Page 36 of Playing for Keeps

She’d asked me if I wanted to join her tonight. Said she and a colleague were going to a salsa night. Asked it like it was an afterthought, like she wasn’t inviting me into her world.

But I’d said yes anyway.

I didn’t care about dancing, I didn’t even know if I could survive three minutes of salsa without making a fool of myself. But I had to see the guy she was spending her evening with.

So, here I was, in a room full of people who actually knew what they were doing.

Will elbowed me. “Okay, Max. Where’s this woman you keep talking about?”

I scanned the floor, my heart beating hard against my ribs.

There.

Emma.

Her red dress hugged her body and flared out in all the right places. She was dancing with some guy, spinning and stepping like they’d been rehearsing for weeks. The dress moved with her, confident and effortless. All I could do was stare. I’d noticed her legs before – at the gala in that green dress – and now it was happening all over again.

My throat went dry.

I pointed her out to Will. “There. The one in red.”

Will let out a low whistle. “The one who clearly knows how to move her body?” He slapped my shoulder. “Damn, dude.” And then grinned. “You’re in so much trouble.”

I ignored him and just kept looking at her. I had to admit, though, that every time she put her hand on her partner’s shoulder it sent something sharp and hot straight through me. I hated seeing another guy’s hand on her back, hated that he got to share this with her while I stood there like an idiot. And yeah, I knew I had no right to hate it – we weren’t anything – but that didn’t stop the feeling from clawing up my spine.

The song ended. Couples dipped or bowed to each other, and the applause spread across the floor.

Emma clapped too, then looked around and saw me. Her whole face lit up.

I forgot to breathe for a second when she walked toward us. I had only known her for a couple of weeks, but she took up more space in my head than people I’d known for years.

Christ.

Will gave me a sly look. “Yep. You’re done for.”

Emma reached us, her cheeks flushed from dancing. and greeted me warmly before turning to Will with curiosity. “And you must be…?”

“Will,” he said, charming as ever.

Emma nodded before introducing her dancing partner. “This is Simon.”

The guy stepped forward, holding out his hand. He was thin, had sharp eyes and a mischievous smile. My shoulders tensed up automatically.

“Oh, I know you,” he said, clasping my hand tightly. “You’re Max Finnegan. Finn, right? So you’re the one teaching our Emma about hockey.”

Our Emma. My jaw tightened, but I shook his hand. “Yeah. Finn.”

Simon gave me a quick look over, his eyes shining. “You’re taller than I expected. And broader. Honestly, it’s a little unfair. What are they feeding you hockey players?”

Emma rolled her eyes, laughing. “Simon…”

But he just leaned in closer to her, putting her hand on her waist in a way that was meant to be casual. Too casual. Why did he need to touch her like that?

“You look like a wall out there on the ice,” Simon went on, still studying me with that knowing grin. “Defence, right? I can see it. Makes sense.” He gently squeezed Emma’s waist before letting go, his gaze moving past us. “Anyway,” he said cheerfully, “that gorgeous man at the bar has been making eyes at me for the last twenty minutes, and I’m not going to make him wait any longer.” He winked at Emma and then disappeared into the crowd, moving with purpose.

I blinked, and it slowly dawned on me.

Emma caught my look and smiled. “Don’t look so relieved.”