BOOK 1

“I decided to teach ballet to all those who wanted to learn, regardless of their age, financial status, body type, or talent.”

“How odd.”

Dani chuckled. “Maybe. But to be a successful dancer one must focus all one’s energies into oneself. To be a successful teacher, one must focus all one’s energies outward to help others. That’s what I decided I wanted to do, and I love it.”

Helene looked away from her, and since the Damarons were no longer on the stage, Dani took the opportunity to see if she could pick out Nathan from among the now mingling crowd. She couldn’t. The orchestra had started to play again and through the crowd, she could see that a few couples had started to dance.

“Call me Helene.”

Dani’s head jerked around in surprise. “Thank you, Helene. And please call me Dani.”

“Dani?” She frowned. “I will call you Danielle.”

Dani smothered a smile. “Very well.”

“Danielle, did that Damaron you were with tonight tell you that I lost my daughter in an automobile accident?”

“Yes, he did, and by the way, his name is Nathan. He also said your son-in-law was killed, too, and that your granddaughter was severely injured.”

“Did he tell you that he pitied me?”

“No, he didn’t.”

She looked away. “I hate pity.”

“There’s nothing wrong with pity if it’s well-meant. Really, it’s just another form of sympathy.” She took a moment to organize her thoughts. “You know, when you lose someone you love very much, people are often at a loss to know what to say or how to help. Maybe they say or do the wrong thing, but they’re well-intentioned and they shouldn’t be faulted for trying. The truth is, there’s really not much anyone can say or do to help you get over the pain of losing someone you loved.”

Helene’s eyes were moist when she looked back at Dani. “You really are the most peculiar girl.” She paused. “It sounds as if you’ve experienced what you’re talking about.”

“I have.”

Helene fell silent, and Dani took the opportunity to scan the crowd once again. She found Nathan talking with someone who she couldn’t see. But then Yasmine walked up to him. Yasmine was one of his cousins and Dani remembered her name because she was so extraordinary-looking, all golden and beautiful. But her effect on Nathan was even more extraordinary. As soon as he saw her, his demeanor immediately changed. He threw a casual arm aroimd her, drew her to his side, pressed a kiss to her forehead, then smiled lovingly down at her.

Something about his actions moved Dani in a way she couldn’t define. Thinking about it, she supposed it was the first time she’d seen Nathan exhibit genuine warmth.

After the kiss at the hotel in Paris, he had treated her more as an adversary. Tonight he was treating her as a desirable woman. There was no doubt he was giving her the full-court press of his charms, because he wanted something. Her. She knew it, understood it, and somewhat to her surprise, she liked and welcomed it.

But with Yasmine, he’d reacted naturally rather than for effect. He hadn’t known if anyone was watching him and he obviously hadn’t cared. At that moment when he’d drawn Yasmine into his arms, he hadn’t been concerned with image or what other people thought. He didn’t want anything from Yasmine and she didn’t want anything from him. They were completely at ease with one another and the love he’d showed her had been real, simple, and pure that would it be like, she wondered, to be the recipient of such casual, uncensored warmth and love from him?

“You remind me of my daughter in several ways.”

She looked back at Helene. “Really?”

“Your coloring. The way you move. My daughter loved the ballet and studied it for a great number of years. I had hopes that my granddaughter would follow in her mother’s steps, but since the accident ...” Her voice trailed off and she wearily shook her head.

“What is your granddaughter’s name?”

“Cecilia.”

“And how is she doing?”

“Her injuries have left her with several problems—joint stiffness, a limp, a couple of other minor things. I believe a large part of her problem is psychological. She used to be such a happy girl, but now . . . I’ve brought in the finest specialists to see her. They tell me she won’t get any better unless she tries, but she’s closed herself off from everyone and I don’t know how to talk to her.”

“Since that’s what you’ve done yourself?”

Sharp eyes cut to her. “You’re not only odd and peculiar, you’re extremely impertinent.”

“Maybe, but I think I could help your granddaughter. At least I’d like to try.”

“That’s out of the question. You’re not a doctor!”

“I never claimed to be.” She stared at the older woman, rigid in her pain. “What do you have to lose, Helene? If I can't help her, the worst thing that would happen is that your granddaughter would be exposed to someone new with perhaps a new way of thinking.”

Helene scowled coldly at her. “It wouldn’t work.”

“Dani?” She lifted her head to see Nathan bent over her. “Is everything all right?”

She smiled up at him. “Everything’s fine. You know Helene Sorge, of course.”

“Yes.” He leaned over and offered his hand.

After a noticeable hesitation Helene took it. “Which one are you?”

Dani hid a smile. Helene knew his name because she’d told her, but then she had the feeUng she’d known all along. It was just her way to put everyone on the defensive.

“I’m Nathan.”

“Well, Nathan, your new hospital wing sounds like a fine idea. You can count on my usual amount.”

Nathan’s pleasant expression never once changed. “We appreciate that. Thank you.”

