Page 5 of Fool Me Once

She stared at him andwanted to tell him to fuck off. “I just don’t dance. I can’t dance. I never hada reason to dance.”

“You’ve never been to aparty?” he asked.

“Never.”

“Even a birthday one?”

“None.” She stared at himand waited for him to get to the point.

“Okay, what about anightclub? A New Year’s Eve party?”

She smiled. “You’re reallynot grasping the whole ‘no party, zip, nada, nothing,’ are you?”

“I’m finding it hard tobelieve a beautiful woman like yourself has never had a man take you dancing.Were your dates always a meal and a show?” he asked.

“I’ve never been on adate.” And she wasn’t embarrassed by it either. This was her life.

“No dates?”

“None.”

“I find that incrediblyhard to believe.”

“I don’t fall with randomguys. I don’t trust easily.”

“Well, this is just nogood. You see, I have a dinner coming up, and I’m going to need you to learnhow to dance.”

She stepped off the damnwalking machine. “Then show me, or better yet, why don’t you get a date tothese things, and leave me on the sidelines?”

“That won’t do. Women aretricky business.”

“You do realize you aretalking to one of those tricky women?” she asked.

He smiled. “Exactly, soyou know what I am talking about. Anyway, I need you to play damage control,and if I need you to cut in, that is exactly what is going to happen.”

She blew out a breath andthen sighed. “Fine, teach me how to dance. There can’t be much to it.” She heldher hands out to her sides and waited.

Cain tutted and thenstepped close to her. He surprised her even more by wrapping an arm around herwaist and pulling her in close. At first, she didn’t know quite what to do. Hewasn’t wearing a shirt, and, well, his naked body was close to hers. She feltbreathless, which was quite alarming.

“Look at me. When you’redancing, you always look at your partner,” he said.

“Why?”

“It’s rude not to.Besides, why would you be dancing with one person if you were thinking aboutanother?” he asked.

“I can think of plenty ofreasons to look at other people.”

He tugged her a littlecloser, which made her suddenly stop as she was very much aware of how naked hewas. He still had on pants, but that didn’t feel like enough between them.She’d never been this close to a man she had feelings for, and it was a littleunnerving.

There were words he wassaying, but she was too busy trying not to panic to even comprehend what he wassaying.

Both of his hands moved toher hips, and he held her, putting slight pressure to move her from side toside. She suddenly realized they were swaying to an imaginary beat. There wasno music, just the rapid sound of her heartbeat. She hoped he couldn’t hear it.

Geta grip, Leah. This is dancing. This is doing a stupid job. It doesn’t meananything,she kept trying to remindherself. Although her treacherous body was no help to her at all. It did whatit wanted to do.

“Right, let’s change thisup. This is when the music is slow, and we can be close.” One of his hands lefther hip, and the other took hold of her hand. Her hand looked so small comparedto his large one.

“Do you like dancing?” sheasked, hoping to distract herself.

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