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He gave her a little nod of encouragement and reached for her wineglass. “Go on,” he murmured under his breath. “Let him see you in someone else’s arms.” He winked.
“I thought you were his friend,” she whispered back with a little smile. Carl pressed her gently toward Phillip.
“I am. Which is why I’m doing this.”
Sophie turned to Phillip and extended her hand to his. “I’d love to.”
He drew her out onto the dance floor with a sure step, but Sophie still began cautiously, feeling him out. She almost sighed in relief as he moved with grace and precision. He wasn’t competition good, but he was very good.
Phillip rested his right hand politely on her shoulder blade as they moved to the music. She flicked a microscopic look at Henry from the corner of her eye. He’d definitely noticed her. His dark brows were angled down toward his nose. Nicole’s eyes were narrowed to razor slits. Sophie turned her attention back to Army and smiled. He chuckled.
“Henry doesn’t look very pleased to see you dancing with me.”
Another flush stole into her cheeks. “He might not be pleased to see me, period. We had a bit of a disagreement yesterday.”
“Ahh.” It was just the one word, and yet, from it Sophie got the impression that Phillip White understood her situation. Or at least the basics of it. The twinkle in his eyes was understanding now. “And you came tonight to try and smooth things over?”
“No. Yes. Or... well, not exactly.” She’d come here to prove something to herself. And to Nicole. And to give herself and Henry the chance to possibly fix things.
Phillip executed a rather dramatic turn, spinning her with him, making her skirt flare around her thighs. “I see. Taking a risk, aren’t you?”
“I suppose so.”
“He’s watching us pretty intently.” Phillip swept her around again so she could see for herself.
Sure enough, Henry was watching them, brow furrowed. Sophie saw his gaze drift to Carl, obviously guessing who she’d come with. Carl toasted his friend. Henry’s scowl deepened. The music ended with a sweet flourish. Nicole tugged on his arm, trying to draw him off the dance floor, back to Jorge’s side.
Phillip released his hold on her, stepping back. “It was a pleasure, Miss Becker. Best of luck with Henry.”
“Thank you, Phillip.” She touched his wrist gently in thanks. He was a nice guy. He gave her that cheeky grin again.
Sophie forced herself not to hurry to Henry’s side. Instead, she strode purposefully toward the orchestra as they shifted between songs. A word in the ear of the band leader and he nodded with a smile.
Now it was time to face Henry. Her heart performed an extended batterie as she moved across the floor to him. Despite Nicole’s tugging and hissed words—Sophie could see the other woman speaking with clenched teeth, though she couldn’t hear what she was saying—Henry was still standing on the dance floor, watching Sophie approach him.
“Henry.” Sophie’s stomach joined the internal dance recital with a rapid flip, but she deserved straight tens for how calm her voice was. It didn’t even shake, though it was slightly breathy with her nerves.
“Sophie.” The word held so many different shades of emotion that she couldn’t identify any of them. Was he happy to see her? Angry? Sad? His eyes were dark and unreadable. But his lips curved upward the tiniest bit. That made Sophie’s mouth respond in kind.
Very deliberately, Sophie extend her hand, palm up. “Dance with me.” Her words echoed his, that first day he’d walked into her studio and told her he’d been compelled to ask her to dance. Would he remember?
“We were just...” Nicole began, eyes spitting sparks, but her venomous voice trailed off as Henry slipped his big hand into Sophie’s.
The timing couldn’t have been any more perfect. The first notes of the music swelled as she stepped backward, drawing Henry toward her. The rhythm was slow, but she recognized the song. It wouldn’t stay that way long. She bit her lip to keep from gasping as his arm slid around her waist.
A shock of awareness ran through Sophie’s blood at the feel of his hand on the small of her back. Even through her dress, her body seemed to understand instinctively the importance of the return of his touch.
She couldn’t resist the urge to slide her hand up to the nape of his neck and brush the hair there. A muscle in Henry’s square jaw jumped. His hand pressed her a little tighter against him. Her breath caught in her throat.
Then they began to move. It was the way it always was with Henry. She lost herself in his eyes, in the feeling of being pressed to his muscled body, in the throb of the music around them.
Yet, this was different. This time was so much more important. This was about more than just the dance, more even than sex. For Sophie, this was about showing Henry how she felt. Words were one thing, and she would give them to him if he gave her the chance. But she could tell him this way, even if he didn’t allow her to talk.
The music’s tempo began to build. She was glad she’d warmed up a bit with Phillip. Her body moved easily and fluidly into the more complicated steps of the tango. And, of course, Henry knew just how to lead her.
Her hips twisted through ochos, swinging the fabric of her skirt, the tulle brushing her legs sensuously. She kicked her left leg up high, caressing Henry’s thigh with hers. His nostrils flared slightly and Sophie couldn’t help but grin wider. It was nice to know her touch still affected him too. Whatever their tangled feelings were, their bodies knew what they wanted.
Henry’s thigh was hard between hers as his feet slid over the polished wood of the dance floor with a soft shushing sound. Sophie pushed everything but Henry out of her mind. It wasn’t hard. This close to him, it was hard to think of anything else.
