Page 20 of Forever Fascinating

He’d seen her, watched her, and knew she wouldn’t be able to dance with anyone… and wanted to save her – even if it meant getting in trouble with her brother.

As he walked her out onto the dance floor and pulled her into his arms, she heard his soft voice, causing her to look up in that moment.

“You’ve gotta quit smiling at me, Jana,” he urged in a low whisper. “Your brother is going to creatively come up with ways to kill me, as it is already.”

“Is it so very hard seeing me smile at you?” she asked softly.

“Honestly?” Matthew replied quietly. “Not in the slightest.”

The danced together for a few moments before she spoke again, trying to keep her voice low so what she said was just between them.

“Thank you for this,” she breathed – only to see him smile softly, his eyes holding hers. “I was hoping to do this… again.”

“It’s my distinct pleasure,” he admitted, causing her to catch her breath – and noticed he did the same, suddenly looking to the right. “And we are about to be interrupted.”

Sure enough, a dark-haired man appeared at their side.

“I’m Romeo,” he began. “May I cut in?”

Matthew started to step back, only to have Jana cling to his hand, unwilling to let go as she looked at the other man mulishly. Both men’s eyebrows shot upwards in surprise as she stepped closer to her current dance partner.

“No, you can’t,” Jana said flatly, causing Matthew to chuckle softly. “Nice try though. Go dance with your wife and tell Jace to ‘bug off’.”

“You know that will be the first of many interruptions,” Matthew whispered, sounding thoroughly amused, ducking his head towards her to keep his voice low as the music changed, yet they still kept dancing.

He wasn’t just intending to dance for one song after all.

“Let them,” she muttered, only to hear his soft laugh, as she slid closer into his arms as the strains of a ballad began to play.

She heard Matthew’s sigh of resigned acceptance as he pulled her close, lacing his hands around her back, and she put her head on his shoulder.

“This is worth the broken nose, you know…”

“He better not break…”

“It’s fine,” Matthew whispered, interrupting. “I don’t listen, never have, and not going to start now… so consider this your warning, Miss Jana Sorensen.”

“Noted,” Jana replied softly, closing her eyes, as she let the music carry her away.

They were interrupted four more times – and each time Jana told them to leave them alone. Finally, her father came over and tapped Matthew on the shoulder.

“Daddy,” Jana said in surprise, looking up at her father, who was eyeing her curiously. Her face flushed with nervous surprise as she smiled at him and hesitated. “Daddy, I would like you to meet Matthew Barlow – Matthew, this is my father, Jim Sorensen.”

“Sir, it’s a pleasure,” Matthew replied easily, holding out his hand to shake. Her father gripped his hand, pumping it a few times, before smiling at the other man.

“Do you mind if I take my daughter for a spin around the room, since you’ve had the last three dances, young man?”

“Not at all,” Matthew replied, glancing at Jana. “Someone needs to dance with her, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, they do, young man,” her father acknowledged, before leaning towards Matthew. “Come cut back in just before the song is over.”

“With pleasure, sir,” Matthew smiled, nodding, and stepping back out of the way as her father pulled her close. She saw Matthew walk off towards the punch table, and glanced at her father.

“Did Jace put you up to this?”

“No, but I figured something was going on,” her father acknowledged. “Who is that young man?”

“Just a friend.”

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