“Now, follow my lead.”
Five minutes later, she messed up another step but instead of cringing or freezing like every other time she’d made a mistake, she found herself giggling as she nearly fell.
“That’s it, darlin’!” Shaw cried. “Just give in to the beat. Do whatever you feel like.” Instead of following the moves, he did his own, making her laugh. What was that? Was he pretending to start something? A lawnmower?
When they were finished, he led her back to her seat.
“How was that?” Devon asked, watching her with a small smile.
“I haven’t laughed like that in years,” she said, unaware that the two men stiffened.
“Fuck, darlin’. You’re making a good case for me to kidnap you.” Shaw frowned.
“What?” Devon asked, looking startled.
“Someone planted the idea in Arabella’s head that she’s lacking,” Shaw explained.
Devon’s gaze narrowed and stretched out his arms. “Tell me who. I’ll take care of it.”
Jeez.
What was it with the men in this town? Or maybe it was just these two.
“No one. Really,” she said.
“Still think I should kidnap you,” Shaw said.
“You can’t,” she said with alarm.
Shaw drew his phone out, swearing. “Shit. It’s getting late and I have to go.”
“Oh.” She tried to hide his disappointment. “Thank you for line dancing with me.”
“Anytime. You be good, darlin’. Do what Devon says or he’ll let me know.” He pointed at her. “And don’t listen to people who try to pull you down.”
She raised her eyebrows. “And what will you do if I misbehave?”
“I don’t know. Probably spank you or something.”
She gaped at him. “You wouldn’t!”
He winked at her.
Yeah, he had to be joking. He definitely seemed like a bit of a trickster.
Hmm. He probably thought she was gullible or something because she’d never been to a bar.
That was kind of true. In some ways she hadn’t experienced much of life. And in other ways she’d experienced far too much.
“Wait!” she said quickly. “I . . . I probably won’t see you again.”
He walked backward toward the door. She had no idea how he didn’t bump into anything. But everyone just walked around him, seemingly unconcerned. Perhaps they were used to him.
“You never know when we will meet again. Especially if Devon tells me you’ve been naughty, then I’ll have to track you down!”
Oh, dear Lord.
He was terrible. She turned back around to sip on her orange juice in the hopes of hiding her red cheeks.
