“I’m glad you think so.” He knew Daniel well enough now to know when he was being sarcastic. Daniel crossed his own arms and glared back at him.
“But I never pictured you as a coward. I’ve seen you as many things, intense and protective, determined, and god knows as a woman who turned my head and I had no fucking idea why. When that curtain first parted on that stage and I saw you come out.” James stepped closer. “Do you know what I thought?”
“That you had been played?” Daniel deadpanned.
“Well, maybe.” He had to admit that. “But I also thought that I would never have the guts to do what you do. You have the internal fortitude to play my girlfriend for my sister’s wedding, and yet when there’s the chance that things might get more serious and that we might have the chance at something more, no matter how crazy or unrealistic that may be...you’re the one to chicken out.” James stared into Daniel’s eyes and saw only resistance and the hardness of stone. “Fine.” He turned away and found a pair of light tan slacks in the closet. He pulled them on along with a blue button-down shirt, and put on his shoes, not looking at Daniel. “Let’s go.”
* * *
“The first dance at your wedding is one of those moments when all eyes will be on you,” Beverly, the dance instructor, said and then positioned Holly and Howard in the center of the wood parquet dance floor, surrounded by mirrors.
“I’m going to hurt someone. I’m a menace on the dance floor.”
“I’ve taught many reluctant grooms. Just relax.” Beverly talked them through the simple dance steps, breaking them down, and then started the music. Howard took two steps, promptly stepped on Holly’s foot, and managed to kick her in the shin.
Holly yelped, and Howard apologized, looking about ready to bolt for the door.
“Your twenty bucks from the other day says he makes a run for it,” James whispered to Daniel, who nodded and smiled as Beverly coaxed Howard back, and then they started again.
The second time, he lasted longer. “I can’t do this. I have never been able to dance.” Howard released Holly and backed away.
“Howard,” Holly said gently, coaxingly, and they tried again and again.
“Safe money,” James said with a grin. Howard gazed at the door longingly, the look in his eyes remarkably similar to that of a panicked deer. Maybe five more minutes and Howard would be out of there.
“You’re mean sometimes, you know that?” Daniel snickered.
“Just calling them as I see them,” James retorted as Howard stepped on Holly’s foot once again.
“Anyone can dance,” Daniel proclaimed and stepped forward, flashing James a wicked smile. Holly’s poor feet had probably had enough by this point. “Let me try.” He stood right in front of Howard. “Now take my hand and my waist just like you held Holly’s.” James was just close enough to hear what Daniel was saying.
Holly limped over, standing next to him. “Thank god. My poor feet. We’re both going to owe her big-time. At least my feet sure as hell will.”
“But I can’t do this,” Howard protested.
“Bullshit,” Daniel growled, and the dance instructor inhaled sharply. Daniel seemed to ignore her and continued. “Have you ever seen one of those old movies with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers?” Howard nodded and shrugged, probably confused. “Well, think about it. You have the easy part. Your job is to make Holly look like an angel. Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in heels. Please start the music.” The instructor turned it on, and James watched, enthralled, as Daniel started with Howard. If he was honest, he might have been a little jealous.
“Look at me. Not your feet. For now, I’m Holly, and you watch her when you dance. She is your entire focus. Look into her eyes, feel the movement of her body, make her as beautiful to everyone else as she is to you.” Daniel pointed. “Your feet are uninteresting anyway. Watch my eyes and my expression.” Daniel slowly guided Howard through some simple steps. “There you go,” he said when Howard didn’t smash his feet. James was grateful for that, because he had plans for Daniel and his feet. “Now do it again. Don’t pay any attention to your feet—they’ll follow the rest of you. Just look at me.” Daniel touched Howard’s chin to move his gaze upward. “Dancing is like sex, standing up,” Daniel commented, and Howard nearly tripped. James stifled a snicker, and Holly snorted from next to him. “It’s about two people communicating with their bodies. When you’re dancing, just watch Holly and you’ll be fine.” They continued moving, and Daniel guided Howard through more and more steps. They were all simple, and yet they looked good together. “Just relax and have fun. This isn’t torture. You’re going to be taking the woman you love most in the world and giving her a taste of what’s to come when the two of you are alone.” Finally, Howard stopped moving like a robot and their dancing improved greatly.
James watched Daniel and occasionally glanced at Holly, who shifted her weight from foot to foot.
When James could stand it no more, he nodded to Holly. “Go get your man.” She retrieved her husband-to-be, and James tugged Daniel into his arms.
“But...”
“You cheated...and you were amazing.” James smiled, locked gazes with Daniel, and glided him around the floor. “You’re a stubborn pain in the ass, and you look gorgeous when you dance, absolutely breathtaking.” He smiled, and Daniel stopped trying to lead. James pressed Daniel even closer. “I see your attraction and I felt it last night,” he breathed. “You can say what you want, but your eyes and body give you away.”
Daniel stopped in his tracks, and James tugged him close once again and then spun him out and back, taking Daniel around the waist.
“I told you...” Daniel stiffened in his arms.
“I know what you said.” He gazed into stormy deep blue eyes and propelled Daniel around the floor, keeping him close, never faltering in his gaze, determined to communicate with his body where words seemed to fall short. “This is your punishment for cheating. You have to dance with me.”
Daniel chuckled. “Do you always make your punishments so pleasurable?” His deep blue eyes actually sparkled with excitement.