“I see,” her father said and a wounded look crossed his eyes. “Well, I guess I can’t blame you for how you feel.” He sighed audibly and his shoulders slumped a little. “What is it they say, ‘Time heals all wounds’?”

“Or wounds all heels,” she said automatically, then wished she could call the words back when she noticed his lips flattening over his teeth.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here, Tiffany, no matter what the reason. Don’t worry about Stephen. He’s here somewhere, I’m sure of it. Enjoy the reception.”

“Switch,” the bandleader called out just as the tempo of the music changed. Her father released her. She turned and walked quickly off the dance floor just as she recognized the first strains of “And I Love Her,” an old Beatles tune.

She ran smack-dab into J.D. “Found him,” he said, cocking his head in the direction of the stables. A few boys had gathered in the shadows, perched on the fence rail like birds on a telephone wire. “Stephen’s over there,” he said, and when Tiffany started to bolt toward the group, J.D. held her hand. “Let him be, Tiff. I already talked to him and gave him the lecture of his life about scaring you the way he did. He knows you’re going to tear into him, so wait a few minutes. Let what I said sink into his brain and allow him to sweat about what you’ll do to him. Then you can go for it.”

Her knees went weak with relief. “I’m just glad he’s okay.”

“But he did lie and sneak around.”

“I know. I’ll deal with it. Believe me.”

“Later.” J.D. manacled her wrist in his strong fingers and pulled her back to the dance floor. “Right now, let’s indulge ourselves.”

She shook her head vehemently. “I think I disgraced myself enough for one night.”

“Not yet,” he said, propelling her to a space on the rapidly shrinking floor. “There are hours and hours yet for you to really make a fool of yourself.”

She giggled despite herself. “Flatterer.” With a smile, she added, “Hey, don’t I get a say in this? Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be looking for a new partner?”

“You found him,” he replied and his expression was so intense that her breath got lost somewhere in her lungs. For a heartbeat the sounds of the reception faded, the lights and music blurred and she fought against the feeling that they were alone and intimate. He tugged on her hand, pulled her tightly into his embrace and sighed against her hair. “Isn’t this better?”