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Excerpt
Brody appeared at
her side. “Care to?”
“Don’t you have
host duties?”
“Absolutely. As
the host it’s my job to dance with the prettiest girl in the
place.”
“Go on.”
“Why else did you
dress up in that outfit anyway? It was made for dancing. Or so
Agnes has bragged enough times. It is from her shop, right?”
She lifted her
chin and looked away. How could he know that? Unless Mrs.
Polcyk had loose lips. After her observations at supper, she
wouldn’t be surprised.
“And besides, you
stared at me all through supper.”
Her head snapped
around. “You’re impossible!”
“Maybe, but I’m a
helluva good dancer, Miss Farnsworth. And if you don’t want to
dance, there’s lots of ladies here who will.”
He held out his
hand and lifted an eyebrow, challenging her.
“Fine,” she
glared. “One dance. It would look funny if I didn’t, I
suppose.”
She took his
hand, shocked when he spun her around quite efficiently and
settled his hand at her waist. Instantly he guided her into the
easy rocking steps of the dance, the entire swirling circle of
dancers moving around the floor like they did it every day of
their lives. And damn his hide, if he wasn’t right after all.
He was a sublime dancer. She’d known how to two-step
since she was ten, but he made even spinning turns simple as he
guided her first one way, then the other, beneath his arm and
bringing her effortlessly back in step.
“I told you.”
He grinned down
at her as the band thumped and twanged their way on, the rough,
enthusiastic quality of the music creating an energy that
vibrated from the soles of her feet up. “Hmph.”
“Miss Lucy,
you’re adorable when you pout. It makes all of your
freckles stand out.”
That did it. She
stomped down hard with her vintage pump on his toe, breaking
their rhythm. She attempted to twist out of his arms but his
hand gripped her wrist quite efficiently and swirled her back
into the dance.
“Good thing for
you I’m wearing boots,” he remarked. The teasing smile was
still in place but something darker glittered in his eyes.
“You’ve been an
arrogant pain in the behind for the better part of two weeks,
and tonight you turn into an incorrigible tease. Go turn your
charms on someone else who will appreciate them.”
“Do you really
want me to?”
“Yes, I think I
do.”
“Okay.”
The music ended
and he let her go. The air seemed abruptly cool now that there
was space between them and she tried very hard not to miss his
warmth.
“Thanks for the
dance, Lucy.”
He walked away
unconcerned, and when the band started up again he crossed the
floor and led Jen out for a waltz.
From The Rancher's Runaway Princess by Donna Alward
Harlequin Romance, January 2009
Copyright 2008 by Donna Alward
This edition published by arrangement with
Harlequin Books S.A.
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