Page 16 of Forever Fascinating

“Like what?”

“You could tell me your name and we could exchange contact information so we can get to know each other better.”

“Matthew,” he uttered, his voice tight, almost as if he was in pain. “My name is Matthew Barlow, and I’ve lost my ever-lovin’ mind…”

Jana laughed softly, smiling at him.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Matthew.”

“I’m going to die a very painful death by just talking to you,” he said softly, the corner of his lip turning upwards in a secretive smile.

“But what if we aren’t talking?” she teased in a hushed whisper, flirting openly with him. “What if we were texting, emailing, singing, or dancing? That technically isn’t talking, now, is it?”

Matthew chuckled lightly, shaking his head, before running his fingers through his hair and rubbing the back of his neck. He looked at her, his forehead creasing, as he peered over his sunglasses in disbelief… but it was that smile slowly touching his lips that was telling.

“This isn’t a game, Jana…” he whispered under his breath.

She held up her index finger and waved it at him.

“No, sir… no talking,” she smiled, boldly holding out a hand towards him, waiting.

“Dance with me, Mr. Matthew ‘Vapor’Barlow. One single dance before we are missed back inside. No one will see us, but we can have this moment to say ‘hello’silently… and if you don’t step on my toes? Then perhaps I’ll give you my phone number.”

“Really…” he chuckled in surprise, that soft smile widening. “Do you enjoy seeing men go to their deaths, all for the sake of a lovely woman luring them to a very certain and painful doom?”

“It’s happened repeatedly over the centuries,” she replied, unfazed, and watching him. “Cleopatra and Antony… Paris and Helen…”

“Matthew and Jana?” he offered, as his fingertips touching her outstretched hand before stepping closer to her.

Her heart staggered wildly in her chest in that moment, realizing that he was going to dance with her after all. She thought for a moment he would back out, say ‘no’, or tell her to ‘run along and quit behaving like a child’.

“Maybe this time it won’t all end in doom,” she breathed, looking up at him as he drew her into his arms politely. It wasn’t an embrace, just a man putting his hand on the small of her back, as he held her hand in his.

“Or perhaps the oldest curse known to any tragic couple through the ages is finally about to be broken?”

Stunned, he swung her around perfectly, as if they were dancing in some grand ballroom instead of a small, cleared path on the side of the church. He was light on his feet, leading her around in the silence, dancing gracefully, there in the sunlight.

“May I ask you a question, Miss Sorensen?” he said suddenly.

“So very formal,” she smiled playfully, looking up at him. “What’s your question – and remember – we aren’t talking.”

“I remember,” he chuckled easily, smiling. “Do you always do this?”

“What?”

“Dance with men you aren’t supposed to be talking to? Search for those poor, lost souls that would fall into your described ‘tragic couples’snare like you labeled us? Is that what this is – a tragedy?”

“No,” she smiled, liking the way he cradled her hand and the way her arm seemed to fit just right on his shoulder. “I can honestly say that this is the first time I’ve danced with a man that is supposed to be off-limits.”

“Just wanted to make sure this was special for you too…” he replied, his voice catching. “Something this intense shouldn’t be an everyday occurrence, now should it?”

“I could certainly get used to it,” she whispered, looking up at him as he missed a step, faltering slightly at her words. “Is that so wrong?”

“No, I don’t believe so…”

Matthew’s hand slid to her hip as he slowed down.

“Over so soon?” she asked, feeling a pang of loss inside.

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