Page 56 of Clara's Secret Garden

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I shrug. ‘No idea. I’ve never been before.’

‘But you’re going tonight?’

‘Yup.’

‘Hmm.’ She looks at me thoughtfully. ‘I bet it’s quite sexy,all that up-close stuff, wiggling the hips and jigging about with your man.’

I grin at her. ‘I hope we’ll do better than “jiggingabout”.’

‘We?’ She frowns. ‘Who’s we?’

‘Shaun and me?’

‘Shaun?’

I shrug. ‘He lives next door to Gran. It’s just a friendsthing.’

‘Ooh, afriendsthing, eh? I believe you. Thousandswouldn’t. Especially when you’re wearing a scorching hot dress like that.’

I shake my head at her, grinning.

‘We’ll come with you!’

My heart gives a painful jolt. ‘What?’

‘We’ll come with you. Rory and I. He’ll be round in aminute. I’m sure he’d love it.’

‘Er... but you don’t dance, do you?’ Myheart is beating frantically. ‘And it’ll be mainly people who know how tosalsa.’

‘So what? It’ll be fun. What’s the worst that can happen?Rory and I get thrown out for tripping people up?’

I stare at her in dismay.

What’s the worst that can happen?

The worst that can happen is I’ll have to endure an entireevening watching Lois and Rory getting up close and very personal, dancingtogether, laughing and having fun. I have to put her off somehow...

But she’s already rushed off to find something to wear and Ican hear her calling Rory to tell him the plan.

I sink down onto the bed.

I was really looking forward to tonight...getting back to dancing and having a good salsa session with Shaun.

But now?

A text pings through from Shaun.

Got your dancing shoes on? I’m on my way. See youthere! XX

I rise slowly to my feet with a sigh.

There’s no getting out of it now...

*****

The hall is full of people when we walk in, some in sexy,professional-looking outfits and others, obviously beginners who’ve done theirresearch, in loose clothing and ordinary, low-heeled shoes.

I smile as I spot Shaun walking towards me.

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