Enchanting Melody Read Free Page A

entire class. Believe me, you’d do much better with no one watching. Come here.” Will held out his hand.
    â€œNow?”
    â€œOf course. I don’t have any more classes this evening. I want you to see that you can learn to dance.” He flicked the switch on the stereo remote, turning on the music. “Come here.”
    Reluctantly, Melody moved into his arms. He was right, it was a lot different without anyone watching…but not in the way that he’d meant.
    Suddenly she noticed the intoxicating scent of his cologne. She saw his biceps bulging underneath his shirt. And she was very aware of the proximity of their bodies.
    She was so overwhelmed by all these new sensations that she forgot her anxiety over dancing. Mel let herself be swept across the floor in his arms.
    â€œThat’s it. See what a difference it makes when you relax and trust your partner?”
    Melody looked down and lost her footing, throwing them out of sync. She swore under her breath.
    â€œIt’s okay, we’ll pick it back up. Slow, slow, side step. Just follow me.”
    Melody tried to repeat the rhythm over and over in her head so as not to embarrass herself again. “I think I’m getting it.”
    â€œThat’s right. All you have to do is trust me. You don’t even have to know the moves ahead of time. Watch.” Will broke their frame and twirled her in a circle and turned her at an angle in several more complicated patterns.
    Melody glided right along with him, wide-eyed that she was actually dancing. “I don’t believe I did all that,” she said when he resumed the basic pattern.
    â€œWell, you did.” He stopped. “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
    She felt her skin flushing. She felt like a high-school girl. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this much like a girl of any sort. “It was okay,” she said, trying to hide her giddiness.
    â€œAnd next week will be even better. Promise me you’ll come back?”
    Melody looked up into those deep brown eyes and found herself saying the opposite of what she’d planned. “I promise.”
    Â 
    Will regulated his breathing as he increased his pace on the treadmill. He felt his body kick into the zone as sweat began to bead on his forehead.
    â€œWould you be interested in joining the activity-planning committee?” A petite woman wearing a hot-pink sports bra and designer shorts stepped in front of his treadmill.
    Will tried to hide his frustration as he slowed his pace. “Excuse me?” he asked, panting.
    The woman leaned forward, propping one arm on the electronic panel, inadvertently skewing his workout settings. “I know you’re fairly new to Parkview Heights, and the best way to get to know your neighbors is to join the planning committee. I’m the chair, Abby Rutherford.” She held out her hand.
    Will was forced to stop the treadmill and step off. After first wiping his palm on his shorts, he reluctantly shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Abby. I’m Will.”
    Bending over, hands on his knees, Will stared at the floor, trying to appear as though he were catching his breath. In reality he was reining in his temper.
    â€œWe meet the first Thursday of every month to plan the following month’s events. Can I sign you up for our next meeting in two weeks?”
    Will started to answer but was interrupted when another woman sidled up beside Abby and gave her a one-armed hug. In her other arm, the woman carried a Chihuahua in a purple sweat-band and Spandex tank that matched her own. They exchanged greetings and parted with air kisses.
    â€œDon’t forget The Apprentice viewing party in the club floor lounge next Monday,” Abby tossed over her shoulder as the woman headed for the juice bar.
    â€œSorry about that,” Abby said to Will. “As you can see, committee events are a big hit, and you’ll get