Her shoulders snapped back. “Sweet nature? After I hit you?”
Funny that she didn’t balk at his married comment but being called sweet got her back up. “Beneath that right uppercut you are sweet, aren’t you?”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“So tell me all about you. Every last little thing.”
“You are unbelievable.”
“So are you.” Carson couldn’t tear his gaze away from her and had to ball his hands into fists to keep from touching her. “How often do you hang out in dancehalls?”
She rallied against his intensive stare, lifting that stubborn chin. “None of your business.”
“But it is. I’m offerin’ to watch your back—and your front—” he winked, “—if you wanna cut loose.”
“What makes you think I need your help ripping it up? Maybe I could teach you a thing or two about getting wild.”
“Doubtful.” Without breaking eye contact, Carson swiped the drink sitting on the bar in front of her. “You a whiskey and Coke girl? Or a rum and Coke girl?” He put the lowball glass to his lips and drank. “Just as I thought. You’re a Coke straight up girl. That’s real wild.”
“There’s no rule that says I have to drink alcohol when I come to these dances.”
“True. So if you’re not here to drink, then you must be here to dance.” Carson reached for her hand and threaded their fingers together. “Would you please dance with me, Carolyn?”
She bit her lip. To keep from lashing out at him again?
“Come on, sugar,” he cajoled with a smile. “I asked all nice and polite this time.”
“Does that dimpled smile get you anything you want?”
“I’m hopin’ it does this time.”
“I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Carson.”
“Carson? Of course it’s Carson,” she muttered.
He bristled. “What’s wrong with the name Carson?”
Her skeptical gaze snared his. “Nothing. It just sounds like the name of a steely-eyed gunslinger hero who rides in, saves the western town and makes all the ladies swoon.”
He flashed her another grin. “Only woman I wanna see swoon in my arms is you. So you gonna dance with me?”
“One dance. But keep your lips and hands to yourself.”
Just to be ornery, Carson lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. Twice. “No promises on that.” Then before she hesitated, he led her to the dance floor.
As soon as he’d clasped her hand in his to start two-stepping, the band switched to the slow song “Make the World Go Away.”
“Where are you from?” he asked.
She tilted her head back and challenged, “How do you know I’m not a local?”
Carson’s gaze roved over her beautiful face, drinking in every feature. “A girl that looks like you ain’t ever gonna go unnoticed around here. Or anywhere else, for that matter. So if you lived anywhere nearby I’da heard about you, bein’s I’m local.”
Her cheeks bloomed pink and she looked away without comment.