Page 5 of Strictly Business

Tears sprang to her eyes. Annoyed, she blinked and Liam picked up a paper serviette from the counter. ‘Your mascara looks great,’ he said. ‘Don’t ruin it.’

‘Thanks.’ She dabbed at her eyes, took a deep breath and released a shaky little laugh. ‘You know, the thing that really upset me was that Todd added insult to injury by bringing this other woman into our bedroom.’

‘So you were living with this guy?’

‘He was my husband. I was married to the toad.’ She twisted a corner of the serviette. ‘I loved that room. I’d taken such care choosing everything – the drapes, the carpet, the bed linen. The dressing table came from my grandparents’ place. They’d had it in their bedroom for their whole married life.’ Looking up, she said, ‘Sorry, I don’t expect you to understand.’

Liam shook his head. ‘But I do understand. The toad didn’t just deceive you, but he defiled your special place.’

Heavens, Liam Conway wasn’t just gorgeous; he was sensitive, too. She’d almost forgotten such men existed.

‘I hope you got rid of the toad,’ he said.

‘Absolutely, especially when I found that this woman was one of many.’ She sighed. ‘I divorced him four months ago. And then she winced. Admitting her failed marriage always made her feel such a loser.

‘No wonder you still look a little shell-shocked,’ he said.

‘But I’m fine now. Honestly. It’s in the past.’ The confession was off her chest and that was good, but she didn’t want to bore this lovely man witless. ‘I’ve got a new life ahead of me.’

‘Another thing to celebrate,’ he said. And then, ‘So... why don’t we go and find a place where we can dance?’

Heavens, she hadn’t been dancing in years. Todd had always claimed he hated it, so they’d never danced and she was way out of practice. ‘I’m afraid I’m not much of a dancer,’ she said.

‘I don’t believe that.’ Liam stood and he was even taller than she’d expected. ‘Come on,’ he coaxed. ‘It’s our birthday. Let’s kick up our heels.’

Kick up her heels? She sent a flustered glance towards her feet. Her strappy black sandals had rather high heels and she’d painted her toenails bright berry red to match her red and black floral dress.

From above her she heard Liam say, ‘They look like dancing feet to me.’

She took a deep breath and looked up at him again.Gulp. There was something so compelling about him, something unmistakably masculine about the contained strength in his lean body and in the strong, straight planes of his face, in the intention signalled by his eyes. She should make a quick get-away now, before she became completely entranced.

She didn’t want to get involved with another man, not yet when the war-wounds from her divorce were still raw.

But a voice inside her was urging her to throw caution to the winds.

His eyes are as soulful as they are sexy.Why hesitate?It’s only dancing after all.And anyway, surely you have the perfect excuse to be daring? You’ll never have another thirtieth birthday.

She picked up her purse from the bar.

Go on, Alice. He seems s-o-o-o nice.

She flashed him a bright return smile. ‘Okay. Dancing sounds like fun.’

He grinned. ‘Let’s go.’

Outside on the footpath a photographer was taking a photo of a trio of laughing girls and as Alice and Liam passed, there was a blinding flash from the camera.

The photographer called after them, ‘Sir, can I take a photo of you and your lovely lady?’

Liam scowled and waved him away.

‘Welcome to North Queensland,’ said Alice. ‘The local papers are always snapping people for their social pages.’

‘Glad we escaped then.’ Liam took her hand.

Oh, heavens. She was super-sensitive to every millimetre of his skin, to the supple strength of his fingers interlaced with hers.

‘Where’s the best place in town for dancing?’ he asked.

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