Page 30 of One Night Only
“Really?” He looks surprised. “You don’t have any Irish in you?”
“Nope.”
“Would you like some?”
My head whips toward him and he smiles sheepishly. “Sorry. Oldest one in the book.”
“I’m going now.”
“Oh, come on.” He laughs. “I’m trying here. The least you can do is talk to me a bit longer. I’m making several men jealous right now. Or one at least.” He waves at Connor who’s still in line for the bar.
“Stop that,” I hiss.
“Stop what?” He’s enjoying this far too much.
“You think I’m playing a game right now? Just because I’m the single girl at the wedding doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with someone.”
Declan turns to me immediately, all joking vanished. “I never thought that,” he says.
I can’t decide if I’m embarrassed or annoyed. Maybe a bit of both. Declan must sense he’s taken a wrong turn because he falls quiet, glancing around the room as though searching for a distraction.
“You’re sure you don’t want to dance?”
“Yep,” I say as Annie looks our way.
“So we’re just going to stand awkwardly at the side of the room?”
“I don’t feel awkward and I’m not dancing with you.”
“Fine. Glower in the corner.” He turns serious again when I don’t budge, holding out his hand. “Dance with me. Please. Smile for your friend and I’ll smile for my brother and then you can go back to ignoring me. Or pretending to at least.”
I want to say no. Whatever’s happened to me tonight, his sudden appearance has thrown me and I can’t help but think that the more time I spend with him, the pettier I’ll be. It’s like he brings out all my worst traits. But Annie looks like she’s one second from marching over here and now Paul is watching us too, as if they think we’re about to cause a scene.
The thought makes me feel even worse. “One song,” I say, shoving myself away from the wall.
“Yes, ma’am.” If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he sounded relieved.
We join the others on the makeshift dance floor. Our bodies are a little too close together for my liking, but he keeps his touch featherlight on my waist, moving us with a confidence that surprises me. He doesn’t try and make any further conversation; he doesn’t even look at me. His gaze roves purposefully on the other members of the floor, even going so far as to chat with people around us before we move away again. All the while, he steers me smoothly around the other couples, never missing a beat.
As we complete our second turn of the room, I have to break my silence; the suspicion is too great.
“You know how to dance?” I finally ask, trying to sound as uninterested as possible.
He smiles like I haven’t been sulking for the last few minutes. “I do.” And as if he’s been waiting for the opportunity, he immediately swings me around, making me stumble in surprise. “You’re not one of those people with two left feet, are you?” he asks as he steadies me.
“No. You caught me off guard.”
“Ah.” He dips me without warning and I yelp as I go down, my hair brushing the floor. The couple next to us laugh and he brings me swiftly back up.
“So I have a confession to make,” he says before I can catch my breath. “I came here tonight with an ulterior motive. Not a romantic one,” he adds at the look on my face. “Though it’s a real ego boost to know the idea of a second date with me can inspire such panic.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“I wanted to ask you a favor,” he interrupts. “A work favor.” Another swing. This time I keep up with him.
“I’m renovating a cottage,” he continues. “Well, several of them actually but I’m starting with one.”
A cottage? My interest piques as I picture those cute little houses on the postcards I bought.
