Page 90 of Faking the Shot

The music switched to more mellow tones and she watched as others were drawn into the dance. They should probably join them if they were going to be convincing.

Zac glanced at her and held out his hand. “Shall we?”

She glanced at his hand, his invitation feeling like a lot more than a simple dance. And for a moment, she decided to let the fakeness go and just live in this moment.

* * *

After a weekof games that rocked his body, there was something so soothing about holding Ainsley like this. He didn’t dance much, but knew enough—and maybe had picked up a few things from Luc’s time onDance Off Canada—to hold his own.

Mind you, he’d never danced with someone like Ainsley before. Holding her close, in that red dress that screamed temptation, the diamond glinting at her throat, was almost enough to make him wish he was the man he used to be, who would take her back to his place and celebrate the New Year in a manner as old as time.

But he wasn’t that man now, so he kept his eyes on hers, even if occasionally they slipped to her mouth. She, too, seemed content to dance, to not talk much, just smile at him with her eyes like she was as glad to be with him as he was to be with her.

“How did the house visit go?”

“Mom and Aunty Win approve, so that’s a relief.”

“You’re a good woman, Ainsley Beckett.”

She smiled and ducked her head.

The music changed to a really mellow oldie, and she brightened. “Oh, I love this song. I remember Mom and Benson dancing to it at their wedding.”

He didn’t recognize it, but it had some nice guitar as the guy sang about sailing.

It was a good song for dancing, for spinning her out in a twirl and gently tugging her back in, dipping her, drawing her laughter, then bringing her close again. She smiled up at him, and he was super tempted to see if he could mess with her lipstick and do a little more convincing. But there was still a little while until midnight, so he could afford to be patient until then.

After a big few weeks it was so nice to just relax and hold her, to feel this same sense of synchronicity that he’d enjoyed with her before. Where they seemed to be dancing in time, their rhythm the same. Not just to the music right now, but in life.

He drew her closer, one hand on her back, his right hand holding her left. She tucked her head into his neck, and he closed his eyes. He didn’t care who saw them, didn’t care if they were photographed. She might still want that to convince others, but this moment felt too real for games. She might be a good actress, but that look in her eyes before played pretty real.

The strains of guitar closed the song, then she sighed and looked up. “I don’t know what it is about that song, but it always relaxes me.”

“It’s good to have something that helps us unwind.”

“You help me do that,” she murmured, then ducked her head like she couldn’t believe she’d said that.

He smiled and gently tipped up her chin. “I feel exactly the same.”

Her eyes were wide.

“Parotti, it’s not midnight yet!” Drew called.

“Midnight?” Ainsley murmured.

Zac sighed. “I know this is against your rules, but I think he thinks we’re going to have to kiss.”

“Oh.”

His heart fell. That look didn’t suggest she wanted to.

“I, um, am not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” God forgive him for having other motivations, but this needed to be said. “I think people would be surprised if we didn’t.” And come on. It wasn’t as if the woman had never kissed before. There were YouTube videos committed to Ainsley’s kisses.

She sighed. “You’re probably right.”

Definitely right. He’d had to shut down some crude comments from Logan and some opposing players about just what he and Ainsley got up to. He’d kept his mouth closed, doing his best to ignore them. What would it look like if he told the truth? He couldn’t admit he still hadn’t kissed her, let alone done any of the things they suggested. Drew knew, but he still hadn’t told the rest of them he was a Christian, even though the internal roiling in his stomach suggested he needed to soon.