a mind to say that she was having a much better time now that he was there, but the other half of her mind came up with “Yes, I am. I thought you’d be home with Kaylie tonight.”
He shrugged and took another swig of beer. “I couldn’t pry her loose from her devoted aunt. She’s keeping her for the night.”
“They seem to like each other.”
“That’s true.” The band filed back onto the bandstand and picked up their instruments. “Would you like to dance?” he asked.
Would she like to dance? Did a horse have four legs? Were the mountains high, was water wet? She nodded and he took her hand.
The mirrored ball overhead sent rainbow refractions of light across the walls, floor and ceiling, and the large rec hall was transformed into a dream world of light and color. She turned to face Hank and rested her hand on his shoulder, embarrassed that her right palm was sweaty and hoping he wouldn’t notice. As the band struck up a waltz, Hank guided her onto the floor, and her feet began to move in predictable patterns. She hadn’t waltzed in…oh, it seemed like a million years. When she went to parties in New York, there were often bands, but she usually spent the time with her fingers clamped around the stem of one wet cocktail glass after another, listening earnestly to fat bald men who either pumped her for information or pontificated on some topic for her enlightenment.
She’d always been sure that her perfect cowboy would know his way around a dance floor, and she was not disappointed. His eyes glinting with pleasure, Hank pulled her closer and she closed her eyes in pure delight. This whole scenario seemed like the answer to many prayers offered up in desperation over the years.
Kaylie would be at Justine’s all night long. Hank would not have to put her to bed, get up with her when she cried, change diapers or fill bottles.
What better time to embark on a fling? The only thing left for her to do was to convince Hank that she was the one he wanted.
HANK RESTED his cheek against a cloud of honey-blond hair that happened to be attached to the woman he had so recently begun to admire in spite of himself.
Erica Strong, he said to himself. Erica Strong. He even liked the sound of her name. He liked her forthrightness, her serious and wholehearted way of listening to what he had to say, the funny little line between her eyes when she was thinking something over. She was so different from Lizette and the other women he knew in New York. They were all, without exception, trendy and flippant and into themselves. They talked about their analysts, their jobs, their girlfriends. They made it clear that they didn’t need a man, although they certainly seemed to want one.
Erica never mentioned her neuroses, her work or friends. Unlike the women he knew back in the city, she seemed unfailingly sweet and sympathetic. He could imagine rescuing her from the path of a steaming locomotive. She seemed like someone who would welcome his help and protection. Still, he thought he should perhaps try to find out if she was like all those other women.
“What kind of work do you do?” he asked her.
She jumped slightly as if startled. “I work for McNee, Levy and Ashe. Investment bankers.”
He knew the company. Erica, he figured, might be an administrative assistant or something along those lines. He was prepared to inquire further about her job when the music stopped and the band immediately broke into a rollicking polka. His question forgotten, it took only a few seconds for him to change gears, and then they were circling the floor along with the other couples.
There was little opportunity for talking when the dancing was so energetic, and at the end of the dance, the band segued right into another polka. When that one was over, Erica offered up a scintillating smile. His arms involuntarily tightened around her, and he had the wistful thought that he didn’t want to let her go. He couldn’t recall when he had ever enjoyed one of these dances so much.
“I’ll take you up on that offer to buy me a drink,” Erica said, and he laughed. Then, his arm around her waist, he found a table for two in the shadows. He gestured to Paloma, who was working as one of the waitresses tonight. He wasn’t surprised to see her