The impulse came from nowhere, and before Dani could stop herself, the words were slipping out of her mouth. “Helene, give me a chance to see if I can help your granddaughter. I’ll come to her the first time. If we hit it off, and if it looks as if I can help her, you promise Nathan that you’ll double the amount you normally give.”

She heard Nathan make a choking sound and Helene seemed stunned into silence. Dani looked from one to the other. “Why not? I think it’s a great idea.”

“Dani,” Nathan started, and reached for her arm to pull her up. “I think it’s probably best if we don’t impose on—”

“What’s the matter with you, Damaron? Don’t you have any confidence in this litde thing you brought this evening?”

“Uh, of course I do.”

Helene looked at her. “You can’t possibly help her, and if you try, you’re doomed to fail. You haven’t even met her. You don’t even know about all her physical problems, much less her psychological problems.”

“You’re right. I don’t. How old is Cecilia?”

“She’s ten.”

Dani nodded. “Helene, I’ve been through quite a bit of what she’s going through. That alone should help, if I can just get her to listen to me. Plus, I’ve helped other children with other types of problems. So maybe I can help her, maybe I can’t. But in any event, I see no harm in trying. If I do help her, her life will be changed. She’ll become a happy child again. With that possibility, how can you not allow me to try?”

“I suppose I have to, don’t I?” Helene conceded ungraciously.

Dani smiled. “You won’t be sorry.” She looked up at Nathan. “And you may get double your usual contribution for your hospital wing.”

Helene’s mouth tightened. “In the exceedingly unlikely event you can help my granddaughter. I’ll quadruplet the amount.”

Nathan sounded as if he was choking again, but Dani laughed. “That’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Nathan?” She glanced at him and immediately had another idea. “Helene, I wonder if . . .” She cleared her throat. “Have you already written the check you planned to give the Damarons tonight?”

“Of course I have. It’s in my purse.” She pulled it out of her purple satin evening bag and handed it to Nathan.

“Thank you, Helene. As always, your contribution is greatly appreciated.”

Helene nodded, then before she could close her bag, Dani put her hand over hers. “As a personal favor to me, would you mind giving Nathan a dollar more?”

“Whatever for?”

“As I said, as a favor for me.”

Helene looked up at Nathan. “This is a very peculiar girl.”

“I know,” he said, his expression and tone clearly indicating he thought Dani had lost her mind.

Helene pulled a dollar bill out of her purse and handed it over to him, then she looked at Dani. “Shall we say ten sharp tomorrow morning? Damaron knows where I live.”

“I'm sorry, but I can’t make it tomorrow. I have a prior commitment.”

“Dani, I’m sure your commitment can be changed,” Nathan said.

“No, it can’t. But I can make Monday afternoon, around two.”

Helene scowled. “That’s as soon as you can make it?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Well, then,” Helene said, her posture taut with displeasure, “I guess I’ll see you then.”

“Whatever possessed you?” Nathan murmured into her ear as he danced her around the floor.

“Possessed me?” Dani felt as if she were floating. Nathan had hurried her away from Helene and drawn her onto the dance floor and into his arms. A dancer for most of her life, she could dance with just about anyone, no matter how awkward they were.

But in Nathan she’d found an extraordinary partner. With his strong arms arotmd her, she didn’t even have to think about what she was doing. It was hke a perfect pas de deux where her parmer knew her steps as well as his own. She could relax and enjoy the sensations of being held close against his body and allow him to lead her.

“Whatever possessed you to approach Helene Sorge?”

“I thought she looked lonely. I told you that before you left the table.”

“Yes, but I assumed after I'd explained how formidable and unpleasant a woman she was, you’d know not to go anywhere near her.”

She pulled her head back and looked up at him with a grin. “Who are you worried about? Me or her? Are you afraid I offended her?”

“No one can talk with Helene for any length of time without offending her,” he said dryly, “so no. I’m not concerned about her. I’m concerned about you.”

“Well, you needn’t be.”

“Okay, so how did you even get Helene to talk with you?”

“I just went over to her and introduced myself.”

“And she didn’t cut you dead?”

“She tried, but I persevered.”

“But why?” he asked, never missing a step.

“Because I wanted to.” His perplexed frown told her she hadn’t given him an answer that had satisfied him. “It was another one of my impulses and I went with it because she looked as if she needed someone to talk to.”

“Another one of your impulses? You mean like the one when you saw me and decided I looked as if I needed someone to kiss me?”

Her heart skipped a beat as it did every time she thought about the kiss. In this case she also chuckled. “I didn’t decide you needed someone to kiss you. I decided I wouldn’t mind kissing you.”

“As it turned out, I didn’t mind kissing you either. And we need to kiss each other again very soon. And that will be just for starters.”

Her heart thudded, then took up a rapid beat. “You’ve, um, gotten off the subject.”

“Guilty. But you need to know that very soon now, kissing you and making love to you are going to be the only subjects we talk about, we talk at all.”