Page 7 of Slow Waltz
“Well, now that we’re back, let’s partner up and I’ll teach you some more advanced moves.”
Silas turned his smile on Rhys before heading over to Faith.Advanced moves. Rhys tried not to laugh.
“Well, you look refreshed.” Debbie poked him in the side. “And a bit more bohemian. Like an artist.”
“Iaman artist.” He decided not to comment on the other part.
Scott clapped his hands. “If I can have your attention, I’m going to show you under-the-arm turns, straight lines, and how not to run into other people on the dance floor.” Even Scott’s chuckle was professional. “Because nothing is worse than dancer collisions!”
The group laughed politely, and Scott got down to business.
None of the steps were hard. Some, like moving straight backward and forward, were steps Silas had taught him in the cabin. The turns were interesting and fun to do, but no more challenging than the dance itself. And not running into folks was more a matter of paying attention than anything else. Once Scott was satisfied they’d learned the steps, he set them loose to practice.
Canned waltz music played over the lounge speakers as he and Debbie worked through the dance.
“So, your continental gentleman found himself a painter, did he?”
The question should have irked him. Would have, from anyone else, but from this woman, it only felt like gentle teasing. “I’m a sculptor,” Rhys said. “And I found him.”
“Did you?” She rotated under his arm.
“Chased after him down a hall.”
“How romantic! Was he flattered?”
Rhys smiled. “Very.” Silas had actually been furious. And gorgeous. And covered in an entire tray of cocktails Rhys had accidentally spilled on him. His punishment for that had been fingers wrapped around his throat and the best damn handjob of his life.
But New York was two days away. The pleasure of the memory faded. Who knew what would happen then?
She poked him in the ribs once more. “You’re gonna start stepping on my feet.”
Rhys shook himself out of his thoughts. “Sorry. It’s just…never mind.”
“Worried about the future?”
He nodded.
She waved a hand. “Oh, the world’s gonna run you and your man over a few times. Just get up and give it what for and keep going.”
“If only it were that easy.”
She laughed. “Honey, there isn’t anything easy about that.” She sobered. “But you’ve got mettle, so remember that first moment you met.” They moved across the dance floor. “When he does something stupid. When you do something stupid. When you’re mad at him. When the world makes you ill. Remember that time, and you’ll be fine.”
“Youhavebeen through this before.”
“At my age, I’ve been through it all.” She laughed. “Met the love of my life in college. Not a day goes by I don’t think of that moment.”
Whoever he’d been, he must have been quite a man. Rhys didn’t know what to say. A marriage explained the simple gold band between the silver and turquoise. Before he could open his mouth, the music swelled and ended.
“Very good, everyone!” Scott waved them all back into a group. “Dinner tonight is at six. Jacket and ties for the gentlemen, dresses for the ladies.” He filled them in on the rest of the details for the evening, and let the class go.
When Silas and Faith joined them, Debbie waggled a finger at Silas. “Now you take good care of him, young man.”
Faith looked appalled. “Deborah.”
“Oh, I take excellent care of him.” Silas’s silky baritone turned the words from innocent to wicked.
The three of them looked at Rhys with nearly the same expression, except Silas’s had more than a hint of a smile. Rhys couldn’t help the heat in his face.
