in a hurry, but she didn’t care. Not when the music called to her. Rafe held on to her hand while he led her into the middle of the crush of people on the floor. She figured they’d each move separately to the music, which would have been fine with her. What she hadn’t counted on was him taking her into his arms and leading her into a rhythmic salsa dance, spinning her and using his hands to guide her.
Wow. Rafe could dance. She watched his movements, the way he moved his hips and feet and the confident way he turned her as if he’d been doing this his entire life. He was perfectly at ease on the floor, grinning at her as he spun her around and even dipped her a few times, which made her laugh.
By the time the song ended, she was drenched in perspiration and utterly satisfied. They even got a few claps from the other couples around them.
They stayed out there for two more songs. By then Carmen was dehydrated and desperate for water, so they left the dance floor and went back to the bar for a drink. They both got water to drink.
“You can dance,” she said.
He shrugged. “A little.”
She laughed. “More than a little. You’re amazing.”
“You can move, too.”
“Thanks. Where did you learn to dance like that?”
“I dated a dancer once. She gave me a few lessons.”
“More than a few, I would imagine.”
“On my days off, I’d meet her at the club where she worked. She gave lessons, so rather than just sitting around and watching, I joined in.”
Smart guy. “It paid off.”
“Yeah, she was good at her job.”
She sipped her water and enjoyed standing under the cool air-conditioning. “Why did you two break up?”
“She was only in Ft. Lauderdale for a short gig. She was moving on to Orlando, then to St. Petersburg. It was never anything serious for either of us. Just fun. But she was really sweet. Last I heard, she was dancing for an off-Broadway show.”
“That’s awesome.”
“Yeah, it is. I hope she ends up on Broadway. That was always her dream.”
Carmen liked that Rafe had nice things to say about one of his ex-girlfriends. So many men only talked shit about their exes. “Then I hope her dream comes true, too.”
He looked at her and smiled. “She’d like you.”
“She would? Why?”
“Because you like to dance.”
She laughed. “I definitely don’t dance as much as I used to.”
He swept her hair away from her face. “You’re beautiful when you dance. Your whole body moves to the music. I like watching your hips sway.”
“You had your own hip action going out there.”
He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers for a brief kiss, then said, “I can show you some hip action later.”
She had just cooled off, but his words ignited a fire deep inside of her. “I’m counting on it.”
They went back out on the floor and danced again, taking occasional breaks to have cocktails and water.
Carmen was having the time of her life. She hadn’t danced this much in years. The crowd was friendly and boisterous and drove her enthusiasm. Who wouldn’t have a great time dancing with all these people?
By one a.m., though, her feet were throbbing and she was more than ready to leave.
She sat in the chair and kicked her right shoe off to rub her foot. When Rafe came back from the restroom, he crouched down in front of her.
“Done, princess?”
She gave him a nod. “So done.”
He stood and held out his hand. “Come on. I’ll call a car for us, and we’ll head back to the hotel.”
She slipped her shoe on and winced, deciding that maybe these heels hadn’t been the best idea. All she wanted now was to get back to the hotel, take her shoes off and go to bed.
But as they waited outside for the car, she leaned against Rafe’s shoulder and thought about what a wonderful time she’d had tonight.
And she had Rafe to thank for it.
CHAPTER 21
IT WAS LATE BY THE TIME THEY GOT BACK TO THEIR HOTEL. And by her limp, Rafe could tell Carmen was totally done with wearing her shoes. He knew exactly what she needed.
She kicked off her shoes when they got into the room and fell into the chair.
“Want something to drink?” he asked.
“Water would be great.”
He went down the hall and filled their ice bucket, then came back and poured water and ice into a tall glass and handed it to her.
She