Sarah wrinkled her brow in question.What was Daphne talking about?What had Simon been saying about her?
Simon seemed to read her mind.“I’ve been telling Daphne about the cats.”
“Yes, that’s right.The cats,” said Daphne, pursing her lips as though to hold back laughter.Then to Sarah she murmured, “Small town.People like a good story, especially when it’s about the school’s most eligible bachelor.”
The band began to play a tune, and Daphne nodded toward a group of people moving toward the dance floor.
“The Latin lesson starts in a few minutes,” she said.“I’m going to find Joe.You’ll join, won’t you?”
Simon and Sarah shared a glance.“We’ll meet you on the dance floor,” he said.
Daphne rushed away, and Simon offered her his arm again.“Ready?”
“Let’s do it,” she said.
The instructor was a petite graceful woman from the local dance studio.She lined them up to face their partners and began to demonstrate the basic salsa steps.
Sarah stumbled at first, and Simon instinctively shifted his feet out of the way.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Just relax and follow my lead.”Simon put his hand back on her waist, and she let him guide her through the basic steps and then a pivot.
“You’re doing great,” he said, pulling her a little closer.
“You’re a good lead.”She looked up at him and away from her feet.
They moved together, repeating the simple steps, and fell into a rhythm that, while not yet graceful, worked for them and spared Simon’s toes.
When the band started up, they continued to dance—badly, but well enough to enjoy themselves.Especially since every misstep was cause for shared laughter, and, every time she tottered on her heels, Simon’s warm hand against her back steadied her.
Between songs, they retreated to their table to catch their breath.Sarah’s feet were protesting in the silver heels, but she didn’t care.She felt alive in a way she’d forgotten was possible.
“I should warn you,” Simon said, leaning close so she could hear him over the music.“My friends are going to ask questions after this evening.”
“About what?”
“About you.About us.”He met her eyes.“They’ve been trying to set me up for years.Me showing up with a date they didn’t arrange is already causing a stir.”
“Does that concern you?”
“No,” he said, turning to face her.“I know we started this whole thing because of the cats, and then it became about the girls, but somewhere along the way…” He paused, searching for words.“Sarah, I like you.I like spending time with you.I like the way you are with Riley and Sally.I like that you’re careful and cautious, because it means when you do let someone in, you mean it.”
“Oh,” was all Sarah could say over the pounding of her heart.He liked her.And what was more, he understood her need to be careful.Her need to take things slow.
“I’m not asking for anything big,” he continued.“Just…” He smiled.“Permission, I guess.Permission to keep doing this.To take you to dinner sometimes, just the two of us.To call you without needing to pretend it’s about the cats.To see where this goes.”
The band shifted to a slower song, and couples paired off around them.
She looked at Simon, with his warm eyes and smile, and remembered his kindness, his patience with Riley, how easily he included them, and how he never pushed her faster than she was ready to go.
She paused as she thought of Riley, her little girl who already had a man who had drifted away from their lives.
She decided to trust her first instinct.
“I’d like that,” she said.
His smile widened.“Yeah?”
