Miracle On 5th Avenue (From Manhattan with Love 3)

He thought it made them idiots, but didn’t say so.

He didn’t want to think about them at all.

He let go of her hand, and slid his hand around her waist. “Let’s dance.”

“You hate dancing. You only suggested that to get me away from Marauding Michael.”

“But you love dancing.”

“I do. That’s the main reason I wanted to come tonight. I want to dance until my feet hurt and my head is spinning.”

He could think of a hundred ways to make her head spin that had nothing to do with dancing, but he pushed the thought down quickly. “So let’s dance.”

Several men were looking at her and Lucas swept her onto the dance floor before one of them had a chance to claim her.

He wasn’t sure he wouldn’t have punched them and laid them out cold.

Eva put her hand on his shoulder, keeping a respectable distance between them. “I love dancing. I took ballet classes until I was fourteen.”

“I bet you danced the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy?”

“Yes, but how did you—?”

“Never mind.”

“Grams used to take me to watch the New York City Ballet every Christmas. It was our routine, and I loved it. Snowflakes, glitter and beautiful music. It always put me in a Christmassy mood. I used to come home and twirl and wish I was a proper ballerina.”

He looked down at her, imagining her in pink tights and shiny ballet shoes, dancing in a dream. And he wondered how she’d made it to adulthood without losing those shiny illusions about life and people.

She danced as she had in the kitchen, her movements smooth and fluid, her hair spinning around her bare shoulders, her megawatt smile lighting her face.

“This is so much fun.”

He didn’t disagree. “It’s certainly a lot better than making small talk with boring people.”

“You’re very rude.”

“I am. You’d probably be well-advised to avoid me.”

“I tried that. But apparently you can’t resist interfering with my love life. And I have to watch you closely so that you don’t end up being tomorrow’s headline.”

Their efforts to talk above the music brought them closer.

“Do you blame me? You’re reckless, and I made a promise to your friend Frankie.”

“I’m an excellent judge of character.”

“If you research homicides, you’ll discover that most people are killed by someone they know.”

She pulled away slightly, her eyes bright with exasperation. “We’re at a ball, Lucas. A dreamy, romantic ball. And you’re telling me I’m going to be murdered by one of my friends?”

“I’m telling you that if you were murdered, it would, in all likelihood, be by someone you knew. I’m trying to educate you. Encourage a little caution.”

“You have a twisted view of life. And we’re having one dance, that’s all. First because if I talk to you for too long I’ll have to sleep with the lights on, and second because if I’m dancing with you I’m never going to meet anyone. And neither are you.”

The music slowed and Lucas expected her to pull away but instead she leaned her head on his chest and slid her arms around him. Awareness flowed over his skin and seeped into his bones. His mind emptied. His brain felt slow and heavy and he couldn’t find any words that seemed to fit the occasion, but fortunately Eva had plenty to say.

“Have you made a New Year’s resolution yet? Because if not, I have the perfect one for you.” She was soft and pliant, her body melting into his.