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tan enough that she could go without pantyhose.  Her white sandals had a one-inch heel that didn't add much to her height but made her feel taller.
    Seth Hallaran had stirred up womanly feelings and a need to feel pretty.  She'd thought about him often the last two days and wished...many things.  That he was an ordinary guy, that Hershey was his permanent home, that he wasn't representing Brad.  But wishing couldn't change reality.
    By the time Darcy arrived at the Recreation Center, she was running late.  After registering at the desk, she hurried to the gym.  As she went in, the couple who were taking roll looked up from their clipboard speculatively.  Darcy supplied her name.
    The female instructor nodded.  "Mr. Hallaran's partner."
    Darcy's eyes flew wide open and she scouted the other people in the gym.  Then she spotted him.  He strode toward her casually, relaxed and handsome in a red and navy knit shirt and navy, double-pleated slacks.  Striking...debonair...she'd like to add a few less flattering words she'd learned from her brothers.
    Anger swept over her and when he reached her side, she sputtered, "Why...how?"
    He managed a Humphrey Bogart imitation.  "It's you and me, kid."  In a normal voice he added, "Boy, girl, boy, girl.  It worked out perfectly."
    "And just who did you have to bribe?" she flared, regaining some of her composure.
    His eyes glimmered merrily.  "Really, Darcy.  A lawyer resorting to bribery?  It's against the law."
    An almost-kiss from him should be against the law.  Monday evening's close encounter had tormented her and given her insomnia.
    He grinned at the speaking glance she threw his way and concluded matter-of-factly, "There's not much you can do about this unless you want to make a commotion and delay class.  Everybody's already paired off."
    Darcy's eyes darted around the room looking for help from some quarter.  To spend an hour and a half in Seth's arms might make her want to stay there longer. 
    The couple who were teaching the class began a preamble to their session.  Darcy said in a low voice, "You have me check-mated for now.  But this is only round one."
    Seth didn't comment as the instructors expressed their pleasure in the size of the class--eight couples.  They could give individual guidance and maybe cover more territory.  They intended to teach the fox trot first.  Ready to begin, they posed in the standard ballroom position for the dance and asked the couples to do the same.
    Seth nudged Darcy's arm.  "Lay your purse on the bench," he whispered in her ear.
    When his breath swished across her cheek, she tingled all over.  Reluctantly, she put her purse on the bench, still wondering how she could escape Seth's clutches.  She almost smiled at her imagery--she was being melodramatic.  Sensing rather than hearing Seth behind her, she turned and found herself in his arms.  His right hand centered on her back below her shoulders and his left locked to hers, palm to palm, sending shivers up her arm.  She had no recourse but to reach her left hand up and let it lay on his shoulder.
    They squared off toward each other but she gazed over her hand instead of into his eyes.  He didn't attempt to draw her close but allowed at least five inches between them to maintain position and balance.  They had no opportunity to converse as their teachers demonstrated the box step without music.  The couple instructed their students to lead with the balls of their feet, keeping their knees relaxed so they didn't bob or sway but could glide smoothly.  All couples attempted the pattern.
    Darcy was tempted to stare at her feet so she didn't gaze into grey eyes that emphasized the warmth of Seth's hand on her back and her fingers tucked under his thumb.  Keeping her knees relaxed was the least of her worries.
    His subtle cologne teased her senses as she said curtly, "You obviously know what you're doing.  I don't know what you intend to accomplish by taking this