Page 112 of The Beast's Heart

Tell me about it.“Don’t worry, I have years of practice performing in front of cameras. Would you like to dance?”

Meredith blinks at me. “Dance?”

“That part about having a good time?” I offer her my hand.

She eyes it as if it might bite, then inclines her head, “Very well.”

Meredith is a surprisingly good dancer. But then, Meredith is good at whatever she sets her mind to. Once we’ve opened the dance floor, the kids join us and then the adults too. Angus and Lily-Iris, Alisha with Enrique dancing on her feet and letting forth peals of laughter. Ray shows Ben and Mal some moves. Jonathan is standing on the sidelines, smiling but looking awkward. Meredith follows my gaze.

“Suddenly I find my feet are quite tired,” she says with a knowing smile.

We end our dance and I join Jonathan on the edge of the room.

His attention doesn’t move from the kids, who are now all dancing wildly together. “We should do this more often.”

“Host galas?”

“Get the children to dance. We never play music. We should.”

Music.There was a time when these halls echoed with it. He’s right. I miss it. I find myself staring at his profile, heart swelling. There’s a future there, in that simple statement. Suddenly I don’t feel so nervous anymore. “Would you like to dance?”

Jonathan looks at me, then pointedly at the children, then back at me with raised eyebrows. I chuckle and hold out my hand. “I just danced with Meredith. I’m sure it’s fine.”

I can see Meredith taking her place in front of one of the cameras to record one of our pre-scripted segments.

Jonathan takes my hand. His palm is warm in mine. As I pull him into my arms, everything else melts away. We’re no longer in a room filled with kids and colleagues, there are no cameras. There’s just him with his golden hair and big green eyes and sweet smile. His brow pinches with concentration as we start to waltz. I can almost hear him counting steps. I duck my head to whisper in his ear, “relax.”

“Sorry, it’s been a while.”

“I’m leading, you’re fine, just follow.”

I feel the tension drain out of him at those words. He moves a little closer and I shut my eyes, breathing in the smell of his hair.

“The last time I waltzed was for a school play,” he says.

“Which play?”

“My Fair Lady.” He laughs. “Life has a sense of humor, doesn’t it?”

I don’t get the joke, but I make a mental note to ask Ray about it later. I’m thinking of a response when Jonathan rests his head on my chest. I hold him close.

When the song ends, I look up to find the children in a clump, giggling. Of course all four of them look away as soon as they see I’ve noticed.

“We have an audience,” I whisper.

Jonathan looks up. Then flushes an incriminating shade of crimson and pulls away from me. “Oh, um, thank you for the dance.”

“You’re looking a little flushed. Want to step outside for a walk?”

He ducks his chin. “That sounds nice. I’ll meet you outside in five?”

I watch him hurry away, avoiding the children’s gazes, and try not to laugh. Ray appears beside me. “Now, when were you going to share this little nugget?”

“Don’t pretend you haven’t known for weeks.”

Ray nudges me. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want you to share. I want all the details. Every single one.”

I shake my head, but I can’t keep the smile from my face. “Distract the children for me?”

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