I stood frozen in place, overcome by the flurry of sensations pummeling my system. In my head a zillion thoughts were racing.
His head tipped.
Was he going to kiss me?
This man? This gorgeous, successful man?
Me?
It lowered a tiny bit. And a little more.
Yes, yes he was!
My heart jerked in my chest. The air squeezed out of my lungs. My fingers curled, catching the smooth fabric of his shirt, wadding it.
I couldn’t let this happen.
Yes, I could.
Shouldn’t.
But ohmygod, I wanted him to.
My head said no.
My body, every single cell but the ones inside my skull, screamed yes.
My eyelids fell shut just as his lips found mine. Oh so softly they brushed over mine. Too softly.
And then they were gone.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. His hold on me loosening slightly, he fell back into a slow combination of hip sways and footsteps as the band started playing another song.
Sorry. He was sorry.
Was I?
Suddenly mortified, I mumbled, “It…it’s okay.” I followed along, my eyes closed. Despite that awkward moment, dancing with him was like being hypnotized. Enthralled. Seduced. “Someone has taken dance lessons.”
“I took a few ballroom classes.” Probably in an effort to lighten the mood, he did a goofy little move that had me almost laughing.
“Clearly, you had an excellent teacher.” Despite his antics, I could tell that was no lie.
“The best.” He pulled me a tiny bit closer, so our legs were woven between each other’s again and our lower bodies were almost, but not quite, touching. I’d always felt dancing was a very intimate thing, especially with a stranger, but the way Tevin held me, it was almost indecent.
He spun me again, and the world whirled around me in a blur of color and lights and shadows. When I stopped spinning like an out-of-control top, I found myself clinging to him, breathless and laughing and shameless.
“Already, I can see you’re full of surprises.” I stumbled a little. Luckily, my constrictor-like grip on his arm kept me from slamming into the couple next to us.
He hauled me up against him, placing one hand on my back for support. With the other, he brushed my hair out of my face. It was a tender, sweet gesture. “What about you? Are you full of surprises too?”
“Nope.” The spinning sensation finally easing up, I rocked my weight from one foot to the other, following Tevin’s lead again. “I’m boring and dull. Completely predictable.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I shrugged. “Believe what you want. It’s the truth.”
He studied me for a moment. “I think that’s what you want people to believe.”
“Why would I lie?”
“I haven’t figured that out...yet.”
“Yet?” I echoed, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
“Give me a few weeks, and I’ll have all your skeletons doing the cha-cha in broad daylight.”
He might not have meant that as a threat, but it struck me as one. Instantly, I stiffened, missing a beat, and his leg bumped into mine, almost knocking me off balance again. I gave a little squeak, grabbed his arm and then tried to pretend I hadn’t almost tripped by doing a little shuffle and kick.
He stopped dancing, smack dab in the middle of the floor, in the middle of a song. “I’m sorry.”
So much for the fancy maneuver.
Not that I’d expected it to fool him.
Hoping to hide my embarrassment, as well as change the subject, I turned on the charm, giving him a beaming smile. “No biggie. I didn’t fall.”
“I wasn’t apologizing for that.”
This man was entirely too perceptive. And dangerous. “I’m fine. I…I just lost track of the beat for a second. Unlike a certain someone, I haven’t had the benefit of dance lessons.”
“I could teach you,” he offered, his mischievous expression suggesting he wasn’t necessarily talking about dancing.
“I’ll keep that in mind, if I decide to take dance lessons someday.” This time, when the song ended, I stepped out of Tevin’s arms before the band started the next number. The fun was over. I didn’t need Tevin Page, lawn guy and real estate tycoon, thinking I was stupid enough to think he was really interested in dating me. I knew better than that. What I did need from him was simple--I needed him to hire me to help him find the right girl, his perfect match. “Thank you for the dance.” I brushed the back of my hand across my forehead. “Whew, it’s hot in here.” I fanned my face. “I could use a drink.”
“Sure.” He escorted me back to our table, waited for me to sit before he took a seat across from me. He pointed at my glass, which now held about three ounces of watered down, lukewarm cola. “What can I get you?”