Free Tequila Nights by Melissa Jane

exclaimed in disbelief. “It’s like my feet have died and gone to heaven. All these years being a woman and I feel cheated. How can high heels be so comfy?”
    Leo laughed, clearly not understanding the pain women go through on a daily basis simply to look good. “They are made for women who are on their feet continually moving. They need to be comfortable.”
    Right then, I swore to all that was holy that I would never wear another pair of conventional heels again.
    Ben, the barman, appeared at our table carrying a tray with two shot glasses filled to the rim. Placing one each in front of us, he smiled a dashing smile before turning to leave.
    “Is this a ritual of yours?” I was curious.
    “Only since you arrived on the scene.” He threw me a dashing smile. “I want you to enjoy the experience, but I can see how nervous you are. It’s in your eyes, how they dart around the room. A little bit of liquid courage can see all that doubt fade. I wish I’d had a bottle on me that night I first saw you.”
    A laugh erupted and before I could stop the words, it was too late. “A hot naked Spanish man with a large semi-erection and a bottle of tequila…I’m fairly sure you wouldn’t have walked out alive.”
    His wicked gleam heated my cheeks.
    Fuck me!
    I was turning into Marge, just a sluttier version. Saying shit before I could process it.
    Still chuckling to himself while I pictured drowning myself, he handed me my shot glass. Clinking, we downed the liquid.
    “Maybe I should have accepted your professor’s invitation to model again. This time, I will come better prepared.”
     
    ***
     
    If people were attempting to hide their curiosity, they were failing miserably. When Leo took my hand and guided me to the dance floor, I knew conversations, speculations and assumptions had been broken and created all at the same time.
    Was this a Laney and Professor Jolly situation?
    Grades weren’t at stake and I met him before I knew he was my soon to be dance teacher.
    I didn’t care. Leo had been right. One shot with the burn soaring through my veins and their whispers and critical stares meant nothing. I wasn’t an easy drunk, but there was something about this Tequila 47 that had set me in the right place.
    Releasing my hand, Leo took to the front of the floor and the rest of us fell into formation. Jimmy, was quick to replace Leo’s spot next to me. Looking up the line of students, I noticed Brett the smooth-handed IT dude was MIA. I should have figured it was him Nicole was ditching me for.
    The lesson ran smoothly with Leo and Curvy teaching us five new steps that we could add on to last week’s routine. To my surprise, I was picking up the moves without fumbling my way through and the new dance shoes Leo had given me felt like I was dancing on clouds.
    My ears could easily pick up the clave beat to the salsa music and I found myself enjoying the lesson. The only disappointment was not getting a chance to dance with Leo. He and Curvy had their hands full assisting a new couple who were absent from the first class.
    It wasn’t until the class was applauded for their efforts at the end did my confidence take a hit.
    Placing wine and a Corona on the table, Leo winked from the music box to indicate he would soon be joining me. A leggy blonde appeared by my side with a beautiful Miranda Kerr face, her eyes trained on where mine just were.
    “He has a smoothness about him, don’t you think?” she asked about Leo.
    I hadn’t been introduced to her and I was almost certain she wasn’t in class the week before. “Yeah, he does,” I admitted, playing it safe.
    She swung her face to meet mine, beautiful Goldilocks hair swishing around her neck. “You haven’t been on the scene long have you?”
    “The scene?” It sounded so juvenile.
    She considered me for a moment and her silence was grating my nerves. She was the one who instigated a conversation with me and now she was behaving like she held the world’s