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His feet started moving, stepping toward her, so she stepped back in tandem. Soon she fell into an easy rhythm. Huck was graceful and easy on his feet. He even said a few of the lyrics as they played.
“I’ve been looking for that girl…waiting for that girl…”
The way his smooth voice rolled over the song’s notes made her shiver, and a part of her wanted to be “that girl.” In the song…for him…something. Or someone. She just wanted to be someone.
“That’s it,” he smiled. “You’re doing great.” She glanced down at their feet, and he said, “Watch my feet and move with me. Quick. Quick. Slow…slow… Quick, quick, slow…slow…”
Autumn followed. Simple enough. They were literally just stepping around. But she’d never felt more feminine than she did in Huck’s arms.
“Okay, eyes up now,” he said. She obeyed and met that steely green gaze of his and smiled. Her feet kept moving, and so did he, leading her around the floor like they were gliding. Like they fit.
Just when she was getting the hang of it, the chorus hit, and so did a sly smile on Huck’s face. In a flash of movement, he spun her out, twirled her around, then yanked her back in his arms in record time.
A wide smile split her face, but she didn’t have time to think about it, because he did it again, only this time, twirled her twice in a row. Her hair whipped around, and her boots spun before he brought her back to the warmth and security of his embrace.
She laughed and clutched to him as the pace slowed just a touch, and then they were back to the two-step.
His face lit up as he looked at her.
“Liked that, did you?”
“Yes!” she said around a happy laugh, and she found herself moving her hips and feet in a more rhythmic way. Who knew twirling was so fun? She finally got her happy smiles under control and realized that Huck was staring at her with some kind of wonder.
“What?” she asked.
When they hit the corner of the dance floor, he snagged her lips in a quick kiss. “Your laugh is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. I just wanted a taste of it.”
A sting hit behind her eyes. No one had ever said anything so wonderful before. She also realized that she didn’t laugh much. Just like she didn’t twirl, or do anything a happy, “normal” woman might do.
She’d been too busy trying to stay afloat. Trying to keep the men in her life from finding another reason to abandon her. Men like her father.
And in the end, she’d failed. But her father had failed her a long time ago. No matter how hard she tried, worked, or held on, people and support all disappeared in the end anyway.
Yet she clung tighter to Huck. Because in that moment, she didn’t want to let go. Didn
’t want to believe that he wanted to, either. It was a fantasy, one that would fade away in less than two weeks. It would hurt when reality came crashing down like it always did—
“Whatever you’re thinking about, stop,” he said against her ear, keeping her close and dancing her around, giving small spins here and there. “Don’t go to whatever thoughts have you looking sad, honey. Stay with me. Stay in this moment. Don’t go.”
Her heart twisted a little, because Huck sounded so genuine. She wanted this moment. Wanted it free from the clouds of the past and the present. She just wanted him.
“I’m here,” she whispered.
“Good.” He smiled and spun her out again. This time he did some hand-off behind his back and gave her an extra twirl, then coaxed another sharp giggle from her as he pulled her back into his arms.
“Careful, honey, I think you’re having fun.”
“I know how to have fun.”
“Oh, I know you do.” He winked. “Have you really never danced before?”
“Nope, never.”
“Well, I’m honored to be your first.”
She smiled and shrugged. “You looked competent enough, so I figured you were worth a shot.” She loved teasing him.
“Oh, is that right?” The hand on her back moved lower to swat her butt before spinning her out and bringing her back. “I’m set to show you how competent I can be.”
