly, “I hope you know Brianna and I are staying friends.”
“I’m cool with that. I’m staying friends with her too.”
Jonas cut in, delighting Kendra. He wore a three-piece suit, a shirt and tie, and had gotten a haircut and his white beard trimmed.
“You are quite the dashing gentleman this evening, Mr. Finch.”
He grinned. “Couldn’t miss you two lovebirds tyin’ the knot. I feel like I had somethin’ to do with gettin’ you together.”
“I’ve remembered what you told me about Rebecca. That she was your one and only. That’s how it is with Dusty and me. He’s the only one for me.”
“I knew that the minute you looked at that ring, and I saw your face.”
She held her hand open between them, to show him the ring on her finger snugly nestled beside a wedding band. “We had to get married after you went to all the trouble of bringing my ring up from the bottom of the lake.”
“So you did. And your mama’s here. Piper showed me which one she is.”
Kendra had spoken to Jonas only a week or so ago, and he knew what had happened to Erica. She don’t look like the devil reincarnated.”
“Is that what Piper told you? She’s a little protective of me.” She spotted Lacey sitting with Ian and Roy Barns at one of the tables that had been moved over and set up just inside the perimeter of the tent. Kendra had taken her to have her hair colored and styled, and she almost blended in with the rest of the guests. “We’re never going to have a close relationship. Too much has happened for that, but I’ve forgiven her for her inability to be a good parent. She’s really trying to be a good grandparent to Ian. He loves her, and that’s what’s important.”
Erica’s death had been senseless, but nothing Kendra could ever have done would have made a difference. Her sister had made poor decisions her whole life, perhaps searching for what was missing or trying to numb the pain of rejection. Those decisions had led her down a path of destruction. Kendra was in the process of shutting the door on that chapter of her life and embracing her future.
“Dusty and I plan to name our next son after you,”
“Jonas ain’t my first name,” he revealed with a sly grin. “Are you sure you want a son named Fitzgerald?”
She looked at him wide-eyed. “Good to know. We’re sticking with Jonas.”
He cackled.
The music changed, and as Dusty had predicted the orchestra again played the music he’d requested.
“Excuse me. I have to find my husband for this song.”
“Forever dancin’ to the beat of your hearts?” Jonas asked. He’d seen the inscription inside her ring.
She nodded, gave him a hug and took her leave.
Dusty was waiting for her several feet away, a smile on his lips and a promise in his eyes. His was still the face she wanted to see every day, his the expression she wanted to watch as he spotted her across a room.
“I’m the proudest man in the world tonight.” He rested his hand on the small of her back and led her among the other dancers.
“And I’m the luckiest woman.”
His kiss tasted like wine and hinted of the years ahead.
“’Darlin’, you look perfect tonight….’”
Dear Reader,
Once upon a time a group of writer friends—helping a member with a particularly difficult thread in a continuity series contrived by her editors—got the grandiose idea to create a continuity series of their own.
Yes, this was us, and we threw ourselves wholeheartedly into developing characters, fashioning families, family dynamics, and a setting, which evolved from one member’s love of all things Colorado. We created family trees, character profiles, detailed maps, brainstormed titles and themes. We collected photos and researched and even started the stories. We proposed our idea to a few publishers and got no traction. So, after a time the contracted books came first, two members dropped out of the group, a couple new ones came and went. But the core group remained.
In a tragic turn of events we lost a beloved friend and co-writer. Grief took the remaining wind from our sails. We recovered slowly, welcomed a new friend to our critique group. Then came a day when we got together and said, “We’re going to get serious and do this!” Energy built, and the series took on new life. A previous co-creator joined us again. Now, here we are, years after the initial idea, sharing the finished stories with you and hoping you will feel the same intensity and appreciation for this project as we do. We have many more stories to share, and the ideas keep coming. Look for more books to follow in Aspen Gold: The Series.
So, come along. We welcome you to Spencer, Colorado, to have a look inside the families, to laugh in their good times and cry in their sad times, to follow them as they solve mysteries, expose secrets, recover from their pasts, reach for their goals, and most importantly—as they fall in love.
These Aspen Gold books are independently published by the authors. We thank you for your support, and we take pride in giving you quality books and excellent stories. We're thankful you've chosen to follow us and be part of the AG community.
Reviews help readers discover and connect with new authors. Every review is important to us and is greatly appreciated. Please consider leaving an honest review of this book at your favorite bookseller and Goodreads.
Aspen Gold Series
The Aspen Gold Books
Dancing In The Dark Cheryl St.John
He had everything a man could want--except her forgiveness...
Call Me Mandy Debra Hines
The last man Miranda loved took everything from her...
Ryder’s Heart *lizzie starr
Ryder discovers an intriguing woman in his bed...
For Keeps Barbara Gwen & *lizzie starr
Hiding the truth is like denying the sun...
Second Chances Donna Kaye
She tried the fairy tale and the fairy tale didn’t work...
Sleepin’ Alone Bernadette Jones
Hunter Lawe...riding the line between enforcing the law and breaking it...
Coming in 2020
Whisper My Name Cheryl St.John
Close to the Heart. Debra Hines
Stay a Little Longer Bernadette Jones
Fortunate Cookie. *lizzie starr
To learn more about the Aspen Gold Series, the books and authors, visit our website and sign up for the Rocky Mountain Rumors newsletter!
