“Okay, it’s time to try this together,” the dance instructor said. “Everyone partner up and make sure you pick the person you are going to marry. We don’t want any scandals at the resort this week!”
A tingle of shock coursed through Kayla, and she couldn’t help looking all around the room. Was everyone looking at her? Did they know she intended for that exact scandal to occur? Or maybe it was just her two left feet that made them stare.
“Are you ready, LaLa?”
Mack’s voice was low and far closer than she expected. Kayla jumped and her shoulder connected with something extremely solid. Mack’s teeth snapped together with an audible click.
“Oh, crap.” Kayla turned to see Mack cradling her mouth in both hands, her eyes watering. “Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.”
Kayla reached out on instinct, pulling Mack’s hands away from her face. She expected to see blood pouring from Mack’s mouth. How many teeth had Kayla accidentally broken? Had she bitten her tongue?
Mack blinked hard, her eyes still suspiciously shiny, but she worked her jaw and opened her mouth. No blood or broken teeth poured out, so that was a good sign.
Mack rubbed her chin and said, “I’m fine. If you want me to shut up, there are easier ways…honey.”
Kayla threw herself at Mack, wrapping her arms around those broad shoulders as relief flooded her. “I’m so sorry. You startled me. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Mack patted her awkwardly on the head, and a rumble of laughter shook through her chest into Kayla’s bones. It was comforting in a wonderfully familiar way, so she didn’t release Mack from the hug. Instead, she snuggled closer.
“If you think you can get out of dancing by holding my arms hostage, you’re sadly mistaken,” Mack said.
The teasing made Kayla more comfortable, but she knew she should let go. They had to dance, after all. “Fine, but I want a rain check.”
“On the cuddling? I think that can be arranged.”
As they settled into position, Kayla realized they might have made a mistake. Learning to dance was one challenge, looking like a couple comfortable with intimacy was another. Add the sensuality of a tango into the mix, and they were definitely playing on hard mode. Just getting into the right position was a challenge. And then there was the margarita. Why had they thought alcohol would improve her coordination?
Mack held out her arms just like the other leading partners did, and there was a twinkle in her eyes Kayla couldn’t place. Was she worried Kayla would refuse? She looked like the teenager she’d been when they met. Awkward and a little unsure. It made Kayla’s heart ache to see her show that uncertainty now. After all, Mack was very much an adult, and she usually didn’t lack for confidence. Nothing proved that more than when Kayla stepped forward into her arms.
Sure, Kayla had avoided dancing at all costs throughout her life, but Mack clearly hadn’t. The moment Kayla was within reach, Mack pulled her gently to rest against her chest. They struggled with the hand clasping again, this time because Kayla had no idea what to do with her fingers. She should have paid better attention during the instructions.
“Just rest your palm in mine,” Mack said. “Like this.”
Kayla allowed herself to be guided—something she was admittedly not very good at—and their hands slid together like two pieces of a puzzle. Mack cupped her palm softly, but something in the surety of her grip made Kayla’s body relax. She could let Mack take the lead on this. If there was one thing shewas sure of in life, it was that she could trust Mack. She settled her other hand lightly on the cap of Mack’s shoulder. Their height difference had never been more apparent, and it was easy to let Mack take charge.
Unfortunately, Kayla ruined all that carefully won trust and relaxation a moment later when Mack’s other hand settled into place. They had come straight from the pool, so Kayla had just stepped into the light skirt she had worn to turn her bathing suit into an acceptable resort outfit. It left her entire back exposed. When Mack’s broad palm settled onto the small of her bare back, Kayla jumped in alarm.
It wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t had anyone’s hand on her bare skin in a long time. Not since Skye and never Mack. The intimacy was shocking and unexpected. Her shoulder just grazed Mack’s prominent jaw, but maybe she’d learned from the first close encounter. Mack jumped back at the same moment she had. Was she also taken off guard by the skin-on-skin action? If so, it probably saved her from getting knocked out cold.
“Sorry. I—” Kayla backed away quickly, knocking into another couple that had already started to dance. She hopped off them like she’d been burnt and back into Mack’s arms. “Shit. Sorry.”
Mack groaned. “Oof. Watch out there, Bambi.”
It took her a moment to realize she was standing on Mack’s foot. She hopped again, but her thigh whacked hard in between Mack’s thighs. She groaned again, leaning over but keeping a firm hold of Kayla so she didn’t topple backward.
“Shit. I’m sorry,” Kayla said, trying and failing to get her feet beneath her.
They were now an unmoving obstacle in a sea of dancing couples. Someone’s ponytail whipped across Kayla’s face, and Mack was jostled from behind. There was a near constant stream of apologies to and from them, but it was clear they needed to start moving, or they would be at the bottom of a bruising scrum.
In desperation, Mack hauled Kayla off the ground and spun with her, feet flailing, almost in time to the music. Every time Kayla tried to get her balance and put her feet down, they were swept up into another group of dancing couples, and Mack had to carry her to safety again. It was all so absurd, they were both cracking up with laughter the whole time, which certainly didn’t help either of them get the form down. After what felt like an hour in the churning crowd, the music finally stopped. Mack set her down hard and doubled over to catch her breath. Kayla leaned over her, her whole body shaking with mirth.
“Well, that was…something,” The male instructor said. “Some of you will have an interesting wedding night, that’s for sure.”
The way he grinned when he cut a look their way clearly said he wasn’t just talking about their first dance. Heat rose in her cheeks and, when she got the courage to look over at Mack, she could see her supposed fiancée’s face was beet red. Kayla buried her face in Mack’s shoulder and was relieved, if not surprised, to feel Mack’s arm tighten around her. Of course, Mack wouldn’t toss her into the pool to get rid of her, but Kayla sure had done a great job of embarrassing the hell out of them both.
As the instructor turned back to the class at large to offer pointers, Mack bent down to whisper in her ear. “He wasn’t talking about our first dance, was he?”
Kayla groaned. “No, he definitely wasn’t.”
