Page 105 of The Matchmaker
Despite my intention, my steps slow as I head down to the makeshift dance floor, lingering awkwardly by the edge until suddenly my hand is snatched up and I’m tugged forward.
But it’s not Callum who’s leading me onto the floor, it’s Harry.
“Um, hi?”
“Hello,” he answers cheerfully, spinning around to face me. “You seem tense.”
“I’m working.”
“You don’t look like you’re working,” he says, leading us through the crowd. “You’re kind of just walking around glaring at everyone. You used to be fun, you know that? Remember when you drank too much at my wedding and fell asleep talking to my Great-Aunt Sophie?”
“That was you.”
“Was it?” His hand goes to my waist, his other raising my hand into the air. “I don’t remember.” A push and I go reluctantly spinning.
“What are you doing, Harry?”
“Making your boyfriend jealous.”
“I don’t want to make him jealous.”
Harry gives me a disbelieving look. “Have you ever made anyone jealous before?” he asks. “It’s really fun. Plus, you’ve been going around with a pout all evening, and it’s turning off the guests.”
“I don’t pout.”
“You’re pouting right now,” he says. “Trust me, Katie. I know what I’m doing.”
“He’s not even looking.”
Harry grins. “He’s definitely looking.”
“But he’s— hey.” I scowl as Harry tugs me close, gripping my waist as we spin around the floor.
“Hands, much?”
“Humor me, would you? Oh, look. That didn’t take long.”
Harry comes to a halt, spinning me around as I come face to face with Callum.
“Mind if I cut in?” he says, his eyes on Harry, whose response is to push me so hard that I stumble straight into Callum’s arms. I look over my shoulder to glare at him, but he only smiles in response and goes off to join Richie. Callum snatches my hand before I can curse him out and then we’re moving again.
“What are you doing?”
“Dancing,” he says, moving me farther into the middle of the floor.
“You said you’re a terrible dancer,” I remind him.
“I’ve decided that I go where you go.” He gives me a gentle nudge, encouraging me to spin out, and as I do, his eyes drop to my dress, taking me in. “You look beautiful tonight.” And he says the words so simply, so matter of factly, that I blush.
I turn back into his arms, and he pulls me closer, much closer than Harry and I stood.
I notice the difference immediately. The way my skin heats wherever his hands are, the way my body automatically wants to move with his. The way the rest of the room seems to fade into the background. Until it’s just him and me. Until I can’t look away.
“I’m sorry about the interview.” I must have said it a million times already, but something in my voice now makes him pause. “I just panicked,” I continue. “I want this to work, and I’m scared that it won’t, and I panicked. I’m sorry.”
I can feel him looking at me, but I can’t meet his eye, taking the coward’s way out, the better way out, and watch the other couples move around. He doesn’t say anything for the rest of the song, but when it comes to an end, he squeezes my hip before another can start. “You want to sit down?”
I nod, and he leads me into the pub, but instead of heading to the lounge, brings me straight to Adam’s office where he sits in his chair and, before I can stop him, pulls me into his lap.
