Free Secrets of the Prairie by Joyce Carroll

there’s no way I could keep up with you. Not yet.”
     
    “Nonsense.” He displayed an amazing smile. He didn’t have dimples, but the corners of his mouth created gentle creases that flowed handsomely into his cheeks. I found myself staring at them as he spoke. I tried to focus on what he was saying with mild difficulty.
     
    “It’s never too early to learn.”
     
    Before I could protest, he held out his hand in the traditional ballroom courtship. I look at him, feeling uneasy in how comfortable I felt around him already; I was usually wary of men I didn’t know.
     
    “We’ll dance without music, so that you can concentrate on the movements to start off.” I felt drawn to him, and before I could think about it, I placed my hand in his and he led me to the middle of the floor. We got into frame, and I could feel his toned bicep under my hand, which laid gently on his forearm. I prayed that my palms wouldn’t get sweaty. The scent of his breath, which smelled like a warm breeze, intoxicated me. I mentally chastised myself for getting goose bumps as his palm gripped my shoulder blade delicately. He adjusted his frame and counted time in a practiced voice.
    “1,2,3. 1,2,3. 1,2,3.”
     
    We began to dance slowly, and I couldn’t believe how he seemed to glide effortlessly across the floor. It felt as if there was no weight to me at all as I followed his adept lead.
     
    “Now, on the 2,3, you’re going to shorten your steps before the next measure.”
     
    I panicked as we dove into the move, and I ended up tripping on myself. If he was frustrated, he showed no sign of it as he caught balance for both of us, still tightly keeping me close. He stopped.
     
    “You don’t like following, do you?”
     
    I became defensive instantly.
     
    “No, it’s not that, I just…”
     
    “....want to predict where you’re going. I know.”
     
    I puffed my cheeks out a little in frustration, and looked up to see him smiling that lopsided smile again. I averted my eyes quickly, blushing.
     
    “You also need to stop looking down when you dance.”
     
    “But what if I trip? I mean, there’s nothing to trip on. And I don’t mean to, I just…” I trailed off. I was over-explaining again.
     
    “Just keep your head up and your balance will improve.”
     
    I pushed the defensiveness out of my head and nodded. He was a coach, after all, and I should be taking his word for it. We practiced like this for about a half an hour. Being so close to him made me breathless, though it didn’t take much time for me to realize just how unpracticed I was.
     
    I heard the door open a few minutes later, and the familiar sound of Nancy’s impossibly high heels began to click down the carpeted hallway. She appeared from around the corner, looking extremely sharp, as usual.
     
    “You two started early.” I hoped that she couldn’t read my face as well as she normally did. I let go of him quickly, and walked over to greet her.
     
    “Not quite, I was just showing her a little Viennese” Luis said.
     
    “You do realize that she’s still very new, don’t you? I appreciate you helping her craft her dancing, but I don’t want to overwhelm her with too much at once, Luis .” I had a feeling that the two had known each other for longer than this week. Luis flashed her that dazzling smile.
     
    “Of course, Nancy . My apologies” Nancy shrugged her shoulders and began to walk into her office.
     
    “Just remember that she’s still under my training, Luis. Try to stick to the syllabus that I’m teaching her, please.” She disappeared behind her door without another word.
     
    I peered up at Luis. His expression hadn’t changed. Nancy had always mildly terrified me on some level. She was extremely smart, driven, and talented, and had a constant mask that never seemed to waver.
     
    “She’s not mad, is she?” I asked.
     
    “Nancy? Oh, no, she just likes to be in control of everything. You shouldn’t be so afraid of