“I thought you’d never ask,” he said.
She giggled, then grabbed him by the hand and led him onto the dance floor.
He’d never polka danced in his life, but he caught on fast, and soon he was dancing with nearly every senior citizen in town, including some of the men. He’d skied in Austria, snorkeled off the San Blas islands in Panama, and skydived out of airplanes. And now here he was, wearing a tuxedo and polka dancing with a woman old enough to be his grandmother. Or was his partner the old guy with the fedora hat? He couldn’t tell right now.
Luke laughed. It was crazy, but it wasn’t the worst time he’d ever had.
The band announced a break and he excused himself from his current partner.
“If I didn’t suspect you’re the world’s best actor, I’d actually believe you were having fun out there,” Sarah said.
“Believe it or not, I am having fun,” he admitted.
She cocked her head to the side as if to figure out if he was lying or not. She must have decided he was telling the truth because she smiled approvingly. “Good. Those ladies have been talking non-stop all week about the chance to dance with you tonight. I’m glad you weren’t just pretending to have a good time with them.”
“What about you? Are you having a good time?” He hadn’t noticed her out on the dance floor.
She nodded, smiling brightly. “My homemade dinner is up to two hundred dollars.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“You’re up to two grand,” she said.
He flinched. “This is ridiculous. I’m going to put a stop to this right now.”
“Don’t you dare. Whoever this Juliet is, she can obviously afford it and the money is going to a great cause.”
“And we’re back!” Harry Tuba announced. “We’ve decided to change it up and channel some Sinatra for the lovebirds in the house.”
The Way You Look Tonight, polka-style, began to play and the room went crazy.
He shouldn’t do it. But he couldn’t help himself. “I’ll let the auction continue on one condition,” he said. “Dance with me.”
She glanced back at the band, then up at him. Without waiting for her response, he placed his hand over hers and led her to the dance floor. The song was a little bouncier than normal, but it was still recognizable. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close.
“I never said yes,” she said. He moved to let go of her, but then she put her arms around his neck and sighed. “But since it’s for a good cause, I suppose one dance won’t hurt.” She smiled up at him and his chest tightened. Even wearing heels, the top of her head only came up to his chin, and the urge to tuck her head against his chest—
He spun her around and she laughed, startled.
“What? Did you think I was too old to do that? I’ll have you know that even at my advanced age I still have some moves left.”
“I bet you do,” she muttered. Then she closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. When she looked back up at him, her green eyes were clear and direct. “I know we weren’t going to talk about the kiss, because, I mean, what’s to say, really? Except I’m glad we’re getting past it. I know we got off to a rocky start, but there’s no reason we can’t be friends, right?”
“Sure. I’d like that.” But it was a lie, because it was high time he admitted to himself that he didn’t just want to be her friend.
He was careful not to hold her too closely for the rest of the dance, but the perfume he’d noticed earlier filled his nostrils. Her breasts pressed against him, and despite what they’d just said, he found himself wondering what she would do if he kissed her again. Right here. Right now. Years of experience told him that she’d kiss him back, but then what?
The song ended and another rowdy polka tune slammed through the air. Reluctantly, he let her go. “Thank you,” he said.
She visibly swallowed. “For what?”
“For the dance, of course.”
“I should go check the dessert table and make sure there’s enough.” Before he could say anything else, she scurried off.
He didn’t see Sarah again for the rest of the evening until the auction results were announced. Stacey came up to the mic and began calling out the winners. Nate Miller and his very pregnant wife, Lauren, won Sarah’s homemade dinner. Lauren, who looked ready to pop out a kid right there on the floor, squealed and hugged Sarah. “Yes!” she said, pumping a fist in the air, much to the crowd’s delight.
Stacey and Brad won the year’s lawn care service and someone Luke didn’t know won the Key West vacation. Finally, they got down to the last item.