Win Me Over by Nicole Michaels Page B

which was, unfortunately, at the beginning. She had them do it a few times without the music, and to her delight he remembered everything.
    â€œGood! Maybe it just needed to marinate, huh?” She laughed. “Okay, with the music this time.”
    A half hour flew by as they repeated the intro over and over. Callie was sick of counting but delighted with their small progress. She took a long drink of water and then clapped her hands together. “Okay, let’s move on to the next part. After you pull me back from your left side we’re going to do a similar motion toward your front.”
    She started to go through the motions as he watched. “I’ll do it again; watch me.”
    â€œI haven’t quit watching.” His words were clipped. She stopped and looked at him.
    Her eyes softened and she blew out a breath. “Okay, listen. Let’s try a different approach. I should have warmed you up first.”
    *   *   *
    That sounded like a bad idea, Bennett thought to himself as Callie circled him. He’d done okay on the first part. He’d actually spent an hour before she got there practicing on his own and he was already sore. And frustrated.
    When she finally stood facing him once more, she lifted his left hand and slipped her right one into it, grasping firmly. Holding their joined hands out to the side, she gently laid her left hand on his shoulder. “Now grasp my waist, ballroom-style.”
    He hesitantly did what he assumed she meant. “I’ve never ballroom danced in my life.”
    â€œWell, you are today.” She reached down and adjusted his hand to sit lower on her back, closer to where her body curved. She stepped into him, her head resting just under his chin.
    The scent of her shampoo and the feel of her breasts pressed against him made him feel dizzy, but her nearness caused some of his tension to lessen.
    She swayed back and forth for a moment and his feet shuffled along with her, trying to keep up with the rhythm. Damn, he couldn’t even get this right. But it felt nice.
    â€œI should have done this Thursday,” she said. The feel of her words rumbled against his chest. “We just need to get used to the feel of each other.”
    Yeah, he wasn’t sure if he agreed with that. He definitely shouldn’t get used to this, because if she had any idea what he was feeling she would see the danger in what they were doing.
    The music came on again and she began to count, moving from side to side, pulling him along with her. Reluctantly he tried to relax, as much as could be expected, considering their bodies rubbed together with nearly every movement.
    â€œSway on the down beat, the one, and then again on the four.” She dipped more dramatically from side to side to show him what she meant. This had to be as basic as dancing got, which was humiliating. He hadn’t danced like this since middle school.
    But he liked it, being this close. Eventually he loosened up, his arms relaxing, legs finding the rhythm. He finally began to pull her body with his. Back and forth, back and forth. He even managed to turn them as he did so.
    â€œLook at you,” she said. He could hear the smile in her voice, which made him smile in response. “Eventually you’ll just feel the beat inside you. Do you feel it now?”
    â€œI feel something,” he bit out.
    She gasped and stared up at him, mouth hanging open. “Are you being dirty, Coach Clark?”
    â€œWon’t happen again.”
    â€œI should hope not,” she teased. But he saw a hint of something more in her eyes. He chuckled and prayed to the Gods of Unwelcome Boners to grant him mercy as she leaned back into position and resumed counting.
    The sun was low, easing into a golden dusk. Crickets and cicadas filled the trees around them, and the scent of the air was a heady mix of nature and woman.
    â€œThis isn’t so bad, is it?” she asked