She tried to tell herself it didn’t matter. Her emotional investment in Logan’s success was foolish. This was only a dance, for heaven’s sake. Nothing life-threatening. He would get over this embarrassment.
Easy to say…
Scared that she might actually cry, Sally closed her eyes and the lovely music continued, lilting and lush. One, two, three. One, two, three. Can you count to three, Mr Black?
She touched Chloe’s locket. It seemed so silly now, to think of it as a good luck charm.
‘Sally!’ Carissa joggled her elbow. ‘Sally, look!’
Forcing her eyes open, Sally felt her mouth wobble dangerously out of shape. Logan was dancing. He was leading with his body and gliding, gliding. Diana Devenish looked delighted as she floated in his arms, her high-heeled ruby shoes sparkling and twirling and her skirt trailing like a flame.
The handsome couple danced on and on, smoothly and elegantly, while the music swelled towards a dramatic conclusion and Logan, sensing that his ordeal was almost over, took Diana out into the centre and waltzed a little faster, showing off now. The crowd burst into applause and Sally, snuffling, clapped loudest of all.
It was ages before Logan was free. First he had to wait at Diana’s table until the other two men had their turn at dancing. And then there were all kinds of strangers crowding in to offer their congratulations.
The whole time he was fielding their hugs and back slaps, he kept a weather eye open for Sally on the far side of the room where she was chatting to Carissa’s friends. She looked, with her golden hair and her golden dress, like a slender beacon.
His little guiding light. If he hadn’t already been in debt to Sally for saving his company, he was now. This evening he’d come within a hair’s breadth of personal fiasco. He might have remained glued to the ballroom floor for ever if he hadn’t heard her voice, whispering cheekily in his ear: Can you count to three, Mr Black?
After that, Diana Devenish and the crowd had disappeared. One, two-three. Strong, soft-soft. He’d been dancing with Sally in Blackcorp’s boardroom with the tables and chairs shoved up against the walls. The waltz is all about poise, grace and elegance.
Thank you for everything, Sally Finch.
At last he reached her. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him and told him that he was fabulous, as so many others had, but, for Logan, this embrace was nothing like the others. When he hugged Sally close, he wanted to pull her even closer and never let her go. She felt so absolutely right in his arms, as if she belonged there, clasped against his heart.
‘I’ve been telling Sally she should open a dancing studio,’ Carissa said when he finally, reluctantly, released Sally.
‘She mustn’t do that.’ He looked down into Sally’s shining eyes, as blue and bright as her topaz earrings. He touched his knuckles to her flushed cheek. ‘I need her at Blackcorp.’
The colour mounted in Sally’s cheeks. She gave her trademark warm, dazzling smile and a rocky lump wedged in Logan’s throat. Last night’s lovemaking had been beyond wonderful. Sally’s exquisite tenderness, her emotional honesty and total lack of inhibition had set him craving more.
He’d never felt desire with this deep intensity and he’d give anything to be able to whisk her away from here. Now. He would take her back to his place. Or hers. Anywhere where they could be together. Alone.
‘I think it must be my turn to dance with you, Sally.’ Geoff’s voice broke into Logan’s distracted thoughts.
Sally turned to Carissa’s husband and beamed at him. ‘I’d love that, Geoff. And hey, it’s a tango! Let’s go!’
They hurried away like happy children, hand in hand, laughing even before they reached the dance floor. Jealously, Logan watched as they began to dance, grinning madly as they tangoed across the room, arms extended and cheeks touching.
Sally was so lovely, such fun. Everyone who met her was charmed by her vibrancy and warmth. She was like a tonic enriching his life.
As if she knew what he was thinking, Sally turned on the dance floor and looked back over her shoulder at him. Her eyes sparkled as their eyes met and she sent him a smile shining with love.
And then he knew…with unsettling clarity…that Sally had fallen in love with him. If only he was free to love her. If only…
Hell.
An ominous, deathlike clamp gripped his heart and he almost cried out in pain. He’d made a terrible, unforgivable mistake.
Last night Sally had told him about the rat who’d attacked her and he’d felt so protective. He’d wanted to shield her from the world.
But how could he? How could he stick to his five-year plan and remain on the pedestal she’d placed him on?