Free Oceans Between Us (A Cinderella Romance) by Helen Scott Taylor Page A

after all and checked that the hall's sound system worked.
    Maria fished out the Dirty Dancing CD from her bag and clasped it to her chest, reluctant to hand it over. This was the music she and Dino had danced to, a little piece of her private time with him that would live on in her memory and her heart forever. She wasn't sure she wanted to share the songs with anyone else. With a sharp breath of irritation at herself, she passed the disc over. "Something else to add to the playlist."
    Richard turned it over and scanned the list of tracks. "Okay, Maria. Looks good. I'll put this on first. There are some lively ones on here to get everyone warmed up."
    Maria watched Dino chatting with people, his hands dancing elegantly through the air as he communicated with his body as much as with his words. The terrible feeling of loss crowded in on her, the darkness waiting to engulf her little pool of happiness. She had only hours left with him...hours. Her throat tightened and she swallowed. There was no point being miserable. She must enjoy this final evening.
    Chris bustled in, late as usual, and dumped a plate of sandwiches and four mammoth bags of potato chips on a table. "Sorry I didn't get around to cooking." She indicated Maria's plates of finger food. "I knew you'd do us proud, though."
    Chris's friend, Tina, who had loaned Maria the Dirty Dancing CD, came in behind her with a bottle of wine in each hand. "Where's this boyfriend of yours I've been hearing so much about, Mari?"
    "Over there." Chris pointed across the room. Maria's cheeks flamed as the people nearby all turned to look.
    "Golly! He's a bit of all right." Tina eyed Maria with new respect. "If he turned up on my doorstep, I'd probably let him in, as well."
    Maria took Chris's arm and pulled her aside. "Who have you told about Dino? I'm introducing him as a friend. I'd rather people didn't know he's staying at the Nest."
    "Only Eric and Tina."
    "Well don't tell anyone else, especially not Mum and Dad. I'm going to pretend I had an old college friend to stay so I don't have to charge Dino for his room."
    Chris's eyebrows shot up. "What about the grocery bill you must have run up?"
    "He's more than paid his way by helping me with the decorating," Maria retorted. And she couldn't imagine asking Dino for money now they were friends.
    "Hmm." Chris looked skeptical. "I hope he appreciates you, Mari. That's all I can say."
    Maria was saved from having to answer when the speakers crackled and burst into life with the strains of "Be My Baby," the first track on the Dirty Dancing CD. Maria glanced at the clock amazed to find it was eight already. The doors had opened.
    People started coming in, and the place quickly filled. Dino eased through the crowd to her side and clasped her hand. "Are you ready to show off your skill on the dance floor, tesoro ?"
    Nobody else was dancing yet. Maria didn't want to be first, especially as it would attract attention to the fact she had Dino with her. "Let's eat now."
    They loaded their plastic plates and chatted with Chris and Eric while they ate. Chris pulled a bottle of vodka out of her purse and sloshed a generous amount into Maria's lemonade. "To oil the wheels," she said under her breath.
    Maria eyed her cup. She rarely drank spirits, but it might give her enough courage to get up on the dance floor and make a fool of herself.
    After she finished the cupful, she felt hot, flushed, and a little giggly. "Will you hide in the corner and waste all our dancing practice?" Dino teased her.
    "Course not! I'm ready now." She dumped her plate on a table. Dino set down his can of lager before helping her to her feet. His warm hands engulfed hers, and his laughing brown gaze caught and held hers as he backed onto the dance floor, drawing her with him. He moved so gracefully compared to the other men, as if he had muscles in places they didn't.
    He leaned closer and cupped her cheek in his palm, pressing his mouth to her ear. "Now, my beautiful