“Then try them on.”
She looked down at the box – then at him – then back at the box again. “You bought me shoes?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“No,” he tossed out simply, turning to flip the channel as she stared at him, stunned… only to see a twitch at the corner of his lips. “Why would I buy you shoes?”
Steffi hesitated for only a second as she picked up the box, putting it on her lap, and paused, yanking off the lid. Inside was a pair of simple and elegant black high heels… and her eyes lifted to his.
He was watching her.
“There is going to be dancing at the charity event,” he said quietly, swallowing. “We’ll be attending together, and these match my suit – and your dress.”
“Shoes?”
“Yes, Cinderella,” he smiled, teasing her softly. “Every woman should have a nice pair of pretty shoes to go with her ballgown.”
“I, uh, um… I can’t dance – wait, ballgown?”
“I’m going to teach you… and yes, ballgown.”
“You can dance? We’re going to dance together?”
“I took classes so I could dance with my mom at church festivals. She loved to dance with my dad. In fact, we all took lessons – me, Tommy, and Pete,” he admitted gently, watching her. “Tea first… and then a lesson – okay?”
Stunned, Steffi looked at the beautiful high heels and then at Drake. If this man wanted to take her to an event, as a couple, and whisk her out onto the dance floor in some floofy ballgown… she would never say ‘no’ to that.
“Okay,” she whispered and heard his soft chuckle as he lifted his cup to his lips, taking a sip of his tea.
“Well, that was easier than I thought.”
“What?”
“I figured you’d fight me on this… and the dancing.”
“Why?”
“Because if I get to make you my Cinderella for one evening,” he said quietly as he picked up the remote with his other hand – and it clicked. He was searching for a distraction, and she knew it. “Then what does that make me in our very own little story?”
He turned slightly, looking at her, and smiled. “You’ll have to think up something clever that starts with a D and a W – because Prince Charming starts with the wrong consonants. Doesn’t it?”
Picking up her tea, she sipped it without answering – even if her heart was already coming up with a variety of terms that started with D for Drake…
Dreamy…
Darling…
Dashing…
Devoted…
And the list went on and on – silent and unspoken as they sat there together, drinking hot tea and watching television.
An hour later,Drake glanced at his watch as she yawned for the fourth time and nodded. “You’d better get home and rest. We can practice tomorrow night, if you are off work.”
“I get off at six,” Steffi volunteered – and glanced at him. “If I’m late, I’ll text you.”
