“I’m sure Hallie doesn’t want to dance right now.” Christianflicked his gaze in her direction, his mouth set in a firm line. “Besides, there’s no music.”
As if on cue, Taylor Swift’s voice cut through the tension in the kitchen. Penelope squealed, her movements intensifying.
Christian’s head whipped to Isla holding his phone as he patted his back pockets. “Where’d you find that?”
“On the counter.” She set the device on the table before joining Penelope’s dance.
Christian turned back to the half-unloaded dishwasher, muttering under his breath.
Penelope hopped over to Hallie and reached up to her. “You dance. Like dis.” She demonstrated a little hip shimmy.
“Now, even I can do that.” Hallie laughed as she mimicked the movements.
At first, she felt silly showing off her lack of grace in front of Christian. Dancing with her family was one thing. They loved her no matter what. The man across the room, pointedly trying to ignore the rave taking over his house, proved an entirely different matter.
One look at Isla pushed all that aside, however. Her smile stretched wide as she let loose, a carefree expression easing the underlying suspicion she so often carried around Hallie.
“You dance too, Daddy!” Penelope hollered, twirling up to her father.
He eyed her, tension rounding his broad shoulders. His hands didn’t stray from the spaghetti pot rinsing under the water. “That’s okay, sweetheart. Someone needs to finish the dishes.”
Man, Hallie hadn’t seen him scowl like that since the day he’d come over to her house. Did he hate dancing that much?
The tinkling of Isla’s laughter cut through the music, which had changed to a Justin Bieber song. Instant surprise took over Christian’s face before transforming into something more tender as he eyed his daughter.
He was softening, Hallie sensed it. Maybe they could lighten him up even more. Ignoring her lack of dancing skills, she performed an atrocious moonwalk toward him, bumping his hip with her side. “Come on, dance with us. Please? Just one song. You know you want to.”
He gave her a sidelong glance, and she alternated her arms up and down in a fluid wave. Jutting her hips from side to side, she probably looked more like she’d been electrocuted than anything. The thin line of his mouth ticked up in the barest of smiles.
Totally worth the embarrassment. Any minute, he’d crack.
“Hey, if I’m forced to make a fool of myself with my two left feet, I should be able to see these amazing dance skills you’re rumored to have.” She swallowed the laugh bubbling up from her gut.
His smile grew as he obviously struggled to hold back his amusement. “Flattery doesn’t work on me.”
“How about the pouty face?” She stuck out her bottom lip.
The debate clearly raged in his head as he watched her for a drawn-out second. Finally, when Justin proclaimed himself gone in the last strains of “Baby,”Christian gave a dramatic sigh and flipped off the faucet.
Drying his hands on the towel hanging from the oven, he held out his arm as the musical vibe switched from playful to reflective and gentle, with Jason Mraz’s voice taking center stage in the kitchen.
Wait, what? He wanted to dancewithher? She stared at his outstretched hand, Tyler’s warning ringing in her head.I don’t want you getting hurt.And then directly after:I’m watching you both.She suspected getting up close and personal with his best friend fell under the category of getting too close.
“Do it!” Penelope giggled, her hands clutched in her sister’s as they half danced, half watched the scene unfolding before them. “Dance with Daddy!”
“I have no rhythm,” she warned. She’d leave the rest of her hesitations out of it. “I’d probably step on your feet.”
He moved toward her, his hand still extended. “You wanted to dance, so let’s dance.”
She hesitated another second as Jason crooned “I Won’t Give Up”around them.
Could one dance really be so tragic? Tyler wasn’t here, and Christian’s walls were actually coming down. Who knew, maybe these moments would become a regular thing in this house. If sharing one slow dance helped him connect with his daughters, was there really any harm in the long run?
Isla bounced up and down, flapping her arms. “Dance with him, Hallie.”
Her encouragement sealed Hallie’s decision, and she set her hand in his. He stepped closer, placing her left hand onto his upper arm before sliding his to her back, right below her shoulder blade. Her skin scorched at his touch.
Slowly, he swayed to the music, getting her used to the movement of the song. At the chorus, he guided them into a simple waltz. Only two steps in, her toes jammed into his. He winced.
