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When she finally did co to a lot of trouble for this blasted dance; the least she could do was be ready on time

Whatever he’d intended to say, however, flew out of his est moment of his life, he stood there i

"I’ flustered "I didn’ta problein to describe how breathtaking she looked Her hair was done in a way he’d never seen before, swirled to one side, exposing the sold earrings swung frohter blue than ever before, the color of the sky washed clean by a summer squall Her dress was a paler shade of blue…Her dress…Jason’s gaze slid over the sleeveless dress with its tight bodice and flared skirt, and an invisible hand seemed to appear out of thin air and knock him senseless

"Jason" Her eyes implored hi? I look terrible, don’t I? Don’t worry about hurting s…This dress is too fancy, isn’t it?"

It was all he could do to close his mouth "You look…fabulous" Which was the understatement of the century Jason felt sorry that he wasn’t ht have told her how exquisite she was He ladly rework the knot in his tie for another hour if itwith her For the first time since he’d donned the suit jacket, he felt no rehter’s dance

"I can’t get the zipper all the way up," Charlotte explained "I was so busy helping Carrie get ready before Brad and his father arrived that I…I didn’t get dressed myself, and now I can’t reach the zipper Would you mind?"

She presented him with her back and it was all Jason could do to pull the tab up instead of down If he went on instinct he’d have had her out of that dress, in his arms and on the way to the bedroom He couldn’t recall a tiht then and there

"Jason?" She glanced over her shoulder when he delayed

His hand felt claers refused to cooperate, but with so the zipper up her back

"Thank you," she said "You can’t iine what a madhouse it’s been around here," she went on "Carrie was so nervous She looked so grown-up I can’t believe my baby isn’t a baby anymore"

Jason returned her smile "My mother felt the sa dance"

Even now, Jason was having trouble for coherent sentences

"The dress isn’t , wandering from one room to the next until she located it "I borrowed it from one of my friends at the office…It’s too close to the end of thebreathless "Even if I’d had the extra money, I doubt I would’ve been able to find one at the lasthappened to Cheryl’s dress"

"I borrowed the suit froible conversation, he discovered, wasn’t ashis eyes off her

Charlotte drew in a deep, steadying breath "I know it’s silly, but I’ to reassure her

"The last dance I attended was in college," she said "I…I don’t know if I can dance anyht on ed to remind her He’d warned her earlier, but he doubted she’d taken him seriously

"Do you think we should practice?" she asked

She was gazing up at hi he owned to find out if she was feeling anything close to the emotional havoc he was

"Practice?" he echoed "That’s an idea" He sondering exactly what he was inviting Trouble with a capital T, considering the way his body was reacting

Charlotte set aside her evening bag and walked into his eood at this," she murmured

"Don’t worry Hey, as far as I’ to dance circles around us anyway"

Charlotte’s laugh sounded sweet and soft, and Jason’s heart constricted Could this be love? This pleasure he felt in doing ss for her--like the dinner and flowers? This need to hold her in his arms? This desire to be with her and her alone?

The feel of Charlotte’s body against his was the purest form of torture he’d ever experienced She fit in his ared there He tried to ignore how right it felt

And couldn’t

He tried to ignore the fragrance of wildflowers that whispered through her hair whenever she moved her head

And didn’t

He tried, but failed

Everything went fairly well for the first fewon her feet Then Jason realized their feet weren’tat each otherat each other with starry-eyed wonder

He shifted his hand upward, wanting to lessen the feeling of intirazed the skin of her upper back

Either he kissed her now or he’d regret it the rest of the night Either he continued the pretense or confessed openly to how vulnerable she ht her closer to hi his own Once he kissed her, he knew there’d be no stopping Not this tihtly and waited