“She was the prettiest girl in our class. I had a bet going with some of the guys that I could get her to go out with me.” He grimaced. “I know, that’s not a good reason to go out with someone, but I was a teen. Come to find out, she told some of her girlfriends that she would only go to the senior prom with a guy who could dance. They told her she’d be sitting home alone. Sadly, most of the guys in our class refused to dance or were really bad at it. She told me about what her friends told her. I told her about the bet with mine. We made a pact that she’d go out with me, and I’d learn to dance and take her to the prom. It was a win-win after starting on less-than-truthful footing.”
“What happened to the girl from high school?” Keira asked.
He grinned. “We realized we weren’t meant to be anything more than friends. I get a card from her every once in a while. She’s happily married, has four kids and lives in Georgia.”
“Does her husband dance?”
Rogue laughed. “Not at all. But they’re crazy about each other. The best things to come out of it were that I won my bet, she had a dance partner at the prom and she’s living happily ever after without me.”
He held out his hand. “Come on. If Laura Giles can teach this guy how to do a two-step, surely I can teach you what she taught me.”
Again, she shook her head. “I’ve never danced a day in my life.”
“Not even as a little girl?”
Her eyes widened and grew glassy with unshed tears.
“You did, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “It’s been so long. My mother and father liked dancing. Dad danced me around our little living room, while I was standing on his feet.” Her lips parted in a smile, and a single tear slid down her cheek. “He said we were practicing for our daddy-daughter dance at my wedding.” She swallowed hard.
“Hey,” Rogue said softly. He reached down and took her hand, gently urging her to her feet. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He took her in his arms and swayed to the music.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s just the first time that memory has surfaced since...forever.” She leaned her cheek against his chest.
“Well, if it makes you feel better, you can stand on my feet as we dance.”
She laughed, the sound choking on a sob. “I won’t do that to you.”
“Whew. Can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that. Not sure my toes could handle it. But the offer remains open.”
“You’re off the hook,” she said and relaxed against him, swaying in time to his movements.
“See? It’s not that hard, is it?”
“If you dance like your mother and father.” Keira leaned her head back and met his gaze. “You don’t have to do this for me.”
“It’s not for you. It’s all about me.” He grinned. “It worked in high school. Why not here?”
“But you don’t have a bet going with your buddies.”
“No, but because I can dance, I have a pretty girl in my arms.” He winked down at her, clutched her close and spun around,
When he slowed to a sway, he stared down at her.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled.
“Did you like that?”
She nodded. “Actually, I did.”
“How about we try a two-step?” As much as he liked holding her close, he stepped back and showed her how to move her feet. “You do the opposite of me. It’s quick, quick, slow, slow and repeat.” For the next two hours, he danced around the room with Keira, teaching her the two-step and, when she thought she was ready, the waltz.
When she messed up, he helped her regain her footing. When he messed up, they laughed. As the hour grew late, they adjourned to the kitchen for water and a snack of peanut butter, jelly and crackers.
Keira swallowed the last bite of her makeshift sandwich and brushed the crumbs from her lips. “Thank you.”
“For the peanut butter and jelly crackers?” He reached out and brushed a crumb she’d missed from the corner of her lips. “It’s one of my specialties.”
