She just laughed. "Not well!"
So I pulled her into my arms, and it was likely I stood a little too close, but I explained the concept. When she nodded, I stepped into the beat of the music, and that pretty little lady sure as hell tried to follow. She was also very, very bad at it. When she stepped on my foot the second time, I couldn't hold back the laugh, but I wasn't about to give up. Evidently, neither was she.
Instead, she pressed closer. Yeah, I saw a couple of guys looking at her. I also slid my hand lower, making it clear she was definitely with me. Then I decided to liven things up and pushed her out for a spin.
That little dress swirled, lifting up around her legs, but it seemed to be what she needed. The alcohol was probably starting to kick in too, and my girlfriend was laughing like she was having the time of her life. I couldn't say much, the music would drown it all out, yet this was perfect.
When the song ended, I planned to keep going, but Cy stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "My turn," he said, turning her around to face him.
I just tossed up my hands in defeat, but I was grinning at him. Soon as the next song started, he had her in his arms, and that bastard was leaning in to kiss at the side of her neck. Well, if that was the way it was gonna be, then I could damned well play by those rules. Next time, though. Right now, I was headed back to where Ash was shaking his head at a woman, making it clear he was not looking to get picked up.
"Luke!" he called when I was close enough.
One of the girls turned to see who he was talking to. Her eyes landed on me and she smiled. I noticed, but I was not here to give her the wrong impression. I just wanted the beer he was watching for me.
"You getting in trouble?" I asked him, raising my voice to be heard even though we were only a few feet apart.
Ash shrugged, but innocent didn't fit him at all. "This one's trying to say she can teach me how to dance. That one's asking if I have a friend."
"Taken ones," I said, making sure the girls heard. "Sorry, ladies. Boy's night."
"Nothing wrong with dancing," one of them pointed out.
I just shook my head. "Not gonna happen, hun."
"I'll buy you both a drink," Ash said, "but only because it was a good try." He lifted his hand to flag down one of the waitresses wandering around with a tray. "Get these two whatever they want?" And he tossed her a twenty.
She nodded, and the women stepped aside with her. I groaned, even though he couldn't hear it. "You're just encouraging them."
"It's a breeding ground," he said, looking amused about it. "You know, I can waltz. I know a few other dances. Never learned how to two-step, though. And no line dances, before you even try."
I just pointed out a couple that was doing more shuffling than actual dancing. "Pretty sure you can handle that, and I promise Violet doesn't know how to dance either."
"Oh, she does one hell of a salsa and a damned good flamenco," he assured me, grabbing his drink and moving to the rail beside our table. "And I'm pretty sure Cy's singing along to the music."
I looked over to see he was right, but then the guy stopped and stole a kiss from Violet. At least three men looked away, proving they'd been thinking about making a move. It made me laugh, so I pointed it out to Ash. He just nodded.
"Being with a woman like her isn't easy, Luke," he warned. "There will always be some guy wanting to chase you off. She will flirt back without even realizing she's doing it. That woman is nothing but sex appeal wrapped up in a very hot little body."
"I'm figuring it out," I assured him. "Used to think that if I was big enough and mean enough, then she'd be impressed. Now I know that she's not the kind that gets claimed. She does the claiming."
"And when someone else catches her eye?" he asked. "When she decides to jerk his chain for a bit?"
"Then you and Cy will remind me that my brain's above my shoulders, not between my legs," I told him. "I don't have to own her to love her, right?" Then I looked over. "Or you."
A smile touched his lips and he glanced back to the dance floor. "Pretty sure we broke you."
"I think it's more that you taught me how to grow the fuck up." I lifted my beer and took a long drink. "Song's almost done, Ash. You're up."
"Fuck no," he said.
I just tipped my beer toward the dance floor. "Go. Not gonna tell you twice. I wanna see the pair of you together."
He caught my eye again, his lips curled deviously, then he nodded. "Yeah, once we get home. But fine, I'll dance for you, cowboy."
Something about the way he said that had my dick liking it. I slapped his arm and nudged him that way, but the surprising thing was that he actually went. Soon as the music ended, he and Cy traded out. The big guy headed my way, but those two? Damn, they looked good together. It was like someone had cranked up beautiful a few notches, and they moved like they were reading each other's minds.
Then Cy flopped against the rail beside me. "How drunk are we getting her?"
