If The Ring Fits...: Ballroom to Bride and Groom / A Bride for the Maverick Millionaire / Promoted: Secretary to Bride!

There was nothing he could say. He just held her. ‘Did your parents finally wake up to what they were doing?’

She nodded. ‘I think seeing all that blood shocked my parents into going for therapy, too, and the fighting and the leaving and the getting back together all stopped. But we don’t really trust each other. They don’t trust me not to go into meltdown every time something stressful happens, and I don’t trust them to be there for me when life doesn’t go the way I want it to.’

‘You didn’t go into meltdown over Harry. Well, except your haircut. Which I take was a statement that you were kind of reinventing yourself without him.’

‘I did it myself with nail scissors. Just to get rid of the one thing Harry always said he loved about me, because—well, I was angry and hurt, and this was my way of lashing out.’ She gave him a wry smile. ‘Cutting off my hair to spite my face, you might say. Shona freaked out slightly because she knows about my past, but she dragged me off to get my hair fixed.’

‘It suits you.’

‘And it doesn’t take two hours to dry any more. That’s a bonus.’

Another of those wide Polly Anna smiles. He stroked her face. ‘I know Fliss and Shona have been careful with you. I take it your parents are treading on eggshells?’

Polly grimaced. ‘Dad’s first concern was the money. How much he’d paid out in deposits and would have to forfeit. And then Mum started shouting at him for being selfish.’

‘Now I really want to bang their heads together. How can they put themselves first when your life’s gone pear-shaped?’

‘It’s how they are.’ She sighed. ‘I guess I’m a coward, because I’ve been avoiding them ever since. But it’s a lot easier dealing with them at a distance.’

‘You’re not a coward, Pol. You’re sensible. I’d avoid them, too.’

She smiled wryly. ‘I wish they were more like Fliss’s parents. Fliss let me move in with her until I found a flat—and the second she told her parents what had happened, they came round to give me a hug and ask if I had a to-do list they could help with.’

Thank God she had someone in her life who cared enough for her. And he made a mental note to call his family later. He’d pushed them away too much; it was time he started appreciating them. They only interfered and nagged because they cared. He was lucky. ‘Fliss’s family sound lovely.’

‘They are. Actually, Harry’s parents are lovely, too. After he told them, they called me and told me he’s an idiot, and just because I wasn’t with him any more it didn’t mean I couldn’t still be part of their lives.’

Because to know Polly was to love her, Liam thought.

And he stuffed that thought right back in its box before it had a chance to grow. Love? He wasn’t in love with her. Love wasn’t something he did any more. Besides, Polly had made it clear she didn’t want that from him. She didn’t need that extra pressure right now. And he didn’t need the complications.

He stroked her hair. ‘I’m glad you’ve got good people in your life.’

‘I have. I’m lucky. I have so much to be grateful for.’

‘Or to make up for your parents,’ he said.

She blew out a breath. ‘I promised myself I’d never end up like them. That I wouldn’t marry someone I’d fight with all the time and who’d cheat on me. That I’d only marry someone really stable. Someone I liked, someone who liked me back. Someone safe.’

‘Harry?’

She sighed. ‘And how wrong I was. He wasn’t safe at all. He liked me, but he didn’t love me. Not in the right way. I didn’t realise he wanted the kaboom. I thought liking him and feeling safe with him was enough—for him as well as for me. That it could be perfect.’

Fake it until—but they hadn’t made it, had they? And no doubt that had shaken Polly’s faith in herself even more. ‘I take it you didn’t feel the kaboom for him?’ Liam asked gently.

She shook her head. ‘So I guess he was right to call it off, because it wouldn’t have worked. Not in the long term. What we had wasn’t perfect. I was kidding myself, because I wanted it so badly. In the end he probably would’ve ended up cheating on me, because we loved each other as friends. He needed more than that. And he’s obviously found it in …’ Saying Harry’s new love’s name was clearly a struggle, but she didn’t shirk it. ‘In Grace.’

Liam kept his arms wrapped round her, and Polly rested her forehead against his chest. ‘Thank you. For not judging me.’

‘I think you’ve already judged yourself much more harshly than anyone else could or would,’ he said softly. ‘So, no, I wasn’t going to judge you. There’s that old saying about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes before you judge them. That’s pretty true.’

‘Maybe.’ She closed her eyes. ‘About last night—I’m sorry. I wish it could be different. It’s the wrong time. If we’d met maybe in six months’ time … ‘

‘I know. But we didn’t. So we’ll keep this strictly colleagues. Friends,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry. And I’d better let you get some rest. See you tomorrow.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘Call me if you can’t sleep, OK?’

