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I’m just studying the tango.’
    â€˜Good. It is a lovely thing to learn. I hope my cousin is treating you nice.’ His eyes slid in Carlos’s direction.
    â€˜You’re Carlos’s cousin?’ She couldn’t keep incredulity out of her voice.
    â€˜Yes, although we do not advertise this fact. We like to keep family connections away from our professional lives.’
    â€˜I understand.’ On many levels .
    â€˜May I ask you to dance?’ Gualberto cocked an eyebrow at Carlos and said, ‘I am stealing this beautiful specimen.’
    Carlos shrugged nonchalantly and Gualberto held out his hand. She placed hers in his and they plunged into the crowd, dodging stationary couples. Although she’d been nervous a moment before, Gualberto’s affable manner put her at ease.
    â€˜There’s music playing, why isn’t anyone dancing?’ Dani asked, happy Gualberto wouldn’t make her stick to silly rules about dancing and questions.
    â€˜Ah, this is the cortina , the curtain. It is like intermission music between groupings of songs.’
    â€˜Oh,’ she said, not convinced she’d ever get her head around this tango business. Not that she really wanted to. Well, she did, but only enough to get her stories done and gain some understanding about what drives a person to ditch their family, fly to the other side of the world and become a tango legend.
    Gualberto gently shuffled her into place, manoeuvring her arms into the correct position, ensuring their hearts were aligned. The bright lights hindered her ability to peer into the darkness easily but she spotted Carlos sitting at their table, looking down and massaging his injured leg. He didn’t seem perturbed about not dancing with her.
    â€˜How does Carlos dance with a damaged leg?’ Although they’d just met, Dani sensed Gualberto would be more open to her prodding than Carlos.
    â€˜He doesn’t.’
    â€˜But he was about to get on the dance floor.’ A slight breeze shook the gardenias hanging in pots above their heads, sending a sweet floral scent through the air.
    â€˜He only ever comes to watch his students dance in the real world. He does not do this dancing. Never. Not since ... ’ He swept a hand over his leg.
    â€˜Well, why would he ...’ The music drowned her sentence.
    Gualberto leant forwards and said, ‘Follow me.’
    The violins, cello and flute trailed the long notes of the bandoneón. Dani tried to block out the dreaded instrument but found it near impossible. The music grew to a crescendo and the sea of bodies ebbed and flowed with the melody. She wanted to cover her ears and stop the screech of the bandoneón but it would be a tad difficult explaining to the world’s bandoneón expert that his instrument repulsed her.
    Gualberto gently nudged her to the left, his light touch guiding her with ease. Dani locked onto his moves and the music took hold of her body. She closed her eyes, took a step forwards, two back then one to the side and connected with something bony.
    â€˜Â¡ Mierda !, Mi pierna !’
    Oh shit. Her eyes flew open and she dropped her hands to her side. Gualberto rubbed his leg and shook his head.
    â€˜I’m so, so sorry, Gualberto.’ Carlos was right, the tango and martial arts had a lot in common.
    â€˜You should ask for your money back.’ He straightened and gave her a lop-sided grin. ‘My cousin, he has taught you nothing.’
    â€˜He’s not my dance teacher. Officially, anyway.’
    â€˜I thought you were studying the tango. If this is not so, why are you with him?’ Gualberto cocked his head towards their table. Carlos and his cane had disappeared but his jacket hung on the chair. ‘My leg hurts. Let us sit, yes?’
    She wasn’t going to make an injured man limp through a set, especially since she’d caused the damage. Gualberto led the way to the table and Dani followed,