Page 69 of Just a Little White Lie

An emotion I don’t think I’ve ever felt before blooms in my chest. The words come out of me without a second thought. “I don’t want to let you down.”

The smile that curves her lips is beautiful, and I’m back to wanting to kiss her again.

Her fingers slip into my hand, and I rub my thumb over her knuckles.

“It seemed obvious to me today that you still love dancing.” Her voice is soft, just like her touch. “And even though helping me might feel like aDancing with the Starsexperience again, I just want you to know that I’d never do something like that to you.” Her teeth brush over her lower lip, and I’m mesmerized by that one little action. “And if you love dancing, you shouldn’t let some connivingbitchstop you. Don’t let her rob you of all your dreams, crazy man.” She grins, and I have to smile back at her. “Thanks for being willing to help me.”

“Yeah, well, you desperately need it.” I chuck out the joke, having to change the air in the room right now. It’s getting too thick, too intense. Her words. So sweet. So kind. Her lips. So glossy. So perfect.

“Hey.” She lightly slaps my arm, feigning offense.

“Let’s hope you’re better than Yolanda.” I wince, which makes her laugh.

“I will be, and remember, I’m not trying to impress anyone. I just have to learn the moves well enough to teach the kids.”

“Which means you have to impress them, and teenagers are a hard sell. You’ve got your work cut out for you, Twinkle Toes. Or should I call you Two Left Feet?”

“Hey! I’m not that bad.” With a laugh, she grabs her phone and starts “She’s Got Rhythm” playing. It’s an old Beach Boys song, but the lyrics are actually kind of perfect for the point I know she’s trying to make. Her body wiggles on the bed, her shoulders giving me a little shimmy before she gets up and bounces around on my mattress, dancing and belting out the lyrics.

I can’t help laughing. The party girl hams it up, putting on a playful show for me. It’s the best damn thing I’ve ever seen, and I can’t tear my eyes away from her.

She catches my gaze and her steps falter, her body tipping for the edge of the bed. I lunge forward, fisting her shirt and pulling her onto her knees. She’s practically in my lap, but I can’t let her go. She nearly fell. I had to catch her or she could have hurt herself.

Big brothers do that, right?

Her hands land on my shoulders, her short breaths matching mine as we stare at each other.

“Thanks.” Her whisper is breathy and barely audible.

My heart is hammering, beating between my eardrums and vibrating through my body. An ancient tribe is dancing along each limb, their drumbeat thick and heady. I want to kiss her. I want to—

“I’m home!” Luke’s voice jolts me, followed by the sound of the door shutting behind him.

I practically push Lauren away from me, making sure she doesn’t fall when her feet hit the ground.

I can’t stop staring at her, and my heart is still pounding. Something between us just shifted, and I don’t know what to do about it.

But Luke can’t walk in and find me staring at her this way. He’ll know. And then he’ll end me.

“Time to get out of my room, Dancing Queen.” I grab her phone, killing the music just as Luke’s footsteps come down the hallway.

He jerks to a stop and frowns at me, then scowls at his sister. “You’re in his room again?”

She rolls her eyes, snatching the phone and walking to the door with her arms crossed.

Luke moves past her, striding straight into my room. “Why does she keep coming in here, man?”

Lauren’s door clicks shut, and I shrug, going for as casual as I can. “She just had a music question. I’m helping her with that dance thing, like you asked me to.”

“Hmmm.” Luke crosses his arms, looking a little too suspicious for my liking.

I meet his gaze head-on, reminding myself that I don’t actually have to act on whatever’s happening between me and Lauren, so it’s not like I’m lying to him.

“We’re all adults here,” I softly remind him. “Stop acting like her father, and stop staring at me like I’m some horny teenager. She’s your sister.” My voice dries up, and I can’t say anything more.

It only gets worse when he dips his head with an apologetic frown. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He nods and walks out of my room. And I’m left to sit on the end of my bed feeling like a scummy friend… because all I can think about right now is how badly I want to kiss the teacher in the room just down the hall from mine.

Which I can’t.

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