Page 28 of Save the Dance

She could do this. The ride into town offered the perfect opportunity to deliver the apology she owed him. Of course, she couldn’t admit the truth to him. Couldn’t tell him that the sound of his heartbeat had calmed her, that she’d never felt safer than she did in his arms, that she’d wanted the moment to last forever. She especially couldn’t tell him that thinking those thoughts, having those feelings, jeopardized the very reason she’d come to Heart’s Landing in the first place. So, no. She wouldn’t tell him the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Instead, she’d stick to the apology she’d practiced. The one that said, “I’m sorry,” without delving into the tricky matter of feelings.

After that, well, for the rest of her stay in Heart’s Landing, she’d make sure she kept her distance from him. She’d learned her lesson. It was one she wouldn’t repeat. From here on out, she’d simply be a journalist going about her job with Jason as her guide. For the rest of her stay, she’d ignore his strength, his kindness, and his bright intelligence, just like she’d ignore how handsome he was. Instead, she’d concentrate on what she’d been sent here to accomplish. No matter how much she wanted to stand in the protective circle of his arms. Or how cold she felt outside it.

Chapter Nine

At the entrance to the music salon, Jason looked his cousin up and down, trying to figure out what she was up to. “You two sang well together,” he said tentatively. “What prompted that?”

As if it had been the most normal thing in the world for her to make friends with the woman in charge of determining their future, Evelyn shrugged. “She heard me playing and stopped by. One thing led to another. She’s talented.”

“She’s not bad.” He refused to say more than that. He certainly wouldn’t admit that he could listen to Tara’s sweet voice for hours and not grow tired of it. Nor would he confess how much hearing her sing the ballad that closed out their routine had moved him.

“I’ll call you next time we practice together. Maybe you can join us.” Evelyn’s eyes sparkled.

Jason swallowed. He’d seen that speculative gleam on more than one occasion. It always meant trouble. Usually for him. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but whatever it is, don’t do it,” he cautioned.

“I’m not planning anything.” Evelyn held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.” She slid the lid closed over the piano keys.

Though she sounded sincere, he knew for a fact that his cousin had never joined a Brownie troop, much less been in the Girl Scouts. “Evelyn …” he said, using his sternest voice.

“All right, already. I won’t push it.” The sheet music clutched to her chest, she covered the short distance between them. “I guess, now that you’re heading out, I’d better get back to work.”

Jason stepped out of the doorway to let her pass. He tapped his phone’s earpiece. “I’ll be available if you need me.” They parted at the main corridor, Evelyn disappearing around the corner that led to her office. He shook his head. Assurances to the contrary, he was pretty certain his cousin had something up her sleeve. That was all he needed. Not. Not when he already had his own problem to deal with.

At the front door, he shoved his hands into his pants pockets and concentrated on the apology he intended to give Tara. Though he still wasn’t quite sure where he’d gone wrong last night, he couldn’t afford the slightest chance that tension between them might harm Heart’s Landing’s chances. Not that he thought she’d give the town a bad mark over a single mistake. He hadn’t known her long, but his gut told him she wasn’t the kind to hold grudges. No, her openness and honesty were two of the qualities he admired most about her.

Promptness, however, was not one of her virtues. A full quarter of an hour slipped past before he finally heard motion in the upstairs hallway. A single glance up the stairs told him it had been worth the wait. Tara had exchanged her sweats for a loose-fitting top in the perfect shade of brown that highlighted the gold of her hair. Beneath it, a pair of skinny jeans hugged her long legs all the way to slim ankles, where the hem brushed the tops of low-heeled shoes. His pulse shifted into overdrive.

“You look …” He swallowed, his mouth dry. Words that normally rolled off his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. How had he failed to notice how pretty she was? “Nice,” he finished, hurrying to tuck an unwanted surge of emotions behind a thick barrier.

“Thanks.” She plucked at the hem of her shirt. “Sorry I took so long. I tried to check in with my boss, but her phone went straight to voicemail.” Expelling a breath, she fidgeted with the hair that spilled over her shoulders.

The random motions told him she was nervous about something. He had a sinking feeling he was the cause. Though the car keys jingled softly, he kept his hand in his pocket. He didn’t want to leave before they cleared the air between them. “Can we talk for a sec?” he asked as she headed for the door.

“Now? Here?” Tara gave the foyer a cautious look.

“There’s no time like the present.” He drew in his own steadying breath. “I wanted to say—”

“I’m so sorry about—” Tara spoke at the same time.

Silence filled the space between them as their words ground to a halt. From somewhere in the interior of the building, a door slammed.

He grinned. “Ladies first,” he said, glad for a reprieve, however temporary.

“No. I interrupted you. Go ahead.”

He showed her his empty palms. “Whatever I did to upset you last night, I’m sorry. I hope you won’t let it impact your opinion of Heart’s Landing.”

“You?” Tara’s eyes widened. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who owes the apology,” she argued. “I shouldn’t have danced with you. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoyed it very much—but it was unprofessional of me. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. I’m here to do my job and nothing else.”

So she’d liked dancing with him, had she? Her admission sent warmth surging through his chest. In a perfect world, he’d tell her he’d enjoyed those moments on the dance floor just as much as she had. He could have held her close for the rest of the night. The brush of her soft breath against his neck had weakened all his defenses. He’d grown intoxicated on the floral scent of her perfume while they’d whirled around the dance floor. But this wasn’t a perfect world, and he couldn’t so much as whisper a word of how he’d felt. She’d made her position perfectly clear. Besides, his own reasons for steering clear of her were just as valid.

“Look,” he said, his voice soft with the need to shoulder the blame. “I’m just as much at fault. In a few days, you’ll return to New York, while I’ll stay right here in Heart’s Landing. Our paths may never cross again. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.”

“Right,” she said on a long sigh. “So we’re agreed. We’ll keep things strictly professional between us.”

“Agreed,” he said, despite an ache to hold her close again.

“And we’re okay? No hard feelings?” The tip of her tongue darted across her lips.

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