The music faded into its last soft notes just as he spun her again, his hand firm on her waist. Bella let out a tiny breathless sound as her body turned and landed right against his chest. Their fronts met, warmth to warmth, and she froze for a heartbeat, shy and startled by how close they suddenly were.
Her lashes fluttered, and she stared up at him with cheeks blooming pink. The world seemed to slow around them, the lanterns glowing softer, the lake shimmering as if it were holding its breath. Bella stood still, her heart beating so loudly she was almost certain he could hear it through her dress. Very slowly, her arms rose, hesitant at first, then guided by something bold and trembling with emotion. She tiptoed closer, her soft hands cupping his face gently, her thumbs brushing along the sharp line of his jaw.
