Page 37 of Prognosis Bad Timing

What the hell was with these two females who had, in one week, totally consumed him? One charmed him, the other exasperated and aroused him in equal measure.

Where the hell was his focus these days?

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Ten minutes later heemerged to find Dana charming everyone in the waiting room with her jiggle. Not even the bloodstained T-shirt detracted from her cuteness. Even two big gruff male teenagers were grinning stupidly at her.

‘She’s a hit,’ Charlie said, claiming the seat next to Carrie’s on the double sofa.

Carrie laughed, trying to hide the sudden leap in her pulse as his thigh brushed against hers. ‘Yes, quite the performer.’

They watched her for a few minutes in silence. ‘I’d better get her home,’ she said, stirring. ‘Could you keep an eye on her while I get my stuff together?’

‘Sure,’ Charlie agreed, not daring to look up at Carrie and exceedingly grateful when she left.

Dana pirouetted and waved at Charlie. ‘Can you dance with me, Charlie?’

Charlie groaned inwardly. Between the two Douglas women he didn’t know whether he was Arthur or Martha. ‘Sure, sweetie.’ He rose from the couch and swept her off her feet, swinging her round while she giggled in delight.

‘Here.’ He lowered her to the ground. ‘Step on my shoes.’

Dana did as she was told and he swirled her around the floor as she clung to his legs and laughed. She looked up at him with those big blue eyes and Charlie was utterly captivated.

Carrie came out and discovered them dancing and laughing together and her pulse slowed, the music faded away, her vision telescoped. They could have been father and daughter. Wasn’t that what fathers did with their daughters? Let them stand on their feet and dance with them? That’s what her father had done.

Damn Rupert for denying Dana these precious memories.

‘Mummy! I’m dancing with Charlie.’

Charlie stumbled slightly when he realised they were being watched by Carrie. Their gazes locked and he could see the yearning in her gaze.

‘So you are, darling.’

‘Your turn to dance with Charlie,’ Dana pronounced, breaking away and running over to clutch at her mother’s hand and drag her towards Charlie.

‘Oh...I...No, darling.” She shot a horrified look at him as she resisted Dana’s pull and Charlie almost laughed. “I’m sure Charlie doesn’t want to dance with Mummy.’

‘Oh, please, Mummy. Please, please.’

‘Sweetheart, you know Mummy’s not a very good dancer.’

‘He’ll let you stand on his feet, won’t you, Charlie?’

Carrie gave a nervous laugh. ‘Darling, I’m too heavy for Charlie, I’ll break his toes.’

Charlie thought how great her weight had felt against him the other night. Pushed against him. Rubbing against him. Naked heat rose on a surge of potent desire.

‘Nonsense,’ he said, grabbing Carrie’s hand and twirling her towards him as ‘Rock Around the Clock’ blared out.

Carrie spun crazily and landed against Charlie’s hard body for one cataclysmic second before he pushed her out again, spinning her away from him. He spun her around and twisted and jived, their hands linked, her heart hammering madly. Dana sat on the lounge and clapped excitedly.

One of the teenagers wolf-whistled.

By the time the music stopped and Elvis was crooning ‘Love Me Tender’, Carrie’s entire world was spinning and her pulse was fluttering madly.

‘Me, oh, me.’ Dana jumped up excitedly. ‘Let’s all dance together.’

Carrie looked down to see her daughter had already commandeered both their hands. ‘Mummy, this is the song from the wedding.’

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