Page 76 of The Heir's Bargain

The crowd split as she made her way forward.

From several yards away, I couldn't make out the freckles on her nose, but I could see the fire burning in her eyes. Neither a nervous smile nor a late entrance could extinguish that.

At that moment, more than ever before, I wanted to know exactly what was happening inside Dani's mind. However, with her walls locked shut, there was only one way I would find out.

I shook myself from my stupor and signaled the small orchestra set up to the right.

The conductor tipped his head and picked up his baton, calling attention to the group of musicians. The strings of the violin vibrated, ringing through the ballroom.

Then, like a magnetic force, I was pulled toward her. I didn't know when things had changed between us—when I had stopped viewing her as a childhood friend. Perhaps I had been so blinded by the desire to find a soul bond that I had ignored the person who had always been there.

Because even if we only had each other for a blip of time, it would be worth it. No matter how long it was. All I wanted was to have Dani spinning in my arms.

I didn't know what that desire meant. All I knew was that whatever I felt was anything but platonic.

Dani dipped her head and began falling into a curtsy as she said, "Your?—"

I stepped forward, my fingertips brushing the soft skin of her chin. She froze, mid-curtsy. She lifted her gaze to meet mine, and I encouraged her to stand.

Slowly, she rose.

I slipped a hand behind my back and bowed, low. Small gasps skittered across the room beneath the sounds of the orchestra. I smirked.

When I straightened, I held out a hand. A question furrowed across her forehead as she placed her palm on mine. Ignoring her question, I placed my other hand on her waist and pulled her closer. Then we were dancing.

"You came," I said.

Dani's throat bobbed. "I almost didn't," she whispered.

"Oh?"

The right corner of her mouth twitched, but she only nodded.

My eyes bounced across her face. Something was wrong, but as much as a part of me wished to break through her mental shields, it felt. . .wrong.

Dani swept her hazel gaze across the crowd behind me, worry wrinkling her brows.

"Hey." I squeezed her waist, and her attention returned to me. "It's just you and me, Dani."

She didn't say anything, but she didn't look away from me either as I guided her across the floor. The music swept through the air, the entire orchestra having joined in now. The light fabric of Dani's dress floated in the air as I led her through the steps.

Soon, the world around us melted away.

I leaned forward and whispered, "You're no longer fighting to lead, I see." When we were children and forced to take dancing lessons, Dani often fought the three of us boys to lead when she had to dance with us. "Madam Karina would be proud."

A grin cracked through Dani’s focused countenance. "Oh, what I would do to snap Madam Karina's ruler in two. Do you know how often she tapped me with that stick while forcing us to dance?"

"If you would have just listened?—"

Dani scoffed. "Like you were so innocent? If I recall correctly, you almost made her quit teaching lessons numerous times."

I chuckled.

"For the record, I would be more than happy to lead right now," Dani added.

"I would rather you lead than have danced with Rosalina." My face twisted, and Dani cocked a brow. "Right before you had shown up, Rosalina was one a step away from following me onto the dance floor, etiquette be damned."

"Oh, I'm sure Rosalina would have loved that."

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