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Finally, the anger ebbed, and I was lost in the flow, pairing my feet with my arms. My skirt made it hard to put my hands on my knees and rotate my legs in and out, but I mimicked the motion without tangling myself in the material of the skirt. I rather enjoyed the challenge.
I wasn’t worried about whether I forgot to put my thong on when I was unhooking my fringe skirt. I wasn’t praying my pasties would stay in place while I shimmied out of my top. I was dancing just to dance again.
I was doing the heel taps with my arms held out to my sides to make it a full-body action when giggling reached my ears.
My chest heaving, I came to a stop. The kids were pressed into the entry that separated the living room from the dining room and kitchen. Cody was behind them, but he wasn’t glowering anymore. His calm mask wavered, but I couldn’t identify the tide of emotion he was holding back.
Until his gaze dropped to catch the rise and fall of my breasts. I was only in a white tank top, and one spaghetti strap had fallen down my shoulder.
“Do it again!” Ivy clutched one of the kittens to her chest. The kitten didn’t flinch, already used to the outbursts of kids.
Cody shook himself, like he was recovering from a trance. “Sorry to interrupt.”
I shouldn’t have let time get away from me. He was paying me to work, not play. “It’s your house.”
“It’s not,” he said, plainly.
Tendrils of hurt curled around my throat. Was he pointing out that his presence was temporary in Crocus Valley, and so was I? A long jump logically, but my brain happily created reasons for the hurt.
“Can I dance with you?” Grayson asked.
I loved this kid’s enthusiasm. “Let me change the music, and we can practice some of those swing steps you’ve been learning. Remember the name of my favorite song?”
“‘In the Mood’!” both Grayson and Ivy yelled.
Grayson handed his kitten to Cody. “Here, Dad.”
Cody juggled the fluffier of the kittens with a surprisingly gentle and ginger grip that sent the wickedest thoughts through my head about how he handled other types of pussy.
I hit the play button before I did something more old-fashioned, like fan myself. The sound of trumpets blared through the room.
I held my hands out for Grayson.
Cody stopped by the bathroom, the kitten cuddled against his chest. Lucky cat.
“Big band?” he asked.
I did slow, minimized versions of the swing steps while Grayson concentrated on his footwork. “I’m a sucker for old-time jazz and big band. I’ll take a jitterbug over a twerk any day.” I nodded while watching Grayson’s feet. “That’s right, step, step, rock step— Look at you. You nailed a triple step.”
Grayson beamed. I’d started him on the single step and only demonstrated the triple step, but he just executed the move. I had the song on repeat, and we danced two more before Ivy shoved in and Grayson took a break and went to stand by his dad. Her footwork was erratic, more like we were jumping rope, and she didn’t care about a single swing step. Regardless, I was having fun. Even Cody was smiling against the doorframe of the closed bathroom, holding the kittens, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Grayson stood like his small mirror image on the other side of the frame.
I danced another song with Ivy, getting silly with her. Giggling, Ivy dropped to a curtsy. “Daddy, it’s your turn.”
I froze, my gaze shooting to his. Alarmed, he opened his mouth like he was going to turn us both down, but then he snapped his mouth shut. “My boots might scratch the floor.”
The curl of hurt was back. This floor had seen a lot in its day. Cowboy boots wouldn’t nick it.
“Come on, Daddy,” Grayson urged.
The stern expression was wiped out by determination. He stepped out of his boots. His socks were stark white, and he was no less imposing in stockinged feet, prowling toward me. My breath hitched.
What was going on?
He crossed to me, hooked an arm around my waist, and took my hand in his, his grip light but sure. His toe tapped with the beat, and at the top of a count, he started twirling around the floor with me.
This man could swing dance.
Laughter bubbled out of me. Forget his hot body close to mine, the way we fit perfectly together, and the ripple of strength through his limbs. He couldmove.
