Leonardo (Romancing the Weavers #5) - Kit Morgan Page 0,33
to ignore him.
He smiled and shrugged. “Nothing.”
She forced a smile and tried to think of a way of escape. But she didn’t want to be rude or have to explain herself. If she could just get through this dance, she could feign a headache or something. Then she wouldn’t have to be around him the rest of the day. And why, oh, why did he have to keep staring at her like that?
“You dance well,” he commented.
“Thank you,” she managed. His hand on her back was growing hotter by the minute. She hoped the hand he held didn’t begin to sweat. The rest of her certainly was.
He smiled again. “You should see about having more dances in Clear Creek. To be able to dance and have nowhere to do it seems a shame.”
She shook her head. “Only if you like dancing.”
“Do you?”
With you, she wanted to say, but didn’t dare. “On occasion.”
“I didn’t care for it much, but I’m beginning to change my mind,” he said with a smile.
She swallowed and did her best to stay on her feet. He was so handsome, so close. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think! Why did Sebastian have to pick so long a piece? She looked him in the eyes – a big mistake. Leo’s gaze wrapped her up in him. She wanted to keep dancing, keep eye contact, but she couldn’t. It was stupid, reckless. She couldn’t afford to get attached to him, not when he was finally showing interest in Savannah. Wasn’t that what she wanted? Yet her heart fell to her toes and her throat grew thick thinking about it.
“Why did you close your eyes?” he asked gently.
Parthena swallowed the lump in her throat. “I was thinking of … some things I have to do.”
“What things?”
She opened her eyes and turned her head so he couldn’t see her face. “Just … things.”
“I see.”
“Oh, look, Hugh’s getting better at this,” she said to distract him.
Hugh tripped, fell and almost took Gabby with him. Ma and Harlan moved out of the way just in time. “Land sakes, Hugh,” Harlan grumbled, “watch where you’re going.”
Hugh sat in the middle of the floor and hung his head. “Sorry.”
Gabby put her hands on her hips. “You need more practice.”
“I don’t like waltzes,” Hugh complained. “Why can’t we dance something else?”
“The waltz is all the rage.” Gabby pulled him to his feet.
“There won’t be another dance until the Harvest Festival. There’s plenty of time – why are we practicing now?”
“It is good to keep you sharp,” Bella said. “You do not want to forget everything you have learned so far, do you?”
Thatcher looked at his brother and shook his head. At least he knew how to stay on his mother’s good side. Although from what Parthena had seen, Thatcher was just naturally compliant. She took a shaky breath. At least the boys’ antics had pulled her attention from Leo. But he still held her, though the music was done and everyone had stopped dancing. “You, um, should let go of me.”
He didn’t. She met his gaze and almost fainted. “Please.”
He swallowed hard, gingerly released her hand and let the one at her back fall away. “Thank you f-for the dance.”
She nodded, unable to speak, her heart pounding so hard she wondered if everyone could hear it. “You’re welcome,” she whispered, and closed her eyes again in embarrassment.
Leo stepped away, turned and walked over to Savannah near the piano. He greeted her with a smile and Parthena had to turn away out of disappointment. If only she’d come to Nowhere with Lucy and Max a few years ago. If only she’d spent time with Leo then, got to know him, maybe exchanged a few letters. Then this trip might be different, and she’d be the one he was trying to get to know.
Of course, with her luck he’d get to know her and decide they didn’t suit, but even then, she’d be saving herself a heartache. For all she knew, she’d get to know him better and discover she couldn’t stand him. So what if he was the handsomest thing on two legs and everything about him made her insides sing, her legs wobbly and her brain turn to water? Who wanted to go through all that anyway?
She did. Oh dear God, she did! Was it love? Of course not. Love was an everyday choice, that’s what Father always said. He chose to love her mother and she chose to love him, no matter what. But still …
“Parthena?”
She