Strictly Love. Julia Williams

altogether nicer.

      ‘The one with the fat thighs heard you, by the way,’ she said, as Rob took her by the hand and started to quickstep.

      ‘Oh.’ Rob had the grace to look sheepish. ‘Did I say fat thighs? I meant to say gorgeous eyes.’

      ‘Of course you did,’ said Katie drily. The cheek of him. He was so sure a pathetic compliment would make up for insulting her. Still, he was so sure of himself, maybe she could have a bit of fun with that …

      ‘Do you come here often?’ Mark decided that a mocking approach was the best way to deal with the situation. It was so long since he'd asked a woman to dance, and the hour he had spent trying not to trip over people's feet had made him very aware that he was a contender for the most useless dancer in the room. But for the first time since Sam had left he felt the spark of interest in another woman. Mark wasn't sure if it was the determined look that had come across her face while she was listening to Isabella's instructions, or the rather panicky eye rolls that had set in when she had clearly forgotten them again. Or it might have been the way that she pealed with laughter when he stepped on her toes. He was so grateful that she hadn't slapped him.

      ‘This is my first time,’ she said, laughing again, her whole face lighting up. ‘So be gentle with me.’

      ‘If you're gentle in return,’ Mark batted back. ‘The name's Mark, by the way.’

      ‘Emily,’ she replied. ‘You honestly can't be a worse dancer than I am,’ she added, as Mark took hold of her. His hands were sweating, and despite trying to remember Isabella's admonitions about relaxing, he felt stiff and awkward.

      ‘I don't know about that,’ said Mark as he stepped on her toes once again. ‘Sorry. You see what I mean.’

      ‘It's okay, really,’ she said, ‘I think we're probably quits on that front.’

      ‘This is horrible, though, isn't it?’ said Mark, desperately trying to maintain a closed position and keep four/four time. ‘I don't know why I'm here.’

      Emily laughed again as she realised that once more they were out of step with each other.

      ‘Just dance like no one's looking,’ she said, as they both paused for breath.

      ‘Do you think that will work?’ asked Mark, looking around. ‘I can't help feeling everyone's staring at us.’

      ‘I'm sure they're not,’ said Emily, ‘but if we dance as if they're not, it doesn't matter, does it?’

      ‘Dance like no one's looking,’ said Mark. ‘Where have I heard that before?’

      ‘On Green Wing?’ suggested Emily. ‘That's where I heard it first.’

      ‘Oh, I love Green Wing,’ Mark replied.

      ‘Me too,’ said Emily. ‘It's one of those proverb-type things. No one knows who wrote it. It goes like this:

      Dance like no one's looking. Love like you've never been hurt.

      Work like you don't have to

      Live like it's heaven on earth.

      * * *

      I think that's rather lovely, don't you?’

      ‘Dancing like no one's looking is probably the best recipe I can think of for getting through this excruciating experience,’ said Mark.

      ‘Charming,’ she replied.

      ‘Oh God, that didn't come out right,’ said Mark. ‘It's not all.’

      ‘It's not all what?’ Emily teased.

      ‘Excruciating,’ said Mark. ‘I mean, you're not.’

      ‘Glad to hear it,’ said Emily. She felt secretly flattered. She hadn't come here on the pull, but as they continued their awkward trotting around the room, she reflected that it was nice that someone other than Callum had showed an interest in her. However vague, it was a very welcome boost to her ego. Even if he did keep treading on her toes.

       Chapter Five

      ‘The name's Rob Dylan, by the way,’ Rob said as he expertly led Katie round the room. Irritatingly he seemed to be rather a good dancer, ‘as in Bob's younger, more good-looking brother.’

      ‘Of course,’ said Katie. ‘I spotted the resemblance instantly.’

      Rob was a bit of a revelation actually. Katie's previous experience of dancing lessons had been fun, but had not exactly filled her with confidence about the dancing abilities of the majority of the male of the species. Charlie wasn't bad, but their wedding day was probably the last time they'd danced together. Not only could Rob dance, but he knew how to lead her properly too. Which meant that, rusty as she was, she felt she was actually dancing the foxtrot the way it was meant to be danced. With Rob, she was gliding round the room with perfect confidence. For a few fleeting moments she felt graceful again. She was grateful to him for that at least, even if he was a bit of a twat.

      ‘I'm Katie Caldwell,’ she said. ‘And I bet your brother doesn't dance as well as you do.’

      ‘Nah,’ said Rob. ‘But he sings a bit better.’

      Katie laughed. Dancing with Rob was turning out to be a lot more fun than she'd expected. Actually, she hadn't laughed so much in ages, she suddenly thought ruefully. When had she and Charlie stopped laughing together?

      ‘Has anyone told you, you have a lovely smile,’ said Rob, pulling her slightly closer than was strictly necessary.

      ‘Yes,’ said Katie firmly. ‘You did.’ She had been going to say, ‘my husband’, but then a mischievous desire stopped her. Rob clearly couldn't help himself. He was a serial flirt who thought he was God's gift to women. He really needed nipping in the bud instantly, but it wouldn't hurt to string him along a little bit. Just for fun.

      ‘So I did,’ said Rob. ‘And did I mention your gorgeous eyes?’

      ‘Hmm, I seem to remember you mentioning my thighs,’ said Katie. What was this guy like? He couldn't seriously be thinking she'd have forgotten his earlier comments.

      For a minute, Rob looked slightly nonplussed, but he recovered himself well.

      ‘That was before I had stared into your gorgeous eyes,’ he said, kissing her hand gallantly as the dance came to an end.

      ‘Yes, that'll be it,’ Katie said, with only the barest hint of sarcasm.

      People were milling about chatting together, or heading for the pub next door. It was really time she got going. Katie wasn't used to staying out late midweek, and with Charlie away it was harder than normal to get herself out of bed in the morning and organise the kids. She needed an early night.

      ‘You're coming next door for a drink.’ It was a statement, not a question. Rob was steering Katie towards the door in a rather well-practised fashion. Despite herself, she couldn't help admiring his ridiculous self-confidence.

      ‘I don't think so,’ said Katie. ‘I really have to get on.’

      ‘Oh yes you are,’ said Rob, ‘you just don't know it yet. Expect the unexpected. That's my motto.’

      ‘Well, how's this for unexpected?’ said Katie. ‘A woman saying no to you.’

      ‘I wasn't chatting you up,’ said Rob.

      ‘You so were,’ said Katie. ‘And I'm not the slightest bit interested.’

      ‘Don't flatter yourself, darling,’ Rob replied. ‘You're not my type.’

      ‘And what's your type then?’ Katie was furious. Which was ridiculous. Why should she care what he thought of her?

      ‘Thin,’