We love to hear from our readers. Contact the Aspen Gold authors at mailto:rumors@aspengoldseries.com
About the Author
Cheryl has always loved the exciting and diverse worlds available between the covers of books. As a child she wrote stories & drew covers, then stapled them into little books. She cut all the tiny images from the book club advertisements in the Sunday newspaper & glued them to bits of cardboard so Barbie® had a full library.
Cheryl is the married author of more than fifty books, both historical and contemporary. Her stories have earned numerous RITA nominations, Romantic Times awards & are published in over a dozen languages. One thing all reviewers & readers agree on regarding Cheryl’s work is the degree of emotion & believability. In describing her stories of second chances & redemption, readers & reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters & real-life situations.” Amazon & Goodreads reviews show her popularity with readers.
The author lives in the Midwest, USA. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she’s checking out garage sales, flea markets & antique malls. Among her collections are teacups & teapots, roosters, chicken kitchen timers, vintage spice tins, wooden recipe boxes, Barbies®, charm bracelets, vintage jewelry, Kokeshi dolls, white stoneware, Delftware, souvenir spoons, Goebel birds, Royal Copley planters, vintage hankies & BOOKS. Cheryl admits she’s a bargain hunter with the heart of a hoarder, trying to live as a minimalist. The struggle is real.
Check out Cheryl’s amazon author page to see an entire listing of all of her books.
Saint or Sinner
SAINT OR SINNER
American Western Historical
In this heartwarming tale of redemption, Joshua McBride returns from the war a changed man, ready to put down roots and plant his feet in the community. Prim and uptight Miss Adelaide Stapleton, leader of the Dorcas Society, doesn’t believe he’s changed—people are never what they seem. But she has plenty of secrets of her own—among them the inescapable fact that Joshua sets her heart to pounding and makes her long for his disturbing kisses. How long can she keep her own past hidden—and resist temptation?
LAND OF DREAMS
American Western Historical
In this tale of hope and love, too-tall spinster Thea Coulson wants to be a mother to a child who arrives in Nebraska on an orphan train. When Booker Hayes shows up to take his niece, a marriage of convenience suits them both. Thea’s nights are filled with dreams of the tall, dark army major, but she guards her heart. Booker’s first taste of home and hearth has him longing for more, but first he must win the trust of his niece…and the heart of the sun-kissed farmer's daughter.
RAIN SHADOW
Dutch Country Brides Book 2
American Western Historical
Raised by the Lakota Sioux and having traveled with the Wild West Show for many years, Rain Shadow is unprepared for a forced stay at the home of Anton Neubauer while her son recuperates. He is a rock, a man who has lived on and farmed the same several hundred acres since he was young.
Anton needs a mother for his son, but he needs someone domestic and ladylike, not the Smith & Wesson toting female who sets up her teepee in his front yard and whose target practice wakes him at the crack of dawn. But fate, two little boys and two old men conspire to keep them together, and it’s too late to deny their passion once love is part of the equation.
JOE’S WIFE
American Western Historical
After Meg Telford’s husband dies in the war and is lauded as a hero, she can’t keep the ranch without a man to shoulder the workload. Nothing will stop her from saving Joe’s dream. The war has taken nearly all the able-bodied men—and a devilishly handsome bad boy seems her only choice.
Town pariah, Tye Hatcher has a reputation as a hell-raiser, but he’s looking to prove himself and has his own plans for her land. Meg’s proposal might be too good to be true, but he’s willing to take a chance, even if the risk is his heart.
Struggling with the rejection of the townspeople and guilt over her changing feelings for this convenient new husband, Meg’s vulnerable dreams and their hard work will be for naught unless she and Tye reveal their secrets. Neither can change the past, but is a better future within their grasp?
A HUSBAND BY ANY OTHER NAME
Contemporary Romance
Fourteen years ago Dan Beckett’s identical twin took off without a word to his pregnant young fiancé or their father. Having secretly loved Lorraine for years, Dan assumes his twin’s identity as Lorraine’s husband and father of the baby she carried. Around the lie, he created the perfect life.
Now his greatest fear is coming true. His long-lost brother is coming home—with amnesia. Dan is about to lose his tenuous hold on this masquerade.
Lorrie built a life with Tom Beckett, the man she loves, the father of her children—but her whole married life has been a lie. Will the truth unravel the love they once shared? What will become of their family, their children…their marriage when everyone learns the truth?
ALL ABOUT THE BUNDT
After years of being asked for recipes, Cheryl St.John spent a summer writing down ingredients and baking times, baking and asking for beta testers in order to put together this collection of mouthwatering recipes for Bundt cakes. Many of the recipes are labeled NO SKILL REQUIRED, indicating exceptional ease of preparation. If you don’t consider yourself a baker or if you’re an accomplished baker and simply want a quick recipe, you will find the cakes using box mixes are convenient and delicious. You don’t have to tell anyone you started with a mix—the cakes are so good that no one will guess preparation didn’t take hours. Bake with ease and enjoy serving a beautiful cake to family and friends.
Cheryl's philosophy: Eat cake!
It's someone's birthday somewhere.
Cheryl St.John, Dancing in the Dark
