In her partner’s ear, Dez said, "I’m only letting you lead because you seem to be enjoying it so much."

Jaylynn tipped her head back and looked up into twinkling blue eyes. "Can’t take a little direction, huh?"

"I can always take a little—not much—but a little. Be careful though, I could dip ya any time now."

"Ha!" The blonde let out a guffaw. She snuggled closer and continued giggling. After a moment she looked up again. "You really are a good dancer, Miss Fred Astaire. How’d you learn?"

Even in the dim light Jaylynn could see Dez blush. The taller woman said, "Well, Miss Ginger Rogers, I cursed my mother for it, but she made me take dance lessons in eighth and ninth grade."

"Why Desiree, you went to charm school?"

In a grumbling voice, Dez answered, "Something like that. I hated it. Had to learn to waltz, foxtrot, swing, square dance, polka—like I was ever gonna use any of it!"

"What a wise mother you had. She must have known the day would arrive where those skills would come in handy dancing in a nice lesbian bar. You’re quite impressive, you know."

"You’re not so bad yourself," Dez said grudgingly. "How’d you learn?"

"I loved dancing and took a few classes in high school and college." The last strains of Sarah McLachlan trailed off, and the DJ faded in a Gloria Estefan song with a medium beat. "Hmm," the blond said as they changed the tempo of their movements, "did you ever learn the mambo?"

"What?"

"You know something like—like the cha-cha?"

Dez grinned. "Yeah. Why?"

"Think you can still do it?"

"Who’s leading?" the big woman said mock seriously.

Now it was Jaylynn’s turn to laugh. "We could both lead—but hey, really, that won’t work. Go ahead—you lead."

"No," Dez said, with a sigh. "You probably remember the moves better than me."

"Okay, and I’ll try not to step on your size 10’s."

Dez scowled at her, then couldn’t help but smile. "Yeah, all right. Let’s do it."

The smaller woman expected there to be some knee-knocking—or at least awkwardness—so she was thoroughly surprised when they slipped into the syncopated rhythm without hesitation or problems. She found herself grinning, then bubbling over with jubilation. Who would have ever thought that dancing with the tight-lipped tall woman could be so much fun? Who on the force would even believe it? She eyed her companion, loving how she moved with an effortless fluidity, her long limbs coordinated and graceful. It made Jaylynn want to wrap her arms around Dez in a tight embrace and just squeeze.

The song ended and the head-banging beat from a hard rock song took its place. With just the slightest of glances, they simultaneously turned and headed off the dance floor with Jaylynn holding Dez’s hand tightly. They stood in the throng at the bar counter, waiting to order a drink, and the blonde said, "That was a blast—totally exciting." She looked up at the dark haired woman, eyes shining, and said, "Ever notice how the best words all start with E? Exciting, elation, exhilaration. What great words!"

"Yeah? What about errors? Evil?" She frowned. "And embarrassment . . . or wait a minute, how ’bout executions?"

"Oh, Dez," Jaylynn said, a quirky grin passing over her lips. "What about electricity?" She moved closer. "How about elegance?" She reached her hand out and caught the bigger woman about the waist, pulling her until the two women were pressed together at the hips. She arched her back and leaned her upper body away, smiling up at the blue eyes above her. "What about energy ...or emotion?" Jaylynn reached up and cupped the bigger woman’s face in her hands, confident that the strong arms wrapped around her would not let go. "Entertainment. Enthusiasm. Or hey—how about enjoyment?"

Dez leaned down and in a husky voice said, "Erotic embrace. Two for the price of one."

"Now you’re in the spirit." The blonde thought a moment as she gazed up into intense dark blue eyes. "How about enraptured. Or even better, enthralled?"

"What about everlasting?" The low whisper came from lips right at her ear. A shiver ran through the shorter woman, and suddenly her heart pounded and her legs went weak. She tucked her head under Dez’s chin and let her arms slip down around the brunette’s broad back, then to her waist. She could hear the thundering heartbeat under her ear, which caused her to feel even weaker and more breathless.

Crystal’s voice fluttered in. "You two gonna stand there all night?"

Jaylynn lifted her head but didn’t let go of Dez. She angled her face to the side until she caught sight of the laughing Latina. Crystal reached over and socked Dez in the arm lightly. "Hey chica," she belted out over the loud music. "If I’d known you could dance my kinda dance, I’da had you to one of our family parties a long time ago."

Over the music, Dez said, "I’ve never seen you do the cha-cha."

"Not here, but with mi familia it’s a different story."