Cassie silently studied his face.
“Do we have a deal?” He held his hand toward her, hoping like crazy she’d accept his offer.
She shook his hand.
The flame of hope inside Noah rose a little higher.
“We have a deal,” Cassie said. “Dancing lessons with no strings attached.”
Noah smiled. “I didn’t say there wouldn’t be any strings.”
Her eyes connected with his and a bolt of pure energy shot through his heart.
“Be careful what you wish for,” she murmured. “It might come true.”
Noah’s smile disappeared. That’s what he was hoping.
Cassie wonderedwhether she was plain crazy. Standing on the shore of Flathead Lake, dancing with a man who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted wasn’t how she usually spent her Friday nights.
Instead of sitting in front of her workbench, creating another client’s order, she was learning the art of waltzing. And even though it pained her to admit it, Noah was a great teacher.
“Back straight. There’s no room for round shoulders in a waltz.”
Cassie pulled back her shoulders. “Are you telling me I’ve got bad posture?”
“How you stand when you’re dancing is different from everyday life. My grandma told me a man who could dance was worth his weight in gold. And that pot of gold depends on your posture.”
He let go of her hand and took two steps backward. “Hold your arms like this…” Noah extended his arms as if he were dancing with her. “Lift your upper body like you have a string attached to your head, and use your hips to alter your direction. You can’t go wrong.”
Cassie held her arms in the air, pulled in her tummy, pushed back her shoulders, and twisted her hips.
“Move your foot in the direction your hips are rotating. Left foot, left hip.”
She tried again, quickly stepping away from Noah and twisting her body like the hinge on a door.
“That’s better.”
Cassie sagged in relief. “I thought waltzing was supposed to be fun?”
Noah’s grin made her heart pound.
“It is once you know how to dodge everyone else.”
“It’s just as well you’re my partner. You can maneuver your way around the dance floor and all I have to do is follow.”
Noah took hold of her hand and pulled her close. “As long as you remember who’s in charge, we’ll be fine.”
“I can’t help it if I’m naturally assertive,” Cassie muttered as Noah settled her against his hip.
“You can be assertive off the dance floor. I can’t lead if you refuse to move your feet.”
Her traitorous body almost whimpered when he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “What are you doing?”
“Unless you want to sing as we dance, I need to untangle your earbuds so we can both listen to the music.”
While Noah fiddled with the twisted wires, Cassie practiced standing tall. She visualized their dance steps, did everything she could to distract herself from the sight and smell of the six-foot-two heartthrob standing within kissing distance of her mouth.
“Nearly there.” Noah’s breath whispered along her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
