Page 5 of The Bride's Billionaire

He pointed to the end of their street. “See that building that is practically shaking on its own?”

“With the awesome outdoor balcony?”

“That’s the one. That’s where we’re headed.”

“Perfeito.”

They hurried the rest of the way, smiling at the people who greeted them as they passed.

She laughed at the fourthBoa Noitein as many minutes. “Friendly people. I don’t think I’ve ever been toldgood nightso many times in one evening.”

“Is it your first trip to Brazil?”

“No, but it is my first trip on my own, without family or anyone. Obviously, that’s not true of you.”

“Ooh, I’m honored, a Brazil nightlife virgin. So, what do you think?”

She blushed prettily at his inference.

His interest piqued further.

“I love it. I’ve never met friendlier people.”

He nodded. “They’re fantastic. Open, ready for friendship, for fun. They want to be successful, but first, they want to enjoy themselves.”

“That’s nice. I like that.”

He did too. He wished it was a realistic way to run a business. So often, he’d wondered what was the point of working himself to death if he couldn’t enjoy all that he had acquired. But he didn’t say that, just shrugged. “I’m sure there’s a lot we could learn from them as a culture.”

As they neared the House of Samba, the sidewalk pulsed beneath their feet to the beat inside. He shuffled his feet in a samba move. “I’ll have you dancing the samba in no time.”

She tried to imitate him but it came off looking more like little kid shuffling. But what did that matter? She laughed, and she dared. What a woman.

He picked up their pace, opening the door and leading her straight upstairs to the outdoor balcony which was packed. He hoped the center of the room still had some space in it.

As he pushed through the people, cradling her hand more firmly in his, the crush did open up and there was space on the actual floor to dance. He held her hands in his and faced her. “This is so simple, much more simple than it looks.”

She laughed. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.” She looked at the people next to her and then began to shift her hips. Already, she’d got the wiggle down; He watched her hips, his gaze riveted, fascinated with her motion, and for a moment, forgot he was supposed to be joining her. She cleared her throat, her eyebrow raised. He winked, then moved his hips in time with hers, approached as she backed up, and then pulled her closer toward him as he moved away. Without a word of explanation, soon her feet and body were moving with the rhythm and flow of the dance, her eyes locked on his.

They moved even closer, their bodies moving in perfect synch. He wrapped a hand around her and spread a palm at her lower back. The air charged between them, the space between their rhythmic motion lessening. Forward, back, the music continued, and they moved, completely immune to the growing crowds around them, until they were pressed together and had to stop.

He wrapped his arms around her back, shielding her from the bodies all around them. She melted into him, the full length of her running along his middle. Her heart pounded with his. Her eyes stared up into his face, and she swallowed. Then she smiled. “Well, hello there.”

He tipped his head back and laughed. “You are something. Yes, hello.” He glanced around. “Not sure how to get out of this crush, but I can’t say I mind.” He wiggled his eyebrows and was pleased she laughed in response.

“I have to say, I like the samba. First lesson: a success.”

He shifted so he could more comfortably shield her from people bumping them. “You are a natural.”

“I had no idea how in synch we’d be.” Her eyes dropped, and a pretty pink colored her cheeks.

“It’s not always that way.”

Her eyes popped back up, a hopeful sparkle lighting them. “It’s not?”

He shook his head. “I mean, sure, we move together and everything, but not like us.” They’d been perfectly in time, the same shift, the same direction, the exact motion, together, and thinking about it now made it difficult for him to concentrate. He looked around. “I have an idea for our next thing.”

“You have another thing?”

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