Page 52 of Across the Boards

“Made you laugh, though.” I can’t help the pride that surges through me at having broken through her careful composure. “Rain check on the dipping? Maybe somewhere more private where I can show you my full repertoire of moves?”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“And you’re not saying no.” I trace small circles at the base of her spine, feeling her subtle lean into my touch. “I consider that progress.”

The music shifts again, and she moves fractionally closer, surprising me with her boldness. “One dance at a time, Carter. But I’m not opposed to reviewing your... technique... at a later date.”

I can’t stop the slow smile that spreads across my face. With anyone else, this would be just flirting, just a dance. But with Elliot—brilliant, cautious, breathtaking Elliot—every inch closer feels like a victory. Every smile freely given feels like a gift.

“I’ll hold you to that, Waltman,” I promise, leading her through another turn, already counting the minutes until “later” arrives.

We move together in silence for a few minutes, as I memorize the way she feels in my arms.

“You really do look beautiful tonight,” I say quietly. “I should have said that more eloquently when I picked you up.”

“You said ‘wow’ and then stared at me for a solid ten seconds,” she recalls, amusement in her voice. “It was actually quite flattering.”

“Good. Because my brain genuinely short-circuited.”

“Such a charmer, Carter.”

“Only with you.”

Her eyes meet mine, something vulnerable flickering in their depths. “Don’t say things like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I might start believing them.”

The simple honesty in her voice makes my heart clench. “Would that be so bad?”

Before she can answer, I notice two players watching us from the edge of the dance floor—Matthews and Kelly, the two Jason loyalists Tommy warned us about. They’re not even trying to hide their staring, and Matthews is already on his phone, no doubt texting updates to Miami.

Elliot follows my gaze and stiffens slightly in my arms. “Ah. The surveillance team has arrived.”

“Ignore them,” I suggest. “They’re just looking for gossip.”

“Which they’ll report directly to Jason.” She sighs. “I should have expected this.”

“Does it bother you?” I ask carefully. “That he’ll know you’re here? With me?”

She considers this for a moment. “Not that he’ll know,” she says finally. “But I hate that he still has this... network. These people watching me and reporting back.”

“We could give them a real show,” I suggest, only half-joking. “I could dramatically declare my undying love. Or pretend to propose. Really give them something to text about.”

She laughs despite herself. “As entertaining as that would be, I think we should aim for a more strategic approach.”

“Strategic how?”

“Let them see exactly what we want them to see,” she says, her expression turning thoughtful. “A woman enjoying herself at a charity event with a handsome man. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing that would give Jason the satisfaction of thinking I’m either pining for him or trying to make him jealous.”

I nod, impressed by her approach. “So, we’re going for the ‘living well is the best revenge’ angle?”

“Exactly.” She smiles up at me, and it feels like a private joke between us. “Besides, anything they report will be filtered through their own perceptions anyway. Might as well give them the classiest version possible.”

“I can do classy,” I assure her. “I own cufflinks and everything.”

“Rental cufflinks don’t count, Carter.”

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