She turned toward him again. “Just listen to it. Get a feel for the tempo. Count it out. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.” She patted herself near her collarbone for several bars. “Feel that beat. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Feel it on your insides.”
“Okay. I’m feelin’ it.”
“We’re going to dance to those six beats.” She paused the player, plunging the studio into silence. She returned to stand before Grant. “For the man, the first step always starts with his left foot. So put your weight on your right. We’re not going to move at first. Just step in place. There are two quick steps, followed by two slow steps.”
“How quick?” Unmistakable dread filled his voice.
She couldn’t help herself. She took hold of his hands, then rose on tiptoe to kiss him lightly, almost playfully, on the lips. “You can do this. Relax. Okay? Relax.”
“Easy for you to say,” he muttered—but he was smiling again.
She squeezed his hands before releasing them. “Left is one. Right is two. Left is three, four. Right is five, six. Quick. Quick. Slow. Slow. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” He took a half step forward. “But when do we get to the part where I get to hold you?”
She laughed. “When you earn it.”
“Knew there had to be a catch.”
Her mom had always said that falling in love was exhausting because of all the highs and lows involved, but that being in love for the long haul was like a good fire on a cold winter night, full of comfort. Skye wasn’t sure about the second part, but the first part was wrong. She found falling in love exhilarating. It was all highs so far.
“Teacher?”
“Hmm.”
“I don’t think I can wait.”
And he didn’t. He grabbed the brim of his hat, pulled it off his head, and tossed it aside. Then he placed his index finger under her chin, tipped her head back, and lowered his mouth to hers. Skye felt the kiss all the way down to her toes, and she was grateful when he wrapped his arms around her, lest she crumple into a helpless heap at his feet.
I love you, Grant. I know it’s happening fast, but I love you.
He ended the kiss and drew back, though not far. His breath still warmed her cheek. She opened her eyes to look up into his.
“Miss Foster,” he said, voice low, “I’ve completely forgotten the steps.”
“Strange, Mr. Nichols. So have I.”
On matters of a romantic nature, Grant would have preferred to talk to Buck Malone. A year ago, Grant’s good friend had been a lot like him when it came to thoughts of marriage. Although for different reasons than Grant, Buck hadn’t been interested in settling down with one woman. Meeting Charity had changed his mind.
But Buck was in the backcountry for the next week with a large group of riders, and Grant couldn’t wait until his return. He needed advice now. When he arrived at the Leonard Ranch on Thursday, he went looking for Chet. Grant found his boss in a stall in the barn, doctoring a wound on a yearling’s chest.
“Mornin’,” Grant said as he leaned his arms on the top rail.
Chet glanced up, then returned to his task. “Morning.”
“What happened to this young fella?”
“Not sure. Looks like he tangled with barbed wire. But I had the boys look for loose wire or a downed fence, and they couldn’t find anything.”
Grant placed a boot on the bottom rail. “Any changes in our plans for the rest of the week?”
“Nope. You’ll be doing all of your cooking at the chef’s patio. No trail rides. Lunch and dinner today. Dinners only the rest of the week.” Chet straightened and patted the yearling’s neck. “Do you need help? Sam’s around if you want him to join you.”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” He took a few steps back as Chet reached for the gate. “But I was wondering if you had a minute to talk.”
“Sure. What’s up?” Chet came out of the stall.
“I . . . I . . .” Grant took a slow, deep breath. “It’s about Skye Foster.”
Chet cocked an eyebrow. “What about her?”
“Well, I—” Why did he feel so tongue tied? Spit it out already. “To tell you the truth, Chet, I think I’m falling in love with her.”
“Yeah?”
“No. Not quite right. I think I’ve fallen in love with her. Past tense. Already happened.”
“And the problem is . . .?” Chet leaned a shoulder against the stall.
Grant removed his hat and ran a hand over his hair. “I don’t know that there is one. But it all happened so fast. I’ve never known anyone like her before. And I knew plenty of girls before I came to Idaho. I hooked up with someone different at every party, without any intention of ever seeing any of them again. That’s why I haven’t dated since I got here. I thought it better to give all women a wide berth while I turned my life around. I didn’t want to fall into my old patterns.”
“I know. I thought it was a sound plan.”
“Chet, I never planned to get married. I figured I’d stay a bachelor the rest of my life.”
His friend chuckled. “But you’re thinking about marriage anyway.”
“Yeah. I guess I am. I mean, that’s the only place love can lead for a Christian couple. Right?”