A Calculated Romance by Violet Sparks Read Free Book Online Page B

back.  Whenever he wanted to change directions, he signaled her by applying pressure there.  He caressed her skin, slowly moving his hand lower along her spine.  Her back tingled, and every nerve in her body tensed as he moved his large, rough fingers up and down.
    Landi swallowed and took a deep breath.  Jim pulled her a tad closer and removed his hand from her waist and placed it beneath her face, tilting her chin so their eyes met.  He dropped his gaze to her lips, then back to her eyes.  The song segued into an instrumental version of Europa .
    "Landi, I—"
    "Mind if I cut in?" Douglas tapped James on the shoulder and tried to move between the couple.  His effervescent voice made him appear harmless.
    Jim tightened his grip on Landi before releasing her to the other man with a shrug.  She glimpsed a dark expression pass over his face before he walked away.
    "I think he's taking his role as your escort a bit too seriously," Doug said between chuckles.  "Possessive fellow, isn't he?"
    "He's been nice to me," she said in a serious tone, fighting the notion that dancing with Robert's cousin somehow betrayed Jim.
    Landi kept her hands on his shoulders and retreated, putting more distance between them.  The man just tightened his grip on her waist and smiled a disarming toothy grin.
    "I'm sure he has.  Ireland, you're easy to be kind to.  You're sweet, beautiful, and humble.  I may have to monopolize you the rest of the evening."  He beamed down at her.  "I don't intend to dance with my sister, Kiki's being dominated by that big cowboy whom I don't dare tangle with, and Sue—well, Sue's too much for me to handle."
    He dipped his head and whispered the last part in her ear, evoking a laugh from the girl at last.  Mission accomplished, a satisfied expression spread across his attractive face.  He pulled Landi closer, causing her to giggle.  They didn't notice James glaring at them from across the room.
    The song finished, and 1940's big band music boomed from the speakers.  Doug grabbed Landi's hand and spun her an arm's length from him before yanking her back against his side with another twirl.  The slick soles of her new shoes allowed for the smooth maneuver.  The girl's jaw dropped, and she gasped for air.
    "I—I don't know how to dance, Doug, please—"
    Before she could finish her sentence, he'd rotated around her, looping one of her arms over his shoulders.
    "Hang on, Sweetheart," he said before repositioning her hands and whirling around at a speed that caused her feet to leave the ground.
    Apparently, Douglas LaSalla was an expert swing dancer.  Landi clung to him for dear life.
    "Now, I'm going to reel you out again," he said through clinched teeth, like a ventriloquist.
    The man twirled her an arm's length, then back to his side, before turning her body and dipping her backwards.  She could swear her head missed the wood floor by an inch.  Before she knew what was happening, he'd lifted her in the air, instructing her to place her hands on his shoulders.  Somehow, he swung her through his legs, then back into an upright position.  He grasped both her hands in his own, yanked her to his chest, and spun around, stepping back and forth to the rhythm of In The Mood .  With one hand at the small of her back, Doug managed to guide her in the dance, and she caught on to the easy, repetitive part quickly.  One last rotation out and in, with a big dip over his arm as a finish, and the dance was over. 
    The guests erupted into applause as Ireland gasped for breath.  Glancing around, she realized everyone else had deserted the floor to observe their routine, or rather Doug's performance.  He took a bow, pulling her by the hand down with him. 
    "You're a natural, Baby!" he said from behind his grin.  She found it odd that his lips never moved when he spoke like that.
    Relieved the ordeal was over, she broke into a nervous smile, then peels of laughter.  Doug pulled her into an embrace and kissed