Sloane watched as Ben walked away. The minute he left, Kenzie pounced.

"What did he say to you?"

"Something like 'if you want to' but if you do wear a nice dress."

Kenzie snorted. "Like you wouldn't know how to dress."

Sloane knew he meant a different kind of 'nice'. Even Teddy had teased her that as her older brother, he should take a few ogling men outside. Although he tried to hide it behind the dirty looks he was giving them, Ben was one of those men.

When Ben returned, Sloane discovered Kenzie was a more annoying little sister than Tori if it were even possible.

"Too bad you don't know how to dance."

"Like you do?" Sloane bit her lip as Ben snapped at his sister.

"Chris taught me." Sloane had heard her refer to her husband by his first name, but he was Jett to his friends.

"Jett, you know how to dance!" Ben seemed to struggle with this news.

"Sure. My folks taught me before my cousin's wedding when I was about twelve. I'm sure we don't look like Sloane and her brother." Jett smiled the more Ben scowled.

Kenzie jumped up. "Sloane should teach you!"

She shook her head. "You should. Dancing with your brother is a rite of passage."

Jett sighed. He had been leaning in the doorway between the room the kids were in and the one with the adults. He stood up straight and walked to Sloane and reached his hand out to her. "Come, we'll show him."

She smiled and looked toward Kenzie, who shrugged. When she stood and took his hand, he put his other hand on her waist. He led, and she followed. She had danced with worse. His legs were muscular, but his movements weren't clunky.

"Benji watch our feet. One, two..." He counted out their steps.

Kenzie made Ben get on his feet and danced with him. "Ouch!" She jumped back. Ben frowned. "You've got two left feet."

"I told you I wouldn't be any good."

Jett had released Sloane. She knew she could teach him, but wasn't sure she could handle the close proximity it would require. She regretted her words the moment they leaked out. "Let me try."

Ben stared at her, but Kenzie had other ideas. She pushed him towards her. "The whole point of this is so you two can dance together."

He wasn't keen to put his hands on her, so she took his right hand and placed it at her waist. Holding her hand with his left was harder because of his cast. They stood with a gap between them thanks to their long arms.

"Watch your toes." He forced his words through gritted teeth.

"I'll lead."

He groaned. Sloane stepped back and put pressure on his back so he stepped forward, but when she stepped forward he didn't step back and she walked into him. She could feel the heat rising into her cheeks and stepped back away from him..

"Try this. Stand across from me and keep your hands by your side. Now look at our feet. Just do the opposite of me."

She stepped back, and he stepped forward. He followed her. "Now concentrate on the pattern. Muscle memory."

He did better. She encouraged him to look up, but instantly regretted it. She felt like he was studying her. He tripped up a few times, but got the hang of it. Once she felt certain, she added their arms again. His hand was warm on her back.

"You're doing it!" Kenzie silently clapped. Sloane had forgotten they had an audience.

"You'll need to practice for muscle memory."

"Since you're good at following, you can dance with Jetty." Kenzie's laugh sounded evil.

Sloane giggled and Ben squeezed her side. It didn't hurt, but reminded her. "Watch it! You're stronger than you think. You hurt my arm at the gallery." Her voice was soft, so only he could hear.

He stopped dancing and his eyes bore into hers. "I didn't mean to. I will never stop being sorry."

"I knew you didn't mean to. I don't have time to workout. I play tennis occasionally, but I'm not strong like you."

"Have you ever been to the batting cages?"

"No, I could never hit a ball."

"Kenzie can."

"That doesn't surprise me. I need to go. Keep practicing."

She stepped away. He had been looking at her with a sad expression and she wanted to hug him. His hand had burned through her back and she needed air. Sloane needed to breathe.

The kids had stolen Kenzie and Jett's attention, so she called out. "Kenzie, I'm going."

She appeared with Sean on her hip. "I thought you'd stay for dinner."

"No, I have too much to do. My weekends are short."

"Thanks for teaching left foot here. And for helping me shop."

The dancing had unnerved her. Could she handle it when his hand rested on her bare back and he wore a tuxedo?

She drove back to her apartment with no plans except to distance herself from Ben. Other cars were parked behind the Victorian. She smiled at the thought of Ted and Mia entertaining. They were a true couple and Ted deserved it.

