Page 76 of Paper Roses

“Trainers will do for now.” I shrug. “If you like it, we can buy you some proper shoes.”

His smile is wide and excited. “We can goagain?”

“Of course,” I say gruffly.

“I’ll go and get ready.”

My arms don’t seem ready to let him go, but I drop them and watch him race out of the bedroom. Then I walk into the hallway to find the entrance to my bathroom.

The lessons are held in a dance company’s suite of rooms above an Italian restaurant. We’re treated to the smell of onion and garlic as we climb the stairs. As if on cue, Artie’s stomach rumbles. He sends me a laughing glance, and I pull him close, dropping a kiss into his hair.

“I’ll feed you afterwards. I can recommend the lasagne.”

“Really? We’re not going home afterwards?” His smile is comet bright, but I pause on the stairs in sudden doubt.

“Not unless you want to. Are you tired? Would you rather not?—”

I stop talking because he’s put his hand over my mouth. I raise my eyebrow, but he just offers me a crooked smile which is so charming I want to poke myself in the eye.

“I want to stay out,” he says earnestly. “I love spending time with you. I just thought you were doing this to please me, and I didn’t want to encroach on your time.”

I pull his hand away from my mouth and drop a kiss on his long fingers. There’s a smudge of ink on one which is peculiarly endearing. “I like to please you,” I say steadily. It’s actually alarming how much that statement is true. “If you’re happy, it makes me happy.”

“I don’t want you to look on it as a full-time job and end up resenting me.”

My eyes widen. “Is that what your ex did?”

“Ben?” He stares at me for a second and then bursts into laughter. He takes a breath and says, “Good god, no. That would be far from the reality.”

“Why?”

I’m both fearful and curious to find out more about Artie’s ex. The thought of his hands on Artie makes my stomach clench, but I’d like to know what happened to Artie, so I can help him, if need be.

“Did you ever watchCinderella?”

I blink at the change of subject. “My nephew Grant was very attached to the film when he was little.” I grimace. “We had to wear tiaras and have a tea party whenever we watched it. He was more demanding with the tea service than a customer at The Ritz.”

His eyes flare with approval and humour. “It will be my eternal regret that I didn’t see that.”

“I’m sure my mother has a photo,” I say darkly. “She has one for every occasion and most of them are on the wall in the hall so casual strangers can peruse them.”

His eyes brighten.

“No,” I say. “Just no, please. You know she’ll do anything for you.”

“I made no promises to use my powers for good.”

I start to laugh.

He grins at me and says, “I know we’re supposed to see the prince as the happy ending, but when I watchedCinderellaas an adult, the prince just looked tiring.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “Cinderella would have existed as an extension of him—always seeking to please him just like everyone else in his life. His happiness would have beenhercareer. That’s how it would have been with me and Ben. I’d have spent my life trying to make sure he was happy.”

I draw him to me. He comes easily, his hands resting on my chest and his eyes bright with affection. I swallow hard at the sight. “Someone else’s happiness isn’t your job.”

“But what if it’s your partner? Surely I’d want to make him happy?”

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