Free All Your Loving (Bachelors & Bridesmaids) by Barbara Freethy

that this woman here likes to lead instead of follow," he added, putting his arm around Liz and giving her a squeeze.
    "Because I knew what I was doing and clearly you did not," Liz protested.
    Michael laughed. "You always say that." He looked at Matt. "We've been fighting since we were fourteen years old. High school rivals."
    "Really? And that turned into love?"
    "It was always love," Julie put in. "They were just too stubborn and competitive to see it when they were teenagers. Trust me, I know. I was there. I heard Liz rant about Michael more nights than I can count."
    "That's true. Michael was a pain in my side," Liz agreed. "But then we grew up and figured out those sparks between us were more about love than hate."
    "Exactly right," Michael said, giving Liz a quick kiss. Then he pulled open the door. "Let's dance."
    The large studio with slick hardwood floors and a wall of mirrors was filled with about a dozen people when they entered. Isabella immediately came over to greet them with a happy smile and a quick hug for her girlfriends. With her dark eyes and dark hair, she had an exotic beauty but it was her infectious smile that really charmed Matt.
    Within minutes they were lining up, and Isabella was giving some brief instructions on what they were going to do.
    "Ready?" Julie asked as Isabella went to start the music.
    "Probably not," he said. "But we'll soon find out."
    "Everyone is learning, so we're all in the same boat."
    "Yeah, but there seem to be a few more eyes on me," he said, tipping his head toward the mirror where a couple of women had clearly recognized him.
    Julie gave him a dry smile. "I doubt you could do anything that would wipe the interest out of their eyes."
    "You seem to think I have no trouble getting women."
    "Do you?"
    "Well right now, I seem to be going to a lot of trouble just to spend time with you."
    "I still haven't figured out why you're going to that trouble. You're not going to change my mind."
    "We'll see," he said, speaking more confidently than he felt. But believing he could do something, no matter how impossible it was, had always worked for him before. Hopefully, it would this time.
     
    * * *
     
    Julie watched Matt in the mirror as they danced to the music, and she wasn't alone. As Matt had commented earlier, there were a lot of eyes on him, but he was holding his own. He followed directions well, and he had a natural rhythm.
    He caught her watching him and smiled. She immediately looked away. She'd shivered a little at the purposeful look in his eyes when he'd told her he was going to change her mind about him. The more she challenged him, the more he wanted to show her that she was wrong and he was right. If she started gazing at him with adoring eyes, telling him how wonderful he was and saying she'd date him any place any time, he probably wouldn't be that interested.
    Obviously, she'd played him all wrong.
    Only she hadn't been playing; she'd just been honest and that had somehow increased Matt's interest in her. He enjoyed challenges and he was driven to win.
    But he wasn't going to win her.
    She might like him more than she'd expected to, but bottom line there could never be anything serious between them, not with her history. She had a lot more to lose than just a firmly entrenched opinion about baseball. She couldn't put her heart on the line and have another ballplayer break it.
    Forcing thoughts of Matt out of her head, she concentrated on the dance, putting all of her energy into every move, so that she could get rid of the restless desire that seemed to course through her whenever she got close to Matt.
    An hour later the class ended. She grabbed a drink of water as Matt took a towel from Isabella and wiped off his sweaty face.
    "You were very good," Isabella told Matt. "Nice moves for a beginner. And you weren't bad either, Julie. You have the second dance down."
    "Thanks, you're a great teacher."
    "I agree," Michael said as he and Liz joined them. "I worked up a