Page 63 of Seeking Stars
"Diana wanted me to dance with a couple of people; I think she thought, hey, I'm Latina, that's a thing I can do?" she shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"I saw you dancing with Joel, and it did look like you dance well."
Crap, he had not meant to mention that. He must have still been rattled by his earlier thoughts.
"That's besides the point," Ana argued, apparently not noticing his discomfort. "I also think Joel was fetishising me a bit. I don't know."
Liam made himself remain silent.
She let a long breath out. "Would you dance with me if it's a slow song? Diana may throw me into someone else's arms if I don't find another dancing partner on my own. I'd much rather dance with you, if you're willing."
Of course he had to say yes to that. They ended up bribing the venue's music producer to put a few slow songs on, and they took to the floor among other guests.
He held one of her hands in his and put his other one on her lower back; she put her free hand on his shoulder. They found their rhythm, keeping their pace to the music. Liam had thought it would be innocuous enough, dancing with her surrounded by people, but he quickly realized he'd been mistaken. Dancing close to her like this on this fake work date brought all his wants back to focus. Why were they not together, again?
Right. Work. Fear.
"You sold yourself short." She looked up at him. "You're a good dancer."
"Slow dancing is different from actual dancing, though, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes, I would." Her smile was soft and her eyes didn't waver. The lights in the room shone like stars on her brown eyes in sparkles of gold.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said.
"Thank you. You smell amazing."
He grinned and arched an eyebrow. "If you keep talking sweet to me, I'll forget about all these people and dance with you like we're alone."
"I may be falling for the magic of the moment." Her smile was shy for once, but she kept it as she looked around the party hall. "No one is really paying attention to us."
He splayed his fingers on her lower back. "I'm sure some people are."
Her eyes came back to him and searched his face for a second, two, before she sighed. "If I didn't think it'd make me a huge hypocrite, I'd be happy to ignore them all. I'll be gone on Friday, anyway. What could they say after a simple dance? Even Diana thought dancing would be a good idea."
He brought their joined hands closer to him, placing them against his heart. "They could find something to say and… I wouldn't care. I'd give a lot, Ana, if we could have these two hours to dance together. Slow. With all these lights shining in your eyes."
"You're a romantic." Her smile grew, and faltered. "Tonight I could be, too. For this dance."
"Thank god."
In heels her temple reached his cheek; she leaned towards him and rested her face against his beard. He couldn't help himself, he pulled her closer.
They swayed to the slow music. She fit perfectly against him, and he willed himself to settle into the moment, trying to sear it into his memory: the warmth of their bodies together, the soft caress of the fabric of her dress under his fingers, the hope she could feel the beat of his heart under hers. This, this is how it should be, but not just for tonight. Not just because Ana thought she had Diana's permission. Not just for work.
Damn it all, but he couldn't let it go. He wanted to respect the answers she'd given him, and he still couldn't stop his brain from desperately searching every corner for possibilities.
"Do you think we'll stay in touch after filming is done?" He found himself asking.
"You do have a right to veto, so we'll see each other once a rough edit is done. Then if we premiere it on a festival—"
"No, not professionally. You and me."
A few lines of the song had gone by when she answered. "I would like that. I would love to stay in touch with you."
To hell, but he had to share his side. Tell her what he felt. Her choice didn't have to change, but he wanted her to know. Wanted, with fire in his belly.
"So that we're clear," he said, as conversationally as possible, "I'm not talking about friendly calls once in a while. I want something different than friendship with you."
