Chapter Thirteen
Dan called a wrap on the play — Sid rolled his eyes at the term but the kids laughed — and watched as the waiting parents gathered up their offspring. He wasn’t unaware of the looks he’d been getting. Interest, curiosity, speculation. And, if he wasn’t mistaken, some unashamed ogling.
‘Better watch your back there, lad.’ Sid came up behind him and nodded over to the young blonde, Jackson’s mum, who’d just given him a flirty smile. ‘She’s newly divorced and, by all accounts, a real man-eater.’
Dan started to laugh. ‘Been after you, has she, Sid?’
Sid grunted. ‘No need to be facetious.’
‘I wasn’t.’ He gave Sid a long, slow study. ‘You know if you lost a few pounds and smartened yourself up, you’d realise it’s entirely possible for women to find you attractive.’
‘I’ll have you know I’ve had my admirers, in my day.’
Dan smiled back at him. ‘I don’t doubt it. I’m merely pointing out you can have your day all over again, if you want to.’
‘You’re talking about Bridget again.’ Sid turned away, busying himself picking up the scripts carelessly discarded — thanks kids — on the stage. ‘She’s a work colleague. End of.’
‘Understood. I’ll see you later for the dance class then.’ Dan strolled towards the hall door, glancing back at Sid before he opened it. ‘Remember what I said last week, about the shower, and change of clothes.’
Sid made a shooing gesture and Dan had to fight not to laugh a moment later when he caught Sid lifting his arms to smell his armpits.
His good mood was temporarily banished when he dropped in to see Anna and found she’d already gone. Clearly the invitation to tea he’d been half hoping for was dead in the water.
Ignoring the very real pinch of disappointment, he reminded himself he’d be dancing with her in a few hours. That’s if she wasn’t so angry with him for not finishing the script, she wouldn’t turn up.
Unease sloshed about in his stomach. There was a very real possibility he’d be left dancing with Sid.
* * *
When he saw Anna walk into the school hall for the dance lessons two hours later, Dan could surely be forgiven for almost tripping over his feet in a rush to greet her.
‘Hey. It’s great to see you.’ Feeling like a teenage kid, he allowed his eyes to run over her pretty face. ‘Really, really great.’
He must have sounded as weird as he felt, because she gave him a puzzled look. ‘Am I missing something? I only saw you a few hours ago.’
For a man used to the company of women — though not as often as the press would have it — he now found it stupidly hard to regain his composure. Something about those sparky hazel eyes, the bemused expression on her face.
Something about her.
‘Sorry. I was having a panic you wouldn’t turn up, and that I’d have to dance with Sid.’ The words came out in a rush and he had to really focus to slow his breathing.
‘Well, that I would have paid good money to see. Why did you think I wasn’t coming?’
Deep breath, let it out slowly. ‘I let you down about the play.’ Guilt shot through him. ‘I promised I’d finish it by the end of last week and I didn’t.’ He gazed straight into those lovely eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’
It was her turn to sigh. ‘Okay. I admit I was miffed.’ She gave an exasperated huff. ‘And annoyed. It’s my reputation on the line if we end up delivering a half-finished play.’
‘Three quarters,’ he corrected. He itched to put his hand on her face, to caress the soft skin of her cheek, but eyes were watching. ‘And I know. Again, I’m sorry. I promise I’ll finish it by the end of this week. Scout’s honour.’
‘And were you one?’
He pretended to look affronted. ‘Of course. Don’t I look like good boy scout material?’
She raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘You look like a man I should steer clear of.’ Before he had a chance to complain, she laughed.
‘But I’m here, so I guess I’m not very good at taking my own advice.
’ Her eyes zeroed in on his. ‘It wasn’t just the play I was annoyed about. A real sheep? Seriously?’
‘Ah.’ Speaking of woolly animals, he’d like to bet his expression was pretty sheepish right now. ‘I got caught up in the kids’ enthusiasm. Riley mentioned it, and then even Taran looked excited, and I thought what the heck. Why not?’
‘You can’t promise children things and then not deliver, Dan.’
Okay then. Maybe it wasn’t intended as a reprimand — it was probably her frustration coming through — but that jab hit home. He was a parent, he didn’t need her to tell him how to deal with kids. ‘Who says I won’t deliver?’
Her eyes flashed, her annoyance obvious. ‘It isn’t your call. It’s my school, and my responsibility what happens in it.’
That successfully took the wind out of his puffed-up, self-righteous anger.
