The Reluctant Wag by Mary Costello Page B

as the Wolves’ It girl?’
    Merise thought for second, then said, ‘I’m not even sure what an It girl is, but it’s all so interesting and exciting, I love working with the club.’
    ‘And with the gorgeous Mr McCoy?’ prompted the interviewer.
    ‘Of course,’ said Merise. Keep it light, she told herself.
    ‘Well, there are a lot of glamorous ladies here, but I think you’ve just about stolen the show tonight, Merise. Don’t you think she looks amazing?’ Now the mic was waved under Cal’s nose.
    ‘You won’t get an argument from me on that,’ he said lightly. Then he firmly took her hand, nodded to the interviewer and made for the grand staircase leading to the function room.
    ‘Okay?’ he asked under his breath.
    ‘Holding together,’ Merise whispered.
    ‘You did pretty well. You’re a natural at this,’ he said giving her a smile of approval, just before a camera flashed in their faces yet again.
    They were seated at a table with the Wolves management and leadership group and their wives and partners. Cal was kept busy all night with people coming up to him for a quick chat about one thing or another, but Merise didn’t feel left out. After dinner a band struck up and couples made their way on to the dance floor.
    ‘Shall we?’ said Cal, already on his feet and taking her hand.
    ‘Um, yes. No! I mean . . . I can’t dance, not like this, anyway,’ she said, watching the dancers glide or flit around the room in something that might have been a waltz or a quickstep, for all she knew.
    He pulled her to her feet. ‘Everyone can dance. Just pretend no one’s watching.’ And a second later she was in his arms and he was sweeping her across the floor. Cal moved with powerful grace, and she found herself following him naturally, falling easily into step as if they’d done this a thousand times before. Now that she thought about it, it made sense that he could dance. He was an athlete – a master in the realm of the physical. He understood movement and he could command his body, and hers too, she thought, which was just as well. As the dance floor became more crowded he pulled her into his chest, wrapped one arm around her, and she felt his big hand span the small of her back. It seemed that her temperature rose ten degrees. It felt so light, so airy, so right to be moving in sync with this man, nestled in his arms.
    When the music stopped she finally dared to look up at him. He looked straight back into her eyes, and she felt somehow exposed. ‘Enjoying yourself?’
    ‘Yes, it’s wonderful,’ she sounded somehow breathless, and she realised that he hadn’t released her; he was still holding her close, his arms still clamped around her. And it felt perfect.
    ‘Yes,’ he whispered close to her ear, ‘thrilling, isn’t it?’ and he pulled her even closer. She felt something inside her dissolve and she had to dig her hands into his arms to steady herself. She became aware of every line of his body – bone and muscle – and felt her own heart pounding against his chest. Surely he could feel that too? Sense the disturbance within her? But just then a little man tapped Cal on the shoulder and boomed heartily, ‘Cal McCoy! How ya going?’ and the spell was broken.
    As they drew apart, Merise felt herself breathe more freely. She tried to clear her head. She didn’t want to think about the effect this man had on her – the power he seemed to have over her. She understood that the attraction was merely physical, and the power of that attraction was something she would resist, for her own sake. She was only human. What woman wouldn’t be dazzled by the sheer physicality of a man like Cal? And no doubt most of them would melt in his arms, then fall straight into his bed. That’s what he’d be expecting. He would consider it his due, and it would mean nothing to him. So she’d better keep a grip from now on, she told herself. She might be susceptible to him, but she wasn’t going to