Page 59 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

Christian shook his head. “Tiffany’s over there getting wined and dined by the coven at table five.”

She lifted a brow. “Coven?”

He shrugged. “They’re like some bizarrely attractive family of vampires. Besides, Tiff’s not dressed up. You are.”

“Just do it, Carly,” Jill blurted. “It’ll be fun.”

Geeze, was everyone listening in?

“Please, please,” Christian pled once more. “We’re down to two minutes now.”

Carly’s shoulders dropped in surrender. “You better show me what I’m supposed to do up there.”

Christian grabbed her by the hand and grinned. “I will.”

Gage stood and snatched her other hand. “You’ll be great,” he assured, and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

And then she was off, getting whisked away by Christian. He whirled her past the silver food carts, between the bustling staff members and seated tables, and into the foyer. There, he gave her a sixty-second rundown of what to do, which was basically what he’d already said. Let him bump into her, he’d spin her around, show her a few steps while she move along with him the best she could, then he’d escort her off the dance floor.

“Easy peasy,” Christian said.

“Yeah, except it’s in front of a few hundred people.”

Christian grinned. “Imagine doing it on live TV.”

The nerves that shot through her at the idea made her current mission seem like a piece of cake. “Think I’ll stick with this, thank you.”

Christian held her gaze for a moment. “Thank you. And can I just say that…that I’m very happy for you and Gage. You really do make a nice couple. I mean, he’sstillnot the better man between the two of us or anything,” he added with a shrug.

The soft music floating from the ballroom came to a sudden halt.

Christian held up a finger. “That’s our cue.”

Carly’s head felt light as she looped her hand through his arm. He walked her to the entrance and stopped at the doorway, the illuminated dance floor in the center of the room in sight. She couldn’t see their table from there, but she knew it was just a few yards off of the dance area. “See how the dance floor is sectioned off by those glowing squares?” he asked under his breath.

She nodded, but the sharp knots were bouncing like crazy inside her now. She tried to calm them with a slow exhale. “Uh huh.”

“You’re going to slow down on the fifth square. I’ll bump into you there, but don’t worry, I’ll hold onto you so you won’t trip.”

A jazzy tune picked up. Trumpets started out a playful melody. “On the count of five, you’re going to start walking straight for the dance floor. Just walking. Five. Four.”

She nodded, smoothed a hand over her gown.Can’t believe I’m about to do this.

“Three. Two. Go.”

And suddenly she was walking. Straight toward the glowing floor, her heels matching the catchy beat. She counted out the squares, slowed as she hit the fifth square, when Christian rushed in like a storm. Somehow he’d snuck around the back of the room, because he came at her from the other side, cradling her arms as he shuffled around her. Boy did he know how to put on a show. His energy alone had the audience coming alive with oohs and ahhs.

He stopped, squared a look at her, and then threw a hand to his heart dramatically. The crowd broke into laughter. Suddenly he took her hand, made a spinning motion with his arm, then lifted a brow.

Carly nodded, then curled into his arm as he pulled her into him with a twirl. He guided her back out with another spin, then motioned for her to spin around on her own. She did, hopingChristian would take hold of her and march her right out as promised once she was through.

But as she circled back around, eyes settling on the man before her, she realized it wasn’t Christian anymore; it was Gage. Standing there in all his tuxedoed glory, the lights accenting his chiseled jaw and hypnotizing brown eyes.

Her breath hitched.

Gage stretched his arm out to her. She looked at it for a blink, then straightened her arm out in return. She spun into him as Gage curled his arm around her. Just as she considered asking him what he was doing and why he was making her remain on that stage, Gage dropped onto one knee.

The band quieted, and then started in on another tune—The Moonlight Sonata.Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of the beautiful melody, one she’d once deemed belonged to Gage. In her mind, it always would.