His Leading Lady by Maggie Dallen

Author:Maggie Dallen [Dallen, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensignton Publishing Corp.
Published: 2017-07-10T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 8

One dance turned into two, and as they moved across the dance floor. Nicholas was oblivious to the crowd around them, completely transfixed by the sweet, dreamy smile that Alice wore. He almost didn’t want to interrupt whatever trance she was in, but he found himself too curious to hold out any longer. “What are you thinking about?”

Her head tilted back so she was looking into his eyes, but she didn’t lose the smile. God, he loved that smile. It spoke of a sweetness and innocence that was completely at odds with the hardened, poised façade she normally presented.

“Hmmm?” Even her voice sounded dreamy.

He couldn’t risk pulling her out of this state, so he changed tactics. Leaning down, he said quietly in her ear, “You’re a wonderful dancer.”

Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes dropped down. “Thank you.”

He thought she wouldn’t speak anymore, but then, she blurted out, “I used to want to be a dancer.”

The words should not have been a bombshell. But they were. This was the first time she’d ever willingly offered up personal information about herself, and he had the feeling he was walking on eggshells as he maneuvered her into a turn.

He chose his words carefully, hoping his eagerness wasn’t readily apparent. “What made you want to dance?”

Her eyes flickered up to his, and he caught the wariness there, as though he’d just asked her to divulge her bank account information rather than a simple question about her childhood. What the hell had happened to this woman that she was so wary of men?

He had enough experience with wary children with a massive distrust of doctors to know that pushing the issue would only make it worse. The best thing he could do was offer up something about himself, let her get to know him before asking her to trust him. “I always wanted to be a doctor.”

Her eyes widened slightly at the change of topic, but she didn’t respond, so he continued. “My father was a doctor, and his father before him. I guess I always knew that it was what I was meant to do.”

One corner of her mouth turned up at that. “That must be nice,” she said. “To be so certain of where you stand in the world—where you’re meant to be.”

Her words struck a chord. She was right—he had always known his place in the world. He’d always had it all mapped out. First it had been mapped out for him by his parents, and then he’d taken over the obsessive planning that seemed inherent in his genes. He’d never lost track of his path—until he met this woman. She was not part of the plan. He was supposed to fall in love with a woman who loved him back and who fit in with the lifestyle that he’d created. It was supposed to be easy.

For the first time in his life, the plan wasn’t working. Oh, his career was right on track—when this fundraiser was a success, there was no doubt he’d be offered the position.

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