Read Online Sharing Sunrise by Judy Griffith Gill - Free Book Online

danced with you, would he?”
    “My brother?” Marian’s gaze flew to Rolph’s set face. “This is Rolph McKenzie. We’re not related.”
    “Oh. Oh, not your brother? I say, forgive me. I wouldn’t have intruded if I’d thought … but you do look so very much alike, you know.” He shared a smile between Rolph and Marian. “That golden hair. Those green eyes. Even your faces are the same triangular shape. Sorry,” he said again. “My mistake.”
    “Not at all,” said Marian. “How nice to see you again, Robin.” It wasn’t. Even married to Adrienne, Robin Ames had tried to put the make on any woman around, but she was prepared to be civil. “Rolph is my employer. If you’re in the market for a boat of any kind, or have one to sell, Rolph’s the man to see.”
    The two men shook hands briefly, assessing one another. After a few moments of stiff conversation, Robin Ames smiled again and lifted one of Marian’s hands, kissing the backs of her fingers. “Perhaps, McKenzie,” he said, looking up, “you’d have no objection if I asked your employee to dance?”
    Rolph dropped his arm from around Marian’s shoulder and stepped back. “Ms. Crane is capable of speaking for herself and making her own decisions.”
    Marian made one on the spot. She shook her head. “Thank you, Robin. But Rolph has already asked me. Perhaps another time. Good evening.”
    “Wait.” Again Robin touched her arm. “I’ll be in town for several weeks,” he said. “Perhaps I could call you?”
    She smiled. “I don’t think so. I’m terribly busy just now. Good night, Robin. Nice seeing you again.”
    “Why did you do that? You didn’t have to send him away.”
    “I didn’t want to dance with him. I want to dance with you,” she said.
    Rolph stood looking down at her, his gaze filled with questions, and the same kind of doubts she’d seen the day he massaged her back in the office. “Why?” he asked softly.
    She smiled. “Because,” she said, wondering how he’d handle the truth, but not yet ready to risk it, “you happen to be a far better dancer than Robin Ames.” She tucked her arm through his. “You’re a better dancer than any man I know. Now, are we going to stand here and discuss it, or are we going to go out there and boogie?”
    “Boogie,” Rolph laughed, capitulating. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Four
    C APITULATION HAD ITS REWARDS . That smile of hers! It heated him from the inside out and he walked her to the dance floor with an arm close around her shoulders.
    “Oh, good!” she added as the band swung into action. “A Tango. I love Tangos.” She gave her fingers a couple of snaps that would have done justice to a flamenco dancer and waggled her hips, taking a long, slinky stride, shapely leg insinuating itself between his for just an instant before she backed away, teasing him, tempting him, attracting attention to which she seemed oblivious, her gaze riveted on his face.
    He noticed the Mastersons smiling at them, at Marian’s antics, really. “Cut that out,” he said softly, squelching an absurd desire to laugh. “Remember, people looking on might think we’re brother and sister. Act accordingly or we’ll go sit down, clients or no clients.” He was only half kidding. He wondered how many other people had made the same mistake as Robin Ames tonight and, thinking of the way he’d held her when they’d danced earlier, it made him more than a little uncomfortable.
    “Oh, don’t be such an old poop!” She pouted, using the phrase she’d first used on him when she was thirteen and wanted him to buy her a pack of cigarettes so she could “learn to look sophisticated.”
    “I’m not exactly asking you to do the Lambada.”
    “When the Tango first reached local dance floors, it was treated to as many raised eyebrows as the Lambada when it came into being.” he said, moving easily into the steps of the dance.
    “I don’t know why each new Latin American dance has to suffer such