Chapter 35

thirty-five

BEN

I wondered whether I was plain crazy. Standing in the middle of my yard, dancing with a man who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted wasn't how I usually spent my Friday nights. Instead of sitting in front of my workbench, creating another client's order, I was learning the art of waltzing. And even though it pained me to admit it, Daniel was a great teacher.

"Back straight. There's no room for slouching in a waltz."

I pulled back my shoulders. "Are you telling me I've got bad posture?"

"How you stand when you're dancing is different from everyday life. My grandma told me a man who could dance was worth his weight in gold. And that pot of gold depends on your posture."

Daniel let go of my hand and took two steps backward. "Hold your arms like this…" He extended his arms as if he were dancing with me. "Lift your upper body like you have a string attached to your head, and use your hips to alter your direction. You can't go wrong."

I held my arms in the air, pulled in my stomach, pushed back my shoulders, and twisted my hips.

"Move your foot in the direction your hips are rotating. Left foot, left hip."

I tried again, quickly stepping away from Daniel and twisting my body like the hinge on a door.

"That's better."

I sagged in relief. "I thought waltzing was supposed to be fun?"

Daniel's grin made my heart pound.

"It is once you know how to dodge everyone else."

"It's just as well you're my partner. You can maneuver your way around the dance floor and all I have to do is follow."

Daniel took hold of my hand and pulled me close. "As long as you remember who's in charge, we'll be fine."

"I can't help it if I'm naturally assertive," I muttered as Daniel settled me against his hip.

"You can be assertive off the dance floor. I can't lead if you refuse to move your feet."

My traitorous body almost whimpered when he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "What are you doing?"

"Unless you want to sing as we dance, I need to untangle your earbuds so we can both listen to the music."

While Daniel fiddled with the twisted wires, I practiced standing tall. I visualized our dance steps, doing everything I could to distract myself from the sight and smell of the six-foot-two heartthrob standing within kissing distance of my mouth.

"Nearly there." Daniel's breath whispered along my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

This wasn't what I was thinking when I'd asked him to help me. I was utterly and hopelessly attracted to Daniel, but I didn't have time for a boyfriend. Or friend, or whatever our relationship was becoming. He worked in Manhattan and had a life that didn't involve me.

He also had a brother he'd asked to do a background check on me, and when I refused to work with Daniel, he'd tried to blackmail me.

But his grandma had taught him how to dance, so he wasn't all bad.

Daniel brushed a strand of hair away from my face and handed me an earbud. "Cue the music, Ben."

Next time I was in town, I was buying a portable speaker or wireless earbuds. Dancing with Daniel was dangerous enough without being connected to him with a thin, plastic-covered wire.

I found the music app on my phone and pushed "Play." As the first notes of an Anne Murray song drifted into my ear, Daniel tapped the beat against my shoulder. "Should I ask Dylan what songs they're playing at the wedding? We could practice dancing to that music, too."

"Focus, Mr. Harper."

I sighed. I'd unleashed a monster when I'd asked Daniel for dancing lessons.

"One, two, three…"

Daniel's muscles tensed a moment before he stepped forward.

Automatically, my body moved backward, matching his long, graceful stride. My sneakers brushed against the grass as each step became easier, each turn a little less awkward. I forgot about Daniel's rock-hard body pressed against mine, the way we moved together like long-lost lovers. I simply enjoyed the moment, lost myself in the music, and fell a little in love with the man in my arms.

My eyes widened as we completed our first flawless circuit of the backyard. "We did it," I whispered.

Daniel dropped his hand to my waist and sighed. "We did. But where do we go from here?"

I searched his face, trying to decide if he was still talking about dancing. "I guess we go back the way we came." It was the coward's way out of his question, but I didn't care. I still hadn't told Daniel whether I'd work for him. And until that was settled, I wouldn't be getting any closer to him, even if Anne Murray was asking if she could have this dance for the rest of her life.