It was all very well him making promises, but he wasn’t the one going to suffer the consequences if he failed to keep them.
No wonder she’d not offered to make him tea.
He was lucky she was still talking to him.
‘Again. Sorry.’ It sounded far too inadequate, and now the need to touch her, to kiss her, burned even more fiercely.
‘Can I buy you a drink after the lesson today? And before you think it’s just an excuse to get you alone,’ he added hastily as he saw her eyes widen, ‘I want to talk about how I can put things right.’ He let out a low laugh.
‘And, if I’m honest, I also want to get you alone.
’ Everything he’d said last week, after the kiss, was still true.
But he was allowed to change his mind, surely?
‘If we went for a drink, I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t pour it over your head.’
‘I’m happy to take the risk. Probably no more than I deserve, anyway.’
She started to shake her head, and Dan felt his stomach twist as he realised she was going to turn him down.
But then she let out a long, resigned-sounding sigh.
‘I’m probably going to regret this but fine, you can buy me one drink after the lesson.
’ She gave him an evil smile. ‘And only if you don’t complain when I stand on your toes while we dance. ’
‘Deal.’ Pleased, he glanced over her shoulder, smiling when he caught sight of Sid standing in the doorway. Buttons still strained across his stomach, his hair was still too long, but there were no sweat stains on his shirt.
Anna caught the direction of his gaze. ‘Sid’s here? And he’s wearing a different shirt to the one he wore all day.’ Her gaze narrowed as she turned back to Dan. ‘Why do I have a feeling you’ve been interfering again?’
‘Interfering?’ His innocent act was probably ruined by his smug smile. ‘I prefer to think of it as smoothing the way.’
‘Umm. You’re very good at the smooth.’
Recalling the gauche way he’d greeted her only ten minutes ago, he started to laugh. ‘I used to be, maybe.’ His eyes tugged at hers. ‘But I’ve not had a smooth moment since I met you.’
Her expression softened. ‘Oh, I don’t know. You shared a pizza with me last week. Tonight you’ve managed to get me to agree to a drink despite how annoyed I am with you. I’d say you’ve had plenty of smooth moments.’
Bridget clapped her hands, ready to start the lesson, and Dan smiled into Anna’s eyes. ‘Here’s hoping for a few more on the dance floor.’
* * *
Anna felt the tingle all the way through her body as Dan reached for her hand to help her out of his car. Silly, because she’d spent the last hour dancing with him. Yet that had been in the school hall, surrounded by others, and in the harsh glare of the strip lighting.
Now he was holding her hand — and yes, he hadn’t let it go — in the dark. Just the pair of them, walking towards the wine bar. She felt a dart of guilt at the thought of Chris’s parents putting Maisie to bed while she was off gallivanting with another man.
Yet what had Val said? ‘We’d love to have more time with our granddaughter. It’ll do you good to go out.’
Of course Val thought she was simply having a drink with the actor who was helping to volunteer at the school. On one level it was true, yet it didn’t feel that simple, holding Dan’s hand.
It felt like there was something between them. Something that had the power to totally upend her life, if she let it.
Dan held the door of the wine bar open for her and Anna darted inside, her body soaking up the warmth after the icy blast of the dark November evening.
‘What can I get you?’ He smiled, placing his hand on the small of her back as they navigated past a few tables towards the bar.
The place had a cosy feel, with tea lights on the tables, fairy lights around the bar and a charming silver-themed Christmas tree in the corner.
A reminder of the season they were fast heading into. Romantic, was how she would sum it up.
Or was that just because she was here with a tall, sexy man? A man she wasn’t the only woman in the place feasting her eyes on. ‘A red wine, thank you.’
He ordered himself a small beer, telling her next time they should get a cab and enjoy a proper drink.
‘Next time?’
He winked. ‘You might find my company so irresistible you’ll want to do this again.’
Didn’t that sound lovely? Something to look forward to, a dance and a drink with a gorgeous man. And yet. ‘I thought we weren’t doing this,’ she said as they sat at one of the small booths.
‘We can’t be friends?’ His smile twinkled. ‘We don’t have to end the evening with a kiss, though if last week is anything to go by, it would be a shame if we didn’t.’
The breath left her lungs in a rush, yet a glance over at the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree reminded her that come Christmas, Dan would merely be a memory. When she looked back, would she regret not having the guts to act on the glorious sexual chemistry pulsing through her right now?
‘You’re confusing me,’ she told him honestly.