Oh my.
“Are youstillrelaxed?” he murmured.
Her head spun. It was hard to remain so—when he was this close to her. At this distance, his presence felt far too overwhelming. And his gaze seemed to hold her firmly in place, refusing to let her escape.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
You need to snap out of it. Anything—something to break the spell he has on you.
In a moment of desperation, she stepped on his foot.
Hard.
Evan let out a grunt, dropping his hold on her waist to step back. “Bloody hell, Isadora.”
Isadora gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “I—I am so sorry!”
Evan shook his foot out, wincing dramatically. “You might have broken something.”
She rolled her eyes, relief flooding through her at the return to normalcy. “Do not be ridiculous. It was barely a step.”
“Barely a step?” He arched a brow. “Sweetheart, you underestimate the damage done.”
Of course he was only teasing her—as he always did.
“Perhaps if you had been leading properly, I would not have misstepped,” she argued back.
Evan let out a bark of laughter. “Ah, so now it ismyfault?”
Yes, it is your fault that you seem to have this effect on me. You, only you.
“You are the one supposed to be guiding the dance.”
He grinned, his previous suffering seemingly forgotten. Almost as though it had been exaggerated all along. “And here I thought I was doing well.”
Isadora sighed, adjusting her skirts. “Let us try again.”
“And risk losing another foot? You are more dangerous than I anticipated.” The teasing tone returned, perhaps even stronger than before.
It was almost… dare she say it…endearing.
Isadora fought the ridiculous urge to smile. “Perhaps you should be more careful.”
“Perhaps I should,” he said, his gaze suddenly darkening and shifting down to her lips for just a fraction of a second.
It sent a shiver down her spine. Not out of fear—but something else entirely. But before she could analyze it, Evan extended his hand.
“One more time, sweetheart.”
“Must we, really?” Isadora tried to get herself out of it. Perhaps it would be better if she left him alone for the night.
Her mind was already being traitorous yet again, and she didn’t know if she could handle another waltz with him.
“I would like to,” he said the words with such simplicity that it made something inside her melt.
Then, with a steady breath, she placed her hand in his once more.
And they began again.
