Page 44 of All For You

I caught my breath. “And now you’re winking for real. Am I in a dream?”

His midnight-blue eyes glittered in reply.

God, his dancing wasmasterful.He could move his body in subtle ways. I tried not to think about whatotherways he could use that subtlety. I felt myself blushing at the thoughts. Usually, I struggled with my partners, wanting to lead, go the oppositeway, but I let him take over, and soon, we were whirling and gliding and doing all sorts of fancy foot moves I didn’t even know. I felt giddy and overwhelmed and swoony.

What else could he do that he wasn’t letting on? What other surprises did he have up his sleeve? I wanted to share something about myself that might surprise him, like I was an accomplished sourdough bread maker or golf-Frisbee thrower, but I had nothing tucked away that came to mind, either athletic, odd, or alluring.

I recovered myself as we kept dancing, his body moving mine around with ease, with a gentle but firm press of his hand on my back, sparking every inch of me.

“I’m impressed,” I said, trying not to drown in his blue eyes, which were twinkling with amusement. “You’re guiding me like aStrictlyprofessional.”

“A Strictly? I don’t know what that means.”

“Strictly Come Dancing. It’s a dancing show on the telly.”

He shook his head.

“You don’t know it?” Did that surprise me? Probably not, because he seemed focused only on what interested him. And right now, he’d turned all that focus on me, and his intensity was making me squirm.

“Afraid not. My brother updates me now and then, but I promptly forget what he tells me.”

Now it was my turn for a sly look. “I don’t know if I believe you. It feels like you never forget a thing.”

“That makes me sound like a stubborn old bloke. I prefer to think of myself as resolute in a more manly way.” His lips twitched to indicate he was joking. “I do not bend. Truthfully, lose my trust, and you don’t get it back.”

He seemed serious now, and my body slumped slightly at the return to his former intransigent self.

“That sounds very final,” I said.

“It is.” He shook himself, seeming to regret the change in tone, and he put on a smile. “But it seems like nothing is lost on you either.”

“I’m a writer. That’s part of the deal, a lifelong observer.”

“You’re certainly the expert on romance. Tell me—what’s the most romantic thing someone can do? Recite their own poetry?” He was clearly half-joking.

Actually, I would be happy being on the receiving end of the funny, desperate things Roberto had called up to Nala. Not exactly poetry, except his words had been heartfelt. But I wasn’t ready to be that vulnerable with Darcy.

“Dancing is romantic, even if your partner is only halfway decent,” I said instead.

“Ha! Touché. As a fictional beau said, ‘You have the wittiest ripostes.’”

That’s exactly what the duke in my most recent novel had remarked. I’d written it last year. Did this mean Darcy was reading my books? A coil of pleasure and pride unraveled inside my chest.

“Ha! Darcy Wainwright, are you reading one of my romances?”

“I started your most recent one when we got back. You challenged me, and I never back down from a challenge. Within reason.” A smile tugged at his mouth.

Hmm. He was flirting with me—most definitely flirting.

“That is good to know.” And I loved this teasing side of Darcy, found myself wanting to flirt back. I looked up at him through my eyelashes, most definitely flirting back.

He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, his slight touch sending a rush of blood through me. I felt dizzy.

“And besides your ripostes, incidentally, you have the most beautiful eyes.” He chewed on his bottom lip. “Actually, there’s nothing incidental about them. Are they green? Are they brown?I find myself willing to spend some time thinking about that question.”

His hand pressed more strongly against mine, and I took a deep breath. I felt the same way about his mesmerizing eyes. They went blue-black when he was silent, but they were bright blue right now.

“Careful, Mr. Wainwright. You warned me you were not charming, and yet you are almost guilty of sliding into that territory.”