Page 89 of Death on a Scottish Train

He wasn’t wrong.

I straightened my dress, which had twisted around my waist when I’d been on the floor.

“I say it’s time to dance,” Teddy said to Mara. “I’ve been waiting all night to get you in my arms.”

Mara ducked her head, but I was certain she probably had pink cheeks. He dragged her through the double doors and out to the main ballroom.

Ewan held out his hand. “How about it, Doc?”

“You know I have two left feet when it comes to dancing.”

“I’m willing to chance it.” He grinned. No way I’d be able to say no to him. He was so charming when he wasn’t angry with me.

The orchestra played “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and Ewan expertly guided me across the marble floor. I only stumbled once when turning a corner. But he held me up from slipping. To the outside world it only looked like a slight bobble.

Still, I was embarrassed. “I did warn you.”

“Everything is fine,” he said softly. He pulled me tighter against his chest and twirled me around the floor. I tried desperately not to thinkabout how good he smelled or the fact that his chest and stomach were like iron against me.

As the music ended, his mother came up. “You two make a beautiful couple,” she said. She was beaming.

“Oh. Uh.” I didn’t know what to say.

“Son, how about taking your mother across the floor. It has been a while.”

He nodded and held out his arms to her.

Mara and her date had moved to the side of the room to watch the dancers. I walked over to them.

“You looked so happy,” she said.

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You were smiling when you danced with Ewan. I haven’t seen you grin like that in ages. You two are perfect for one another.”

Embarrassed, I cleared my throat. “You know better than anyone, it isn’t like that between us.”

“Isn’t it, though? Did you see his face? He was smiling like a big goofball. He cares for you, Em.”

“You romanticize everything,” I said. “We were just dancing. He was probably laughing because I had a bit of a wobble.”

She laughed. “Deny it all you want, Doc, but I know what I saw. I think it might be time for you to open your heart and mind to the possibility that you like one another.”

“Of course, we do. Professionally,” I said. “But that is all it is.”

She sighed. “Em, he could have asked any woman he wanted here tonight. But he chose you.”

“Yes, to keep his mom from trying to push her friend’s daughters on him. He said as much.”

“He made an excuse to get you to go with him,” she said. “But what you aren’t realizing is that he could have asked anyone else. He picked you.”

Her words reverberated in my brain, as I watched him dance with his mother. She was chatting the whole time, and he would nod or shake his head indulgently.

Did he pick me for a reason?

And how did I feel about that?

I was so confused and not at all certain how I felt. I decided to pack it all away, and just focus on having a good time.