‘Thanks.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘That’s more than I deserve.’

‘No, it isn’t.’ And how he wanted to kiss her properly. To kiss away all the pain and the heartache, let her lose herself in him. Take her to the edge of paradise, where nothing else mattered but each other.

But that wouldn’t be fair to either of them. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

And, although his heart was screaming at him to stay right where he was, his head was in control. He did what he knew was the right thing. And left.

CHAPTER TEN

‘WE’RE adding a small intro to the routine,’ Liam said on the Friday morning. ‘Because dance isn’t just random movement—it should also tell a story.’

‘And the story here is what?’ Polly asked.

‘I’m a guy from the wrong side of the tracks. I can’t resist you, and you’re—well.’ He shrugged. ‘Listen to the lyrics and you’ll get it.’

She didn’t. They were dancing to a romantic song, but that was it, as far as she was concerned. ‘Colour me stupid and explain,’ she said. ‘Otherwise the audience is only going to get half the story, because I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.’

‘That, Pol, is the point. Just be yourself and dance with me. Now let’s go through it again. You stand in the middle of the room and wait for me, and when the music begins I’ll dance over to you and we’ll move into ballroom hold.’

‘The vee and the butterfly, right?’

‘Right.

When they stopped for a break, Amanda came in with two mugs of coffee and a magazine. ‘I’ve had more calls from the press this morning. And there’s a story about you in Celebrity Life.’ She opened the magazine and showed it to them.

The headline ran, ‘Is Luscious Liam the one to make Pretty Polly smile again?’, and there was a picture of them together in the café, seemingly gazing into each other’s eyes.

‘For pity’s sake. I’m not going to make the poor girl dance for hours without a break. And don’t they realise that you need regular refuelling if you’re burning up calories in training?’ Liam said, rolling his eyes. ‘I hate that magazine.’

Especially because he knew he wasn’t going to be the one to make her smile again. This felt like rubbing it in.

‘They’ll find someone else to talk about soon enough,’ Polly said, flapping a dismissive hand.

‘Um, the boards are all lively again this morning, asking the same thing,’ Amanda pointed out.

‘The answer’s the same. We’re just colleagues. Friends,’ Polly said.

‘Absolutely,’ Liam agreed.

At the end of the training session, Polly was scheduled to sort out her dress in the wardrobe department.

‘Do you want me to come with you?’

‘No, I’m fine.’ Though she knew why he was being so protective. ‘I’ve managed OK so far with the wardrobe department,’ she reminded him gently.

‘Does Rhoda know why you want long sleeves?’

She shook her head. ‘I just told her I’m superstitious.’

He smiled. ‘Which you’re not, but the wardrobe department is used to prima donnas making ridiculous demands. Though you’re nice, rather than demanding, so I think they’ll indulge you. OK. Go and find something you love.’

‘I take it you’re in traditional ballroom dress?’

‘Whatever you pick, it won’t clash with what I’m wearing,’ he reassured her.

In the wardrobe department, there was a dress that reminded Polly of the one she’d worn in Vienna, except it was white. And it came with long white fingerless gloves. Perfect.

‘Liam rang when you were on the way,’ Rhoda told her as she pinned up the hem of the gown. ‘He asked if you could wear a tiara.’

‘A tiara?’ Polly blinked in surprise.

‘He’s right. It’ll look gorgeous with that dress. And I’m pretty sure I have a fake diamond collar that’ll go with it, too,’ Rhoda said through a mouthful of pins. ‘Hang on a sec.’ She finished pinning up the dress, then went to look for the tiara and collar.

Polly waited while Rhoda made a few adjustments, then looked at herself in the mirror. ‘Wow. This doesn’t look like me.’ Could she really be that elegant? The nude-coloured dancing shoes made her look as if she were dancing in bare feet. She looked like some kind of princess. The fairy ballerina she’d wanted to be, as a child—and Liam was the one who’d taught her how to dance lightly instead of clumsily.

‘Perfect for the waltz,’ was Rhoda’s assessment.

Polly hugged her. ‘Thank you so much. I wouldn’t have had a clue where to start. You’ve been brilliant.’

‘It’s my job,’ Rhoda said, but the sparkle in her eyes told Polly that she was pleased to be appreciated. ‘Now you go out there tomorrow night and knock their socks off.’ She patted Polly’s shoulder.

‘I’ll do my best,’ Polly promised.

At the dress rehearsal, Liam just stared at her. ‘Wow. You look amazing.’

Polly smiled. ‘Thank you. Let’s just hope my dancing will be up to it.’

‘It will be.’

He believed in her. Really believed in her.

If only she’d had the courage not to back away from him again that morning. But she hadn’t. Still didn’t.

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