Page 22 of Finding Home at Hearts Hotel

As Maggie descended the wooden steps of the stage, her boots clicked rhythmically against the risers while the thunderous roar of the crowd continued to reverberate through the high cedar rafters of the barn. Her hands were wrapped tightly around the cool, heavy metal handles of the golden trophy, her heart thumping wildly against her ribs from the sheer, exhilarating rush of the victory. She walked back down the narrow gravel aisle toward their long picnic table, her face flushed with a triumphant glow as her friends stood up to cheer her on.

Michael stepped out from the bench, his broad shoulders squared and a proud smile lighting up his handsome features. He pulled her chair back with an unhurried courtesy, waiting for her to settle the heavy trophy right in the center of the checkered tablecloth before he wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders. He leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss against her temple that made her pulse skip a beat.

"That was an incredibly beautiful speech," Michael whispered, his breath tickling her ear as he sat down beside her. "And we're most definitely going to be back next summer to defend our title."

"We're going to have to," Maggie replied, her voice slightly breathless as she leaned into the solid comfort of his side. "I don't think Sanibel is going to let us off the hook after that warning."

Penny leaned forward from her seat at the far end of the row, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous, bright excitement as she smoothed down her blue vice-captain sticker. "Well, if we're going to maintain this level of dominance, we have exactly a year to prepare. I’m thinking we start a strict, daily athletic training program next week. We need to get the entire team into peak physical shape so we can win even more trophies next summer, and by a much wider margin."

A loud, collective groan instantly rolled down the row of their group, several people shaking their heads in mock horror at the prospect of Penny’s organized drills.

"I'm actually going to be completely away for the rest of the year," Isabel announced with a quick, playful roll of her eyes as she adjusted her straw hat. "I have a... well, I have a very important thing scheduled."

"Yes, I have that exact same thing on my calendar," Owen agreed, leaning back against his seat with a chuckle as he adjusted his glasses. "It's a highly demanding, long-term commitment."

Linda popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth, a knowing, amused smile playing on her lips. "Oh, right. I remember. We planned that specific thing quite a while ago, didn't we?"

"That's absolutely right," Darius chimed in, clicking his fingers together with a boyish, triumphant grin as he looked across at the captains. "Sorry, you three, but we're simply not going to beavailable for any physical training for the rest of the year. We all have a very pressing, unavoidable thing to attend to."

Maggie, Michael, and Penny exchanged a look of mock disappointment, sighing in perfect unison as they looked down the table at their lazy friends.

"So lazy," Maggie muttered with a playful sniff, though she couldn't hide the tender, happy smile that tugged at her lips.

Everyone burst into a round of genuine, easy laughter, the lighthearted banter completely dissolving the remaining tension of the competitive day.

The chatter at the tables gradually died down as Pete walked back up to the center of the elevated stage, tapping the microphone twice to capture the room's attention. The speakers let out a small, high-pitched feedback squeak before he adjusted the stand, his weathered face crinkling with a welcoming smile as he looked out over the crowded floor.

"I want to thank every single one of you for joining us for the Summer Lake Games today," Pete announced, his deep voice carrying clearly over the speakers to the very back corners of the barn. "Thanks to your incredible participation, your registrations, and the purchases at the stalls, we've raised a record-breaking sum of money. Every single penny of the proceeds from today's games is going directly to the regional children's hospital fund that our bay has proudly supported for years."

The barn erupted into another loud round of applause, several people stomping their boots in approval.

"Now, I know you're all starving after running around in the sun all afternoon," Pete continued, gesturing toward the long,steam-capped buffet tables set up along the side wall. "So please, go ahead and line up to grab some food. The kitchen crew has prepared a classic summer feast. We’ve got barbecued burgers, slow-smoked ribs, thick-cut steaks, grilled corn on the cob, potato salad, and fresh peach cobbler. We’re going to give everyone about two hours to eat, relax, and let your food digest before we clear the floor to start the dancing. Enjoy the evening, folks!"

The crowd cheered again, the smell of charred hickory and sweet barbecue sauce instantly setting Maggie's mouth to watering. She and Michael stood up, joining the relaxed line heading toward the buffet. They piled their plates high with the smoky ribs and grilled corn, carrying their feast back to the table where the kids were already laughing and comparing their custom stickers. As Maggie took her first bite of the tender, slow-cooked meat, she let out a sigh of pure satisfaction. Sitting here under the balmy glow of the fairy lights, her shoulder brushing against Michael's as they ate and talked, she felt a deep, unshakeable sense of peace. The agonizing, drawn-out battle of her divorce from Kevin and the constant legal threats against her boutique seemed miles away, completely powerless against the safety of the family surrounding her.

Two hours later, the heavy wooden picnic tables and paper plates were cleared away by Pete's hardworking staff, and the folding chairs were moved back against the cedar walls to open up the spacious wooden dance floor. The air inside the barn had grown cooler as the night settled over the lake, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of sweet pines and lake water through the open double doors.

The local country band moved back onto the elevated stage, the steel guitar player testing his chords with a slow, slide-glidepass, while the drummer tapped a testing rhythm against the snare.

Suddenly, the bright overhead lights in the barn dimmed, the white fairy lights strung across the massive oak rafters casting a romantic glow over the entire room. A single, bright spotlight hit the center of the stage.

Karla, who sang in the band, stepped up to the microphone, her eyes sparkling with excitement under her straw cowboy hat. "It's time for the dancing part of the evening, everyone!" she announced, her voice carrying a lively, energetic ring. "Grab your partners, and let's get this party started!"

The crowd let out another loud cheer as the band launched into a fast, upbeat bluegrass tune. Within seconds, the empty floor was flooded with couples, their boots stomping in perfect, rhythmic synchronization as a friend of Karla's stepped onto the floor to lead the group in a series of lively barn dances.

Maggie felt a sudden, happy tug at her hand as Michael pulled her onto the floor, his dark eyes crinkling with a earnest inviting smile. "Come on," he said. "You aren't escaping this."

For the next two hours, the barn was a whirlwind of motion, music, and laughter. Maggie was completely swept up in the joyful energy of the crowd. She danced until her boots felt heavy and her feet ached, but she couldn't stop laughing.

She watched the couples around them: Owen was trying his best to navigate a fast-paced line dance with Isabel, looking adorably clumsy but completely happy as he spun her under his arm. Martin and Penny were moving in surprisingly smooth, graceful synchronization near the center of the floor, their faces flushed and their eyes locking in a private world of their own. Linda andDarius were dancing near the edge of the floor, moving with an easy rhythm that made them look as though they’d been dancing together for years.

The fast, lively tempo of the bluegrass music finally began to drop. The fiddle faded out, replaced by the sweet, and slow strumming of an acoustic guitar as the band transitioned into a gentle, swaying melody. The rhythm of the room shifted, the energetic stomping of boots softening into a slow, relaxed glide.

Maggie let out a slow, tired breath, wiping a light bead of sweat from her forehead. "I'm going to grab a glass of ice water," she told Michael, starting to turn back toward the edge of the floor. "My feet are officially on fire."

"Not yet," Michael murmured, his fingers gently tightening around her hand to halt her stride. One of his favorite slow songs had just begun to play, the beautiful melody of the steel guitar carrying an emotional weight. He stepped closer, his broad frame blocking out the glare of the spotlight. "Stay with me for this one."

Before she could answer, he pulled her gently but firmly into his arms. One of his large, strong hands rested securely against the small of her back, while she rested her palm against his broad shoulder, her other hand linked securely in his as they began to sway. They moved in a perfect, fluid rhythm, their steps completely synchronized to the slow tempo of the music.