Free Falling for the Boss by Elizabeth Lennox

glanced up at him, waiting for him to step into the music.  He instantly led her through the steps, having a confident ability to lead her.  After the first song, she relaxed and trusted him not to embarrass her. 
     
    The country music was fun and the two step was easy to learn, especially with a great teacher like Thomas.  He knew all the moves and how to coach her into the next step.  When they moved, it was as if they had been dancing with each other for years. 
     
    “You dance well,” she said at a pause in the music.
     
    “So do you,” he said, his smiling eyes looking down into hers. 
     
    “Where did you learn to dance?” she yelled as the music started up again and he swung her into a country waltz. 
     
    “We were all taught to dance when we were kids , ” he said, leaning down and talking close to her ear so he didn’t have to yell. 
     
    “I can’t imagine all four of your brothers marching into a dance studio.  How did your mother manage that?” she laughed at the image.  She didn’t have the advantage of talking into his ear because he was too tall.  Even if she stood on her tip toes, she wouldn’t be able to reach his ear. 
     
    “She didn’t,” he said and spun her around and under his arm.
     
    “I don’t understand,” she yelled as she came around and back again.
     
    The music suddenly stopped, then started again, much slower this time.  “There is a ballroom at the main house ,” he said in a normal voice.  “ My mother pushed us all into the room with the dance teacher and locked the doors once a week.   Since there were five boys and only one sister, that meant we had to dance with each other.  We learned how to dance as quickly as possible so we didn’t have to dance with our brothers anymore. ”
     
    Victoria would have laughed at the idea of five boys partnered with each other, but she was breathless again.  She could feel every part of his body as his thighs moved against hers, her hips rocking against his and her breast brushing against his chest as they swayed easily to the music.  “Your house had a ballroom?” was all she could think to say. 
     
    He nodded. 
     
    “Of course!  Why didn’t I think of that?”   She thought for a moment.  “What else does your house have?”
     
    “It isn’t my house.  It’s Sal’s now.  I live about five miles from the home I grew up in.”
     
    “Ah.”  Victoria couldn’t think of anything else to say.  He was holding her in his arms and it felt better than she had dreamed it would be.  She had always thought his strong hands would be firm, when in fact they were gentle but with calluses on the palms. 
     
    “I think we’d better head back to the hotel .” Thomas said, his voice seemed deeper than usual and his eyes were a darker brown. 
     
    Victoria realized she was staring at his eyes and mouth and jerked back.  “Of course,” she said, flustered.  “I’m sorry.  I really can find my way back if you’d like to stay.”
     
    He chuckled deeply and took her hand back in his big one.  “Come on.  I don’t have any reason to stay so stop trying to push me into the arms of another woman.”
     
    Victoria didn’t understand his humor but was grateful he now had his back turned to her.  She needed to pull herself together and stop thinking of him romantically.  Ever since her conversation with Laci the other night, she seemed to be thinking of him more and more often. 
     
    They got back to the hotel and Thomas walked her to her hotel room.  “Do you need to call Larry tonight?”
     
    “Larry?”
     
    “Your fiancé?”
     
    “Oh.  Barry ,” she corrected.  “ But he’s not my fiancé.”
     
    “He’s not?” he asked, standing in the hallway, his hands in his pockets.
     
    Victoria searched through her purse for her room key.  As soon as she pulled it out, Thomas took it and opened her door for her, his eyebrows raised as he waited for her response. 
     
    “Well,