Love in Bloom Read Free Page B

accident?  What had he recovered from?
    The caller asked them to position themselves boy-girl, boy-girl, and described a few basic moves--do-si-do, allemande, bow to your partner.  Then he tapped his foot and took the microphone from its holder.
    The music started and Paige took a deep breath.
    Clay leaned toward her, his shoulder brushing hers.  "If you get lost, watch everybody else.  We'll all be doing the same thing at the same time.  Just relax and enjoy yourself."
    To her surprise, she did.  Listening to the caller, she watched Clay for signals.  He was a good partner, grabbing her hand, nudging her shoulder to turn her in the right direction, guiding her with his eyes.  She found herself smiling and finally laughing with the sheer joy of the physical activity, the appreciation of friendly neighbors having a good time together, the earthy feeling of the wooden barn with its lingering scent of hay.
    Paige didn't have a problem following the caller until he sang for the women to form a circle on the inside, the men a circle on the outside.
    Allemande took on new meaning.  Clay skillfully clasped her arm.  Her fingers met his hot skin, the wavy black hairs on his forearm.  His touch on her, her touch on him seemed personal and intimate, and she felt as though she was standing still although her feet were moving.
    He passed by her once, making his way around the circle.  He passed by her twice.  Each lap around intensified her sensitivity to him.  She didn't notice any of the other men.  But when she clasped Clay's arm, when he held her, she felt startled and breathless.
    After the fourth lap, he pulled her to his side.  His body was hot and hard.
    "What are you--?"
    "We're supposed to promenade.  Just let me lead."
    She must have missed the call.  Held beside Clay, with him setting the rhythm, her hands enclosed in his, she realized why her attention wasn't on the caller.  There was chemistry between her and Clay, chemistry she'd always read about but had never experienced.
    At the end of the song, she felt dizzy, and not from dancing in a circle.  Clay guided her toward the punch bowl and filled two cups.  He handed her one.
    His brows arched.  "Well?  Did you like it?"
    "The dancing?"
    His lips twitched up.  "Yes."
    She felt her cheeks flush.  "It was fun.  Do they have these dances often?"
    Clay took a few swallows of punch.  "Not on this large a scale.  There are square-dancing clubs across the county."
    Paige brushed her bangs across her forehead and wondered if she looked as hot as she felt.  Watching Clay's lips as he talked made her feel hotter.  "Do you belong to any?  You seem to know what you're doing."
    "I don't have the time."
    She wondered what he did with his time, how he spent it, whom he spent it with.  "Because of the store?"
    "Mostly."
    He obviously wasn't going to say more.  She had a feeling getting personal information from Clay would be much more difficult than learning to square dance.  But she wanted more information.  For Ben's benefit, of course.  Draining her punch cup, she set it down.  Since Clay had approached her, maybe he'd had a change of heart about Ben.  Doc had advised her to give Clay time, but....
    "Have you given any consideration to my request?"
    Clay's eyes grew darker.  "I gave you my answer when you asked."
    "You haven't thought about changing it?"
    "I've thought about it."
    "And?"
    Clay's voice was firm, low, and sure.  "I think someone else can do the boy more good than I can."
    "Maybe you're underestimating your ability to help."
    Clay felt a weight settle on his heart.  He'd experienced the rebirth he'd mentioned to Paige; every minute of that rebirth had been painful.  No one but his family knew how painful.  He couldn't stir it up and escape unscathed.  He'd approached Paige tonight against his better judgment.  The tilt of her head and the wealth of emotions flittering across her face as she'd spoken with Doc, had drawn him to