Modern Romance April 2015 Books 1-8. Annie West

after myself.’

      ‘But we’ve always looked after each other in the past, haven’t we? And I wasn’t there for you this time.’

      ‘Lizzie,’ Danny said in a mock-stern voice. ‘This is your wedding day.’

      ‘And you don’t have to put on a front for me, Danny Cameron.’

      ‘I’m not putting on a front. I’m letting this go. I won’t allow Carlos Pintos to colour my life, or my thinking, or anything I do.’

      ‘And he won’t.’ Lizzie gave her a hug. ‘But I think there’s another man who would like to...’

      ‘Only because you’re staring at Tiago. He thinks we’re talking about him,’ Danny pointed out, tensing as Tiago started heading their way.

      She shivered as his shadow fell over them, and then was instantly annoyed with herself for reacting at all.

      Tiago made a gracious bow to the bride, and then said, ‘Excuse us, Lizzie. Shall we dance?’

      Danny almost looked over her shoulder, to see who he was talking to. ‘Me?’

      ‘Of course you,’ he said.

      How could she refuse when Tiago was giving her a look she couldn’t misinterpret—a look she had to act on immediately? Chico was hovering, and she had taken up quite enough of the bride’s time.

      Why make a fuss? she concluded. This was a party. It was no big deal if she had one dance with Tiago Santos.

      ‘Seems I have to thank you again,’ she said.

      ‘Why?’ He was frowning.

      She couldn’t speak for a moment as Tiago drew her into his arms, swamping her with many emotions, chief amongst which was an intense awareness of him. This was more than she had expected to experience in one night. He was so much more. It was hard to breathe, or to register anything beyond Tiago’s masculinity, and it took all she’d got to concentrate long enough to answer him.

      ‘I’m glad you teased me away from Lizzie. I guess old habits die hard. We’ve practically been welded to each other since we were children.’

      ‘And then Chico came along?’ he guessed.

      ‘That’s right,’ she admitted, smiling wryly.

      ‘So you and Lizzie have been friends for a long time?’

      ‘Yes, but I should have taken the hint faster that Chico wanted to be with his bride—so thanks for that.’

      ‘Is that why you were in the stables earlier, Danny? Were you wondering how your life would go forward from now on, without Lizzie to confide in?’

      ‘You’re too smart,’ she said. His intuition was unsettling.

      ‘It’s understandable,’ he argued, drawing her into his hard-muscled frame so they could dance as one. ‘You’re bound to consider how this will change things between you, and we all need quiet times to sort out our heads. Did you come to a conclusion?’

      She was coming to a few conclusions now. She wished she wasn’t wearing such a provocative dress—it was giving Tiago all the wrong signals. He was making her wonder if she had come downstairs too soon.

      Her body was rioting at the touch of Tiago’s hands and the warmth of his breath on her skin. Having her hand in his was electrifying. Having him direct her movements, even in this harmless dance, was equally disturbing. She had to remind herself that dance was the lifeblood of Brazil, and that it was a means of expression that very few nations could use to such good effect. Right now Tiago and dance had combined to stunning effect.

      And she had to keep it up for a little while longer, Danny reasoned, if only because Lizzie was watching them with concern. One dance with the most dangerous man in the room. She could handle that. She wasn’t going to allow herself to be intimidated ever again—not by life, and not by Tiago.

      They fitted together perfectly, considering Tiago was twice her size. He moved so well he made it easy for her. She found herself moving rhythmically with him in a way that was sexy, even suggestive, but it was just one dance, she reassured herself.

      They were close enough to the top table for Lizzie to flash anxious glances their way, and she smiled back to confirm that everything was all right.

      And it might have been had she not been moving closer and closer to Tiago. He didn’t force her to. His touch remained frustratingly light. But the music was compelling her to do this. It was intoxicating, and the pulse of South America was soon running through her veins. She could feel his muscles flexing as he teased all her senses at once. If she moved away he brought her back.

      There weren’t many men who looked good dancing, but Tiago was one of them. Maybe because he was an athlete. His body was supple and strong. And he was Brazilian—dark and mysterious and sexy, with a passion he carried everywhere with him. She trembled as he dipped his head and his warm, minty breath brushed her face.

      ‘I didn’t know you were such a good dancer, Danny.’

      ‘Neither did I,’ she admitted.

      His firm lips slanted in a sexy smile. ‘It must be because you’re dancing with me.’

      She laughed at his engaging self-assurance.

      ‘You were such a tomboy in Brazil.’

      ‘I’m still a tomboy, Senhor Santos.’

      ‘Tiago, please,’ he murmured, in a husky whisper that raised every tiny hair on the back of her neck.

      She couldn’t deny she was disappointed to learn that Tiago still thought of her as a tomboy. She was a woman—a woman with needs. She was a confused woman, still recovering from the shock of an attack, but sufficiently recovered to know how deeply this man affected her. And dance was the perfect outlet for her emotions. Dance was a means of expression when words wouldn’t come.

      When the music faded and the band took a break she felt awkward suddenly, and glanced longingly towards the exit, where the double doors were open wide.

      ‘Have you had enough?’ Tiago asked.

      She flashed a glance up at him. ‘I’m sorry—am I being so obvious?’

      ‘Too much too soon for you, I think,’ he said wisely.

      Once again that intuition of his was a warning of how easily he could read her. Tiago was too much too soon, and always would be, Danny suspected. If she had known how it would feel to be in his arms, how she would feel, she would never have agreed to dance with him.

      ‘I do have one suggestion,’ he murmured.

      ‘Yes?’ She glanced up and felt her heart turn over.

      ‘Just wait a moment before you go. The DJ has taken over from the band, so have one more dance with me.’

      She was just basking in the idea that Tiago enjoyed dancing with her when he spoke again.

      ‘That way it will give Chico enough time to make Lizzie forget everything—including you.’

      Danny’s eyes flashed wide. His comment had stung. That was what happened when she dropped her guard around Tiago Santos. But he was right. She had to let her friend go and move on.

      ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind dancing with me?’ There were so many much prettier girls in the room.

      ‘I’m sure,’ Tiago confirmed with an amused look.

      This was the type of thing she would have liked to discuss with Lizzie. They had both led such hectic, fractured lives as children, and had protected each other until their lives had been sewn together again by Lizzie’s grandmother and by the housekeeper, Annie, both of whom had been determined that neither child would suffer because of their less than responsible parents.

      ‘Shall I get you out