‘What am I, a dancing poodle? No way.’
She ran the tip of her thumb along her chin, unable to hide her grin. ‘Oh come on. I thought we were supposed to be friends. You can’t go bragging about your prowess and then not prove it. What am I supposed to think?’
‘I don’t have any music. Plus I can’t dance alone. Haven’t you heard it takes two to tango?’ He tipped his head to the side, grinning right back at her.
‘Well there goes my Saturday entertainment. I guess I’ll just go back to my accounts.’ She sighed. ‘It’s a hard life.’
His eyebrows dipped as he looked at her, as though he was thinking deeply. His frown deepened.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked him.
‘Yeah. I just had an idea. But it’s probably stupid.’
‘You can’t say something like that and then go silent. Now I’m all intrigued.’
He laughed, and the frown disappeared. ‘It isn’t that exciting.’
‘You know how to tease don’t you? Now you know I’m not going to leave without hearing your idea, no matter how stupid it is.’ She shook her head. ‘Come on, out with it.’
‘Okay, but feel free to say no if you want to.’
She didn’t say anything. Just looked at him expectantly.
‘I heard about this place in town,’ he said, lifting his shoulders in what looked like an easy shrug. ‘It’s called the Iguana Lounge, or something terrible like that. One of those Latin clubs where you can dance until dawn.’ His smile was tentative, as if he was afraid she was going to run away again. ‘Poppy’s away, and Charlie’s at a sleepover. We could go dancing. As friends, of course.’
‘You want to go dancing?’ she echoed. ‘With me?’ A ripple of excitement went through her. When was the last time she danced? A long time ago, unless you counted those stilted waltzes with Thomas when they went out for expensive dinners. He’d never really liked dancing – he preferred sitting and talking.
‘It was just a thought. We don’t have to.’
‘No, I want to.’ She nodded, catching his eye. She wasn’t going to listen to those voices in her head telling her what a bad idea it was. They were friends, she could handle it. ‘It sounds like fun.’
This time his grin was broad, and it matched her own. ‘Okay then, Ginger Rogers, dancing it is. The Iguana Lounge won’t know what’s hit it.’
11
When you do dance, I wish you a wave o’ the sea,
That you might ever do nothing but that
– The Winter’s Tale
‘We’re here.’ Ryan turned off the ignition and climbed out of his truck, walking around to the passenger side to help Juliet down. It was one of those perfect autumn evenings. The sun had disappeared beneath the horizon, leaving only the faintest of red staining the deepening blue sky. And though the temperature had dropped, the evening still held a hint of the summer’s warmth, wrapping around them as they made their way across the parking lot.
‘It’s not what I expected,’ Juliet said, looking across the lot to the low building that housed the Iguana Lounge. From the outside it could have been anywhere. It was just grey concrete blocks and a slate roof. She didn’t sound disappointed, though. More curious than anything. She walked slightly ahead of him, her long red hair tumbling down past her shoulders.
Her dress was perfect for dancing, tight on the bodice, flowing from the waist, with a halter neck that bared her toned upper back.
‘What were you expecting?’
‘I don’t know.’ She shrugged, still smiling. ‘My sister went to a salsa club in Miami once. She said it was full of palm trees and coloured lights, and people sitting outside.’
‘I guess Maryland’s a bit different to Miami.’
‘You can say that again. I can’t believe how diverse all the states are. When I talk to my sister Kitty – she’s in LA – it feels as though we live in two different countries.’
‘What does your sister do?’ he asked her. He hadn’t heard her speak about her family before. He’d assumed they were all living in London.
‘Kitty? She’s a film producer. She’s not my only sister, though. I have two more.’