“I can’t. I’m afraid of stepping on your feet.”
“I’ll worry about my feet. Look into my eyes.”
“Mama, I’m real sorry, but your eyes are right around the middle of my chest. I can’t count, watch my feet, and listen to Shannon all while bending down to see you. Trust me on this.”
“I’m looking up.”
Shannon sighed. “Let’s try this again. This time with music.” She walked to her iPad, threw Kimber a pained expression, and then tapped a few more things.
Seconds later, Marc Anthony’s “I Need to Know” came on.
“Oh! I love this song,” Mrs. Law gushed.
Gunnar looked like he was biting the inside of his lip bloody.
“Come on now, feel the music,” Shannon coaxed. “And here we go. One, two, cha-cha-cha. One, two cha-cha-cha.”
Kimber stopped even pretending that she was filing papers and watched. And when Marc Anthony called out “Tell me, baby girl, ’cause I need to know,” and Gunnar looked like he was about to throw up, she started laughing.
Which, unfortunately, caused the three other people in the room to skid to a stop.
“What, exactly, is so funny, Kimber?” Shannon asked, her tone testy.
“Nothing. I mean, nothing other than the fact that Gunnar looks kind of green, dancing to that song with his mom.”
“And what is wrong with it?”
Oh, boy. Shannon was in full schoolteacher mode. “Nothing. It’s just that it’s , um . . . romantic and sexy.”
“It’s just a song, Kimber.”
“You’re right. I’m so sorry.” Just as she was about to go back to filing, Gunnar spoke up.
“Have you danced the cha-cha before, Kimber?”
“No. I tried tap, though.”
Shannon, obviously still in a snit, popped a hand on her hip. “Kimber isn’t much of a tap dancer.”
Kimber would’ve been offended if Shannon hadn’t spoken the truth.
“Why don’t you give the cha-cha a try?” Willa asked.
This was getting uncomfortable, and it was no less than she deserved. “I really am sorry. I think I’ll just go ahead and get on out of here.”
“No, dear. I’d love to see you dance with Gunnar.” Willa fanned her face. “I kind of need a break anyway.”
“What do you say?” Gunnar asked. “Are you ready to show me how it’s done?”
She had no choice. Gunnar was giving her no choice, and even if she decided not take him up on that offer, if she refused, Shannon would never let it go. “Fine. But, I don’t have any shoes.”
“Yes, you do. You left those under my desk the other day.”
Her beautiful Jimmy Choos. “Fine.” Stepping over in her skinny jeans, she toed off her flats and slipped on her Choos.
Gunnar looked at them like they were a pair of stilts. “Can you even walk in those things?”
“Honey, one day I’m going to make you watch an old tape of me on a runway show. You wouldn’t believe the things that I’ve had to do in high heels.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” he murmured as she stood in front of him.
“You two stop talking and listen,” Shannon admonished. “Now, let’s review.” Quickly she reminded Gunnar of where to put his hands and went over the steps once again.
Kimber stopped joking and concentrated. Gunnar looked marginally more relaxed.
“It’s easier because you’re a lot taller than my mom, but I wish I hadn’t worn these boots. I really don’t want to hurt you.”
“With me you don’t have to worry. I’ve got tough feet. Honestly, you should be more worried about me landing on your foot with one of my spiky heels.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but those do look pretty lethal.”
After going over the steps two more times, Shannon smiled. “Let’s try it to music. And in honor of Kimber, I’ll put on something else.” With a few more clicks, Credence Clearwater Revival’s “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” filled the room.
“Here we go,” Shannon said. “One, two, cha—”
Kimber was pretty sure Shannon was still counting and ordering them around, but all she was aware of was the way Gunnar was holding her and the beat of the song.
“You two . . . you two look really good!” Shannon called out.
And yes, she sounded surprised.
“You feel good,” Gunnar murmured. “I love that you’re so tall.”
It was true. She was five feet, ten inches barefoot. Now, in her heels, she was at least an inch over six feet. Almost Gunnar’s height.
“You feel good too,” she teased.
“Turn now!” Shannon called out.
He twirled her, then she stepped back into his arms. And they picked up where they’d left off. For the first time in her life, she was forgetting about all the stuff that took up her time and energy and everything that hurt her.
She was forgetting about her stalker, about Brett, her career, her weight, her sisters, her future . . .
All she was aware of was moving with Gunnar. Of the way his eyes were gleaming with approval. Of the scent of his sandalwood cologne, of the way she felt pretty. Pretty in a girl-meets-a-cute-boy-who-likes-her way.
Pretty like she didn’t think she’d ever felt in her life.
And then it stopped.
Gunnar dropped his hands. She gaped at him. Both were breathing hard.
And both Shannon and Mrs. Law were looking at the two of them with something that could only be described as triumph in their eyes.
CHAPTER 18
“Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),
One last candle burning low,
All the sleeping dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Someone came, and kissed me there.”
—walter de la mare, “mistletoe”
“I think y’all have got those steps down now,” Shannon announced, effectively breaking the tension between him and Kimber. “So you can stop . . . if, you know, you two would like to take a break.”
Still holding Kimber close, he stared down into her eyes. She blinked, looking just as confused as he felt by the directions.