“How soon can we duck out of here?”
Malone held me out at arm’s length, his gaze one of hungry admiration. Before he could say anything, though, Selena announced, “And now it’s time for our annual foxtrot competition.”
“What?”
Malone shrugged. “Weird rich-people stuff. I told you there’d be no Cha Cha Slide around here.”
I was about to suggest we leave the floor when Lucius Malone appeared at my elbow. “Mind if I cut in?”
Chapter 28
Malone’s smile faded. I could almost feel the tension he held coiled inside. Bless him, he wanted to protect me from potential embarrassment.
But I had mentioned dancing lessons, hadn’t I?
“Of course.” I bestowed a megawatt smile on Lucius and then winked at a nervous Malone as he backed off the floor, frowning in confusion.
Lucius met my smile with one of his own. Much like Edith Wharton’s titular house, it held no mirth, despite promises to the contrary. He was a man on a mission, and that mission appeared to be embarrassing me.
Well, good luck with that, Gramps.
Selena stepped up to the microphone. “Okay, folks, you know the rules. A tap on the shoulder means your foxtrot isn’t good enough, so step aside and let the professionals show you how it’s done. Good luck beating me and—” She faltered when she saw that Lucius had chosen me as his partner. “Well, good luck beating Mr. Malone and his new partner.”
She’d recovered quickly, but now she scowled at me.
So I’d taken her place in more ways than one. A delicious schadenfreude, that.
“Know how to foxtrot, little girl?”
I trained my eyes on Gramps and held my expression neutral. “A little.”
The DJ put on a new song, big band. Ah, Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” which happened to be Nana’s favorite song for teaching the foxtrot at cotillion classes.
Cotillion classes that she’d made me take more than once because she had to keep an eye on me, and it was easier to do that if I was on the floor with the other students. Also, she never had enough boys, so she taught me how to lead or follow depending on her needs for that day.
I preferred to lead, but Lucius Malone wasn’t one to follow, so I gave in to the slow-slow-quick steps, paying attention anytime Lucius wanted to twirl me or promenade. A little zigzag from time to time. A dip. By the time we’d rounded the floor twice, the only couples left were us and Nana and her partner.
She was making him look good, whispering her moves all the while.
Lucius’s eyes narrowed as he realized we were down to two. He certainly wasn’t telling me his plans, but I adapted easily. His eyes met mine, and I smiled. We had one thing in common: We both wanted to win. I gave him a slight nod, and off we went. Same-foot lunge? I faltered only briefly. Weave, feather-step finish? We did it all.
As the song faded, I saw we were alone. We’d dipped before, but his last dip was deep enough I wished I’d taped everything in place. Blessedly, I remained family friendly.
The crowd around the dance floor applauded. He bowed, and I curtsied.
“Well, well,” he said as he led me from the floor, his eyes now crinkling with good humor and admiration. “I see young Ty has found a woman with a few tricks up her sleeve.”
Oh, he really had no idea.
“Thank you for the dance, Mr. Malone.”
“I think you’ve earned the right to call me Lucius,” he said as he lifted my hand to kiss it. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m afraid I’ve lost a bet and need to settle up.”
My eyes cut to Nana, and I knew she’d originated that bet, thanks to her smug smile.
“Hold up, Grandpa.”
Blake placed a hand on his grandfather’s arm, but Lucius carefully took his arm back. I sat in the nearest seat, pretending to scan the ballroom for Malone while eavesdropping on their edge-of-the-dance-floor conversation.Iwouldn’t have chosen that spot for a serious conversation, but I could pick out only 60 percent of what they were saying, so it wasn’t the worst idea.
