"You're not a member of the royal family," he reminded her practically. Tor moved toward her half a step. "You aren't obligated to entertain the guests."
Blythe wasn't part of any family really. She'd figured that out when she was little, but she didn't appreciate having that fact shoved into her face.
And his nearness? Was dangerous to her self-control.
"Well, you are one of the hosts, as a member of the royal family, and I am part of the wedding party. We both have a social obligation to return to the reception."
He frowned, studying her like trying to figure her out. "I never thought you worried about that kind of thing."
"Then you thought wrong. Janice is more precious to me than a sister. Anything I can to do to make her life easier, I will do it."
"And being in there, talking to people you don't know, will do that?" he asked, his sarcasm in full throttle.
"Maybe I can keep people from speculating immediately on her and Holger's disappearance."
An expression, like he'd just considered that possibility, came over Tor's handsome features. "You're right, but we're going to talk later."
She didn't ask about what. She'd seen this coming since first meeting this man.
Because that inappropriate attraction she felt? It wasn't one sided.
Tor looked at her like she was a meal prepared by a Michelin starred chef and he was a starving man. When other guys looked at her like that, well never quite like that, but like they wanted her, it did nothing for her.
Tor?
Turned her on. Wildly.
And he was her best friend's new little brother.
Completely and totally off limits.
Tor waited until they were back in the ballroom to ask Blythe to dance.
"Dance?" she asked, like it was an unheard of concept.
"Yes. You know, that activity where two people move to the beat of music together."
"I don't dance."
"I know that isn't true." She liked clubs and dancing back in Seattle.
Pictures posted at least every other weekend to her social media proved as much.
Blythe waved her arm toward the couples moving on the dance floor. "I don't dance like that."
"Everybody can waltz. Just follow my lead." With that instruction, Tor pulled Blythe into his arms and started moving them toward the dance floor, whispering instructions on how to place her feet and body.
Blythe was naturally rhythmic and allowed her body to take a formal stance easily. Just as he'd known she would.
Tor was careful to let her catch the rhythm and his lead before spinning them in a gentle circle that landed them amidst the other couples.
"You're good at this." The surprise in her voice could have offended him.
It didn't. Tor liked surprising her.
He winked at her. "Eight years of ballroom dancing."
"Eight years?" she asked faintly.