Page 43 of Just a Wrong Turn

In one sweeping motion, Miller moved Liza's hand over his head and onto his shoulder.That was smooth,Liza noted. Then he effortlessly lifted his hand and spun her around. Finally, he leaned her back before steadily pulling her in close. His feet never missed a beat, but Liza was frozen, breathless.

“Aww,” Birdie cooed. “That… was nice. You’re a quick study Miller. And I must say, I am an even better teacher than I remembered. I think my work here is done.” Birdie marched out of the room with her head high.

Liza smoothed out her dress—trying to distract from the fact that she needed to catch her breath.

“That… that was good. I know Birdie is incredible, but obviously you have some experience?” Liza stepped back.

Lifting a shoulder, Miller said plainly, “My mom loves to dance.”

“Oh… yeah, wow. She taught you well then.”

Miller shot her a closed mouth grin—obviously proud of the way he was affecting her.

“I need some more practice so I don’t look ridiculous next to you.”

Taking one step closer, Miller held out his hand. “Just follow my lead.”

Liza enjoyed his firm grip as he counted out the steps. “1, 2, 3… 5, 6, 7.” His other hand danced on her hip as he maneuvered her smoothly through the sensual steps. “It’ll be easier with music,” he assured her.

“I hope so.” Liza studied her feet.

Miller twirled her around effortlessly and then tipped her back. He held her there, perched on his arm, for a few seconds before finally catapulting her up to her feet in a polished spin.

Liza fidgeted with her hair attempting to tame it, along with a full-blown attraction that was now clouding her mind. “Okay, well… should we find you some clothes now?”

Grabbing her purse, she quickly walked toward the parking lot not waiting for Miller to follow. Did you know that it's possible for your cheeks to catch fire? Liza fanned herself with her hand, willing the flames to go out.

Chapter 18

Miller

Lizahelduptwodress shirt options for Miller. “How do you feel about a pattern? I’m loving these polka dots. But if you don’t like it, I think this light gray would look good on you. I mean we have plenty of evidence that you can rock gray.”

Miller leaned against a rack of pants at the Bargain Boutique and studied Liza. Everything about her screamed “perky.” She was back to her upbeat self after seeming off-kilter leaving the Senior Center.Why did she get so weird?Miller was still trying to figure it out. He had sensed a spark between them, but was he just imagining it? Even if by some crazy chance there was… It didn’t matter. He loved Abigail. This was just a temporary arrangement.

He must have been staring because Liza bubbled, “What?”

She was one hundred percent in her element. Her eyes blazed with intensity—over dress shirts.

“I’m just in awe that someone could be so enthusiastic about clothes.”

“It’s not just fabric stitched together…” she paused and then added, “it’s about how clothes make you feel.”

Miller cocked his head. “I don’t get it.”

Liza held out her hands like the connection was right in front of him and she was determined to help him see it. “An outfit can make you feel confident on your first day of school or give you courage for a job interview. The perfect fit can highlight your assets and make your insecurities vanish.” She shrugged. “That’s what clothes have done for me anyway.”

“There was a time when Liza Eckland wasn’t confident? I don’t believe that.” Leaning back on his heels, Miller crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Draping the dress shirts over her left arm, she glued her eyes to the rack in front of her and began circling. “I used to be super shy and felt like I just faded into the background. My mom is a control freak, so I didn’t always get to have a voice at home. She obsessed about what we ate, what we watched, what we wore. Designing clothes gave me a way to channel my personality and my frustrations.”

Miller focused on her face. The matter-of-fact way she spilled this vulnerable information took him off guard. For the first time, he felt like she wasn’t hiding behind positive spins or trying to get out of a real conversation. She was letting him get to know her. When he didn’t respond, she finally looked up at him. Her honey-brown eyes were puddles of sincerity.

“My grandma was my accomplice. We’d make a dress or a skirt whenever I went to her house. But we’d also always make something simple like a pillowcase so that I had something to show my mom. On school days, I’d have my mom drop me off early and then I’d change immediately in the bathroom. She thought I was going into school early to get extra help studying.”

Miller soaked in her words.

“All the secrecy sounds dumb when I say it out loud.” Liza pushed aside a group of shirts and then, one by one, slid them across the rack. He sensed her self-consciousness.

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