If The Ring Fits...: Ballroom to Bride and Groom / A Bride for the Maverick Millionaire / Promoted: Secretary to Bride!. Kate Hardy

But we didn’t. So we’ll keep this strictly colleagues. Friends,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry. And I’d better let you get some rest. See you tomorrow.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘Call me if you can’t sleep, OK?’

      ‘Thanks.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘That’s more than I deserve.’

      ‘No, it isn’t.’ And how he wanted to kiss her properly. To kiss away all the pain and the heartache, let her lose herself in him. Take her to the edge of paradise, where nothing else mattered but each other.

      But that wouldn’t be fair to either of them. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

      And, although his heart was screaming at him to stay right where he was, his head was in control. He did what he knew was the right thing. And left.

       CHAPTER TEN

      ‘WE’RE adding a small intro to the routine,’ Liam said on the Friday morning. ‘Because dance isn’t just random movement—it should also tell a story.’

      ‘And the story here is what?’ Polly asked.

      ‘I’m a guy from the wrong side of the tracks. I can’t resist you, and you’re—well.’ He shrugged. ‘Listen to the lyrics and you’ll get it.’

      She didn’t. They were dancing to a romantic song, but that was it, as far as she was concerned. ‘Colour me stupid and explain,’ she said. ‘Otherwise the audience is only going to get half the story, because I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.’

      ‘That, Pol, is the point. Just be yourself and dance with me. Now let’s go through it again. You stand in the middle of the room and wait for me, and when the music begins I’ll dance over to you and we’ll move into ballroom hold.’

      ‘The vee and the butterfly, right?’

      ‘Right.

      When they stopped for a break, Amanda came in with two mugs of coffee and a magazine. ‘I’ve had more calls from the press this morning. And there’s a story about you in Celebrity Life.’ She opened the magazine and showed it to them.

      The headline ran, ‘Is Luscious Liam the one to make Pretty Polly smile again?’, and there was a picture of them together in the café, seemingly gazing into each other’s eyes.

      ‘For pity’s sake. I’m not going to make the poor girl dance for hours without a break. And don’t they realise that you need regular refuelling if you’re burning up calories in training?’ Liam said, rolling his eyes. ‘I hate that magazine.’

      Especially because he knew he wasn’t going to be the one to make her smile again. This felt like rubbing it in.

      ‘They’ll find someone else to talk about soon enough,’ Polly said, flapping a dismissive hand.

      ‘Um, the boards are all lively again this morning, asking the same thing,’ Amanda pointed out.

      ‘The answer’s the same. We’re just colleagues. Friends,’ Polly said.

      ‘Absolutely,’ Liam agreed.

      At the end of the training session, Polly was scheduled to sort out her dress in the wardrobe department.

      ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

      ‘No, I’m fine.’ Though she knew why he was being so protective. ‘I’ve managed OK so far with the wardrobe department,’ she reminded him gently.

      ‘Does Rhoda know why you want long sleeves?’

      She shook her head. ‘I just told her I’m superstitious.’

      He smiled. ‘Which you’re not, but the wardrobe department is used to prima donnas making ridiculous demands. Though you’re nice, rather than demanding, so I think they’ll indulge you. OK. Go and find something you love.’

      ‘I take it you’re in traditional ballroom dress?’

      ‘Whatever you pick, it won’t clash with what I’m wearing,’ he reassured her.

      In the wardrobe department, there was a dress that reminded Polly of the one she’d worn in Vienna, except it was white. And it came with long white fingerless gloves. Perfect.

      ‘Liam rang when you were on the way,’ Rhoda told her as she pinned up the hem of the gown. ‘He asked if you could wear a tiara.’

      ‘A tiara?’ Polly blinked in surprise.

      ‘He’s right. It’ll look gorgeous with that dress. And I’m pretty sure I have a fake diamond collar that’ll go with it, too,’ Rhoda said through a mouthful of pins. ‘Hang on a sec.’ She finished pinning up the dress, then went to look for the tiara and collar.

      Polly waited while Rhoda made a few adjustments, then looked at herself in the mirror. ‘Wow. This doesn’t look like me.’ Could she really be that elegant? The nude-coloured dancing shoes made her look as if she were dancing in bare feet. She looked like some kind of princess. The fairy ballerina she’d wanted to be, as a child—and Liam was the one who’d taught her how to dance lightly instead of clumsily.

      ‘Perfect for the waltz,’ was Rhoda’s assessment.

      Polly hugged her. ‘Thank you so much. I wouldn’t have had a clue where to start. You’ve been brilliant.’

      ‘It’s my job,’ Rhoda said, but the sparkle in her eyes told Polly that she was pleased to be appreciated. ‘Now you go out there tomorrow night and knock their socks off.’ She patted Polly’s shoulder.

      ‘I’ll do my best,’ Polly promised.

      At the dress rehearsal, Liam just stared at her. ‘Wow. You look amazing.’

      Polly smiled. ‘Thank you. Let’s just hope my dancing will be up to it.’

      ‘It will be.’

      He believed in her. Really believed in her.

      If only she’d had the courage not to back away from him again that morning. But she hadn’t. Still didn’t.