Best of Bosses 2008(159)

And now she was standing close and touching him. Her bright hair framed her intent face, her eyes signalled intelligence and sensitivity, and all he wanted to do was haul her closer and kiss her and—

‘The waltz is all about poise, grace and elegance,’ she told him. ‘If you listen carefully to the music, you can hear how light and smooth and airy it is.’

Obediently, Logan censored his thoughts and concentrated on Strauss’s Blue Danube. ‘The beat’s important, isn’t it?’

‘Absolutely. Counting the music is most important. That’s what will get you through this waltz. Can you count to three, Mr Black?’

He favoured her with a lopsided smile.

‘Oh, yes, of course,’ Sally said in mock apology. ‘You’ve already told me you’re very good at mathematics, so this should be a cinch.’

He couldn’t help admiring her confidence and her easy use of humour to help him to relax. She really was a surprise package—and, right now, very much in control.

‘All you have to do is count to three,’ she continued. ‘One is the most important. You need to emphasise the first beat.’

Holding his left hand in her right, she beat in time to the music. ‘Hear it? One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.’

‘Yep. Got that.’

‘The other key to the waltz is posture.’

Automatically, Logan thrust his jaw forward and his shoulders back.

‘Not like that. We don’t want you standing like a wooden soldier. You need to be lifted and light on your feet. You mustn’t weigh your partner down.’ Her eyes twinkled at him. ‘On the dance floor, the man becomes his partner’s coat hanger.’

‘That’s a role I’ve never aspired to.’

‘It’s important to remember,’ she said, suppressing a smile. ‘You need to be strong and supportive, so your arms can provide the frame for Diana Devenish to look fabulous.’

‘Right.’ Logan turned his grimace into a smile. ‘An awesome responsibility.’

‘You’ll be fine, Logan,’ she said more gently.

Logan.

It was the first time Sally had used his first name and it bothered him that he’d noticed. Why? It was of no particular significance, but simply part of her technique to get him to relax.

And yet, somehow, crazily, it felt like a big deal.

‘Now,’ she said, ‘place your right hand just below my scapula.’

‘Your what?’

‘Sorry. Too many first aid classes. Put your hand just below my shoulder blade.’

Her shoulder blade…

Valiantly, Logan attempted to follow her instruction but, as soon as his fingers made contact with her soft, exposed skin, he inhaled sharply and retracted his hand abruptly.

She had to be joking.

He shifted his hand lower to the safety of clothing. The further away from her bare skin the better.

‘Not my waist, my shoulder blade.’ Reaching behind, Sally slid his hand up her back. ‘Just think bra line.’ Her eyes narrowed shrewdly and she looked at him with a cheeky tilt of her head. ‘I’m quite sure you’ve managed to find that on a woman before.’

Very true. So why was he breaking out in a cold sweat now?

‘Now, let’s count to three and—’ Frowning at him, Sally hesitated. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Never better,’ he lied. With his hand at Sally’s bra line, counting to three was suddenly as easy as climbing Mount Everest with frostbite.

‘Fabulous. Now, we’ll step out the beat. Let’s go. One, two, three. One, two, three. Left, right, left. Right, left, right.’

Somehow, Logan managed to survive this without trampling on Sally’s toes and they actually completed a circuit around the cleared floor.

‘You make it easy,’ he told her somewhat triumphantly.

‘You’re doing really well, but we’ve a little way to go yet. Now, I want you to make the first beat strong and the second two lighter. Strong, soft, soft. Strong, soft, soft.’

They whirled together, bumped knees once or twice, but continued on without any major mishap.

‘Great!’ Sally cried. ‘Now you’re really getting it!’

He could have kissed her—might have kissed her—but she was too busy issuing more instructions.

‘OK. Now you still need to emphasise the first beat, but I’d like you to make the steps a bit oozy. Kind of like sliding in syrup.’

‘In syrup?’ he echoed faintly.

‘Mmm. You need to keep in time, but try changing the quality to a smooth, gentle, gliding motion.’

Sally demonstrated, moving away from him, gliding smoothly, fluid as air.

‘I’ll never be able to do that.’