Page 24 of Fake Dating My Valentine

I nodded my limited understanding. “Hence the need for a fun activity to help you boys unwind.”

“Yep. How do you get it so easily?”

I shrugged, not wanting to admit the truth but knowing it would both annoy and shock him. “I read a lot of wounded warrior romance novels.”

“You’re serious?”

“Totally.” A giggle escaped. A literal giggle which made me feel about twelve years old and crushing on my best friend’s brother. “So you can sing. Can you dance? Properly I mean? Not just line dancing like on our date the other day.”

His cheeks turned bright red under the golden glow of the streetlights. “No, not really.”

“What? How can that even be?” Nix and I used to dance around the house all the time, and now that I thought about it, he never joined in. “I just thought you were too cool to dance with us.”

“Too cool plus two left feet.”

I had an idea and I knew it was a bad idea. A really bad idea but the idea refused to stop dancing around my tipsy head. “We ought to practice.” I stopped in front of my house and turned to him with my hands on my hips.

“Practice dancing. Now?”

“No, it would probably be more effective if we waited until the end of the week, just before the dance.” Sarcasm probably wasn’t the best way to plead my case, but it’s my go-to tool.

“Come on, smartass.” His big, hot hand came to rest on my lower back, and he guided me up the cement steps and then the wooden steps that led to my front door. “Maybe in the morning.”

“No.” I shook my head and fished my keys from the small clutch I brought to the community center with me and pushed my door open. “We need to practice karaoke tomorrow, and thatshould be a breeze for you. But since you insisted on walking me home and I’ve had this stroke of genius, we might as well.”

He looked unsure, but I was determined so I stepped inside, kicked off my shoes, and connected my phone to the speaker dock. “Come on Left Feet.”

He scowled, and I laughed, suddenly feeling lighter about everything. Yeah, my heart was still hurt from his words, but I could put it aside for tonight. When this week was over, I could nurse that wound, but for now, we had to put on a great show. “Not loving the nickname.”

I shrugged. “Then, let’s endeavor to change it?”

The moment the tension left his shoulders, I knew I had him.

Instead of gloating, I put on a playlist for dancing to everything from the waltz to swing to modern dance. “Never know what music they’ll play, and we have to be ready.” I held my hand out and held my breath, waiting for Ryan to decide what to do. My stomach clenched and twisted in knots when he grabbed my hand and yanked me flush against his body.

“Fine. Tell me what to do, Torey. I’m yours to lead.”

I ignored the way my heart rate increased when it heard‘I’m yours’and shook off the nerves that suddenly gripped me. “You lead and I follow.” I offered a few tips and then pushed my coffee table aside to give us more room to move. “Ready?”

“As I’m going to be.”

I laughed. “Come on, you go into enemy territory; this is nothing compared to that.”

“But in enemy territory, I know what I’m doing.”

I nodded. “Okay, think of all the international women you’ll be able to woo with your new dance skills.”

His jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared as his hands gripped me forcefully. And then, he began to move.

Dancing with Ryan, his big body guiding my next steps, was like a dream come true. He was a quick study, which was goodfor the dance competition but terrible for my mental state. His closeness, his scent, and his capable body only brought forth memories of our encounter. Of his big body making me feel good, the sounds he made. “Dammit.” I stopped dancing and took a step back.

“What? Did I step on your toes?”

“No, you did good. Really good, in fact.”

“So?”

“So, I think the lesson was successful. Good job.” My gaze darted around the room, looking anywhere but at Ryan’s curious green eyes.

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