Sloane could have spent the evening with friends, but the jumbled feeling inside of her spooked her, afraid she revealed her true feelings for Ben. Still, she felt stupid to love him, because it was one-sided and he hardly knew him. She was in love with his physical appearance and his persona. Middle school girls were smarter than her.

She climbed out of her car and carefully took her new gown out of the backseat.  Sage popped her head out of Ted's door when she was unlocking her door with her key.

"You startled me."

"New dress? I bet it's thin and sexy. The kind I can only dream about wearing."

Sloane giggled. "You'll be both those again in a few months."

"I want to see what you bought."

"Come in. Will Mia and Teddy mind?"

She waved her hand. "Teddy's too busy with his best friend, Declan, to care."

"I don't know him."

Sage smiled. "Come meet him. He's not your type."

"Like Dominic?"

"Not quite." Sage laughed as Sloane pulled up the protective plastic over her gown. "Oh! It's gorgeous. When are you wearing it?" Sloane shrugged, not ready to mention her date. "Come next door."

She let Sage pull her hand. Once she stepped inside her brother's apartment, she saw her brother sitting on the floor playing with blocks with Little Ed and a boy younger than Kenzie's son.

Aidan and his sister were there with a man she'd never met. Sage's voice filled the room. "I found Sloane. You know Brenna and that's her husband, Noah."

Sloane smiled at the doctor. He said, "You must be the Benjy Lynch fan."

"Guilty."

"He was a nice guy."

She nodded. "He's learning to accept me, as his most annoying fan and as his sister's friend."

Brenna's eyes got big. "Really! Do you know Jett?"

Sloane nodded. "He's the nicest guy in the world. I was just at his house."

"Lynch wasn't nice to you." Brenna saw him being an ass at the gallery.

"He's apologized."

"My wife prefers Jett over Lynch, but I thought he was impressive. He was in a lot of pain and refused anything for it. He struck me as a guy who cares."

Sloane had seen a look in his eyes more than once, as if he was remembering something sad. Kenzie complained that he didn't like Maisy, but she saw something different earlier. She thought of his comment about someone wanting money from him. He had a past she knew nothing about. She wanted to know but didn't think he would ever trust her.

She liked the doctor. Her brother's smile caught her eye. She understood why Declan was not her type. He had a block in his mouth.

"Teddy, are you having fun?"

He looked up at her and nodded.

Sage patted her belly and turned to Mia. "You'll be next."

Mia fought a smile. Teddy cleared his throat. "Not until I make an honest woman out of her."

"When's that happening?" The words left Sloane's mouth before she realized. The room was filled with Mia's siblings, but he was hers.

"We're talking about it."

"Ted, you know how this works. You buy a ring and ask. Then she says yes and calls her mother and all her friends screaming with joy."

Both Brenna and Mia exclaimed together. "Aidan shut up!"

Sloane laughed. Ted glared. "I know what to do but don't expect me to get down on my knee tonight."

Sloane whispered to Mia. "Has he already asked you?"

"We've talked about it." She blushed. "I'm not sure how I got so lucky. I wished for true love in the fountain years ago, and I wasted two years with the wrong man."

"It worked out. He was tied up with the... his son's mother."

"I'm just glad your family accepted me."

Sloane put her arm around Mia. "We love you."

"You'll stay for dinner."

She shook her head. "This is your family."

"Don't be silly we're all family."

Brenna was close enough to overhear. "I don't have much time left." She rubbed her belly. "But could you plan something, so I can meet Jett?"

Sloane nodded. "Your husband took care of Kenzie's brother. She'll love to meet you."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously, Jett is amazing."

Ted said, "Sloane's birthday is next month. We can have a party."

"We should have it in Weston. I think Sloane could use a trip to the fountain." Sage smiled, and Sloane didn't trust her.

Mia said, "Just give us Jett's address and we'll take care of the invitations. We'll invite Dominic."

"Who's Dominic? Your boyfriend?" Brenna hadn't met Dominic.

Sage cut her response off. "No, he's her business partner. Dom is very handsome and a perfect catch for just the right guy."

Noah turned towards their conversation. "Can I invite one of my residents? Joel's been looking for love in all the wrong places. He needs a perfect catch."

Sloane wondered if Dom would kill her if he knew. Sage interrupted her thoughts.

"What about Monty? Should we invite him?"

"He's my friend. If he had grown up when the rest of us did, I would have married him."

Edward's voice boomed. "No, you would not!"

Everyone in the room stared at him except Sloane, Mia, and Sage. They just laughed.

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