Through A Magnolia Filter

She pounded his shoulders. “Put me down.”

He dropped her to her feet and gave her a smacking kiss. “Merry Christmas.”

She patted his cheek. They’d dated years ago when Zach had needed help on a paper, but Zach had been right. They were better as friends. “Merry Christmas to you.”

Liam hung behind, a frown pushing his sharp black eyebrows together. She towed him to a table filled with people. The more the merrier, right?

“Gang, this is Liam. He’s staying at Fitzgerald House through March.” She introduced the people she knew; others filled in their names. “He’s making a documentary.”

If that didn’t get people talking to him, she didn’t know what would.

Chairs were dragged to the table. Liam slipped along the wall, sitting next to a pretty blonde. He wasn’t frowning, but he wasn’t smiling, either.

Dolley took a spot closer to the middle of the table. She could watch his face but couldn’t hear what he and the blonde were saying. Her chest squeezed a little, but she pushed it away. He was her teacher, and she was on a hiatus.

“How are things?” she asked Zach.

“Pretty damn good.” He wrapped an arm around the brunette sitting next to him. “Meet Erica.”

Erica smiled. “Hi, Dolley.”

After chatting with Erica for a while, she leaned in to Zach. “She’s perfect for you.”

“I know.” He grinned and pressed a kiss to his girlfriend’s cheek.

Zach’s grin reminded her of tonight’s objective. Get Liam to smile.

She looked down the table, and Liam was staring—at Zach and Erica.

When the server came over, she ordered a martini called Santa’s Jollies. Might as well get in the Christmas mood.

Her drink arrived, and she held it up, giving Liam a silent toast. He saluted her with his beer. And smiled. Number one. She wracked it up on her mental spreadsheet.

The blonde leaned in and pointed at his beer. Liam nodded as he responded to her.

“Zach,” she asked. “Who’s the girl at the end of the table?”

He looked over. “Shana?”

“Right.”

“You should worry about your friend.” Zach leaned closer. “She just jettisoned her last boyfriend and is looking for a new conquest.”

Shana pointed to the dance floor, tugging on Liam’s arm.

Dolley’s throat constricted. Would he dance?

He shook his head, and the blonde pouted.

Dolley was stupidly relieved.

Liam tipped his chair back, resting against the wall. Mamma would scold him for balancing on two legs, but it gave her an opportunity to admire his lean form. The man made black jeans look like a work of art. With his black hair and bright blue eyes, he was striking.

She sighed. Not for her. But he sure was easy on the eyes. She stared for a minute, frowning. He wasn’t—engaged. He talked to people next to him, but he didn’t lean in like he was part of the conversation. It was like he was a spectator.

The band changed to playing fifties music, happy songs. The walking bass had her toes tapping.

A friend she hadn’t seen in a couple of years touched her shoulder. “Dolley, how are you?”

“Brad?” She gave him a hug. “I’m great. And you?”

They yelled over the sound, trying to catch up. Finally Brad rolled his eyes. “It’s impossible to talk. Let’s dance.”

“Sure.”

She checked on Liam. He was frowning again. She tried to give him head signals, suggesting he ask someone to dance, but he apparently couldn’t read Savannah sign language.

Maybe she’d have to ask him to dance. A little jolt went through her. What would his arms feel like holding her?

Nope. Being held by Liam wasn’t her objective. She wanted to ease the solemn look off his face and have him participate in the evening. Was that too much to ask when she threw strangers together? He needed to smile four more times. Maybe if he asked Shana to dance, she could accomplish that.

And maybe he would go home with Shana.

She stumbled.

Brad tugged her into the familiar steps of the Lindy. She let the music and Brad spin her into a happy place.

She and Brad had learned how to Lindy from his parents. They’d dated once, but as usual, they’d decided they were better off as friends. Her dating history was pathetic.

Brad pushed her out so their arms extended, then he tugged and she spun back to him. They rocked back and forth to “Rock Around the Clock.”

They settled into the setup of their signature move. Brad grabbed her by the waist, and she swung her legs from one of his hips to the other.

“Do the flip?” he mouthed.

She shook her head. “No!”

They were laughing as the music ended, and he spun her into his arms once more.

“That was great,” Brad gasped.

Dolley twirled around. “I loved it.”

“Thanks.” He walked her back to the table. “Nothing like reliving our youth, but I’ll be stiff tomorrow.”

They talked for a few more minutes, then the people at Brad’s table waved him back.

“You looked good out there,” Zach said.