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As Lana loungedaround the Lido pool, she studiedNeptune’s News, the ship’s daily planner, staggered by the array of activities on board: lectures on ports they were due to visit, wine tasting, art auctions, dance lessons, to name a few. She studiously avoided any activities with Zac’s name next to them and finally decided on ballroom dancing, something she’d always wanted to try but never had the guts to. Hopefully, mastering a waltz or two might give her a quick-step in the right direction to boosting her self confidence.
Despite the digital maps clearly visible around the ship—for a brainiac she kept getting port and starboard mixed up—it took several attempts to find the ballroom. So much for her sure-fire navigational skills; apparently they only applied to the maze of one-way streets around Sydney and convoluted museum corridors.
Several women stood to one side of the ballroom while a few men loitered on the outskirts of the dance floor. She learned from Mavis, the woman standing next to her, that the men were hosts hired by the ship’s company for single women who needed a dance partner.
“This is my seventh cruise, dear. Why do you think I keep coming back? Though I’m seventy, these dance hosts make me feel twenty-one again, whisking me all over the dance floor.” Mavis winked. “Not to mention their youthful good looks.”
Lana smothered a smile as the youngest host appeared to be a greying fifty-five. She observed the men skilled at mingling with the women and soon everyone had paired off. Predictably, she had no partner. Story of her life.
“Don’t worry, love, you’ll be the lucky one paired with the instructor.” Mavis, the veteran cruiser, obviously knew how these things worked.
“I hope he’s good.”
Because she needed all the help she could get. Coordination and grace were not her strengths.
“I’m better than good. Let’s just hope you can keep up.”
Her nerve endings snapped to attention as the deep voice rippled over her and she didn’t have to turn around to know who it belonged to. Fickle fate dealing her a bum hand yet again.
“Okay, class, let’s get to work. As you can see, I’m not Rafe, our illustrious dance instructor. He was called away to a last minute rehearsal for tonight’s extravaganza, so you’re stuck with me instead. For those who don’t know me, I’m Zac McCoy, the PR manager. Though I’m not a professional entertainer, I can safely say I don’t have two left feet and I’ve managed to learn a thing or two during my years working with the entertainment staff. So, how about a waltz to start with?”
“Anything you want, handsome. Oh, if only I was thirty years younger.” Mavis fanned her face, a twinkle in her eyes.
“If only I’d decided on taking the chess class,” Lana muttered, wondering if she could fake a sprained ankle.
“Did you say something?” Zac’s smug smile made her grit her teeth.
She had two choices. Duck and run as she usually would in an uncomfortable situation like this or ignore the blush burning her cheeks, ignore her qualms at never doing this before, suck it up, and see if she could get through this awkward encounter without making a fool of herself.
She shook her head, and managed a tight smile resembling a grimace. “No.”
“Right then, shall we dance?”
Zac held out his hand, leaving her no option but to take it. She tried to relax, she really did, but as he pulled her closer, his body grazing hers, she inadvertently stiffened.
His knowing smile didn’t help. “See, a perfect fit.”
“I thought we were doing a waltz. The way you’re holding me, seems more like the lambada.”
“Fancy a bit of dirty dancing, do you?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. You certainly don’t hold a candle to Patrick Swayze.”
A glint of hidden excitement lit his extraordinary eyes. “And here I was, thinking you were falling under my spell. You disappoint me.”
She averted her gaze, focussing on anything other than those all-seeing eyes, wishing her heart would stop racing. “Don’t you ever stop flirting?”
His grin widened. “I’m sure Fred did his fair share of flirting while he whisked Ginger around. I’m just taking my role seriously.”
“Role as the resident Casanova you mean?”
The naughty glint in his eyes alerted her to the fact she hadn’t insulted him. Moreover, he was enjoying their sparring way too much.
“We’re both adults here. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of harmless flirtation. Besides, you dared me, remember?”
More fool her. “Look, this is silly. You were taunting me last night, I bit back. Let’s just forget it, okay?
The naughty glint didn’t let up. If anything, it intensified as his lips kicked up into an all-too-sexy grin. “Unfortunately for you, I have a very good memory so I can’t forget it. But I’m willing to concentrate on our dance steps for now?” and with that, he spun her outward at arms length.
