Nadine was still talking to Diana when Taylor walked up.
"Sorry, I got caught." He said, sitting down and rolling his eyes.
"Oh Taylor." His mother said.
"Hi mom." He said.
"I've been talking to Nadine, we're having a great time."
"Oh really?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes. I've told her all sorts of stuff about you." Diana said, winking at her son.
"and what's that?" Taylor asked, a flush rising in his cheeks. He looked at Diana, who was giggling quietly, and Nadine, who looked at him with a completely innocent look on her face.
"Come on, Mom, what did you tell her?"
"Oh.....nothing." Diana said, sipping her wine.
"Nadine, what did she tell you?" Taylor asked slowly.
"Oh....nothing." Nadine said.
"Oh, i like her so much." Diana said, nudging Taylor and winking at Nadine.
"Oh so do I." Taylor said, smiling sarcastically at Nadine.
Diana looked out at the dancefloor.
"You two should dance." She said, nudging Taylor.
"I don't dance." he said.
"oh sure you do, come on." Diana said.
Taylor got up, straightened his suit, then walked around the table to Nadine. He held out his hand to her. "May I have this dance?" He asked, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Uh.....um...yes?" She said, looking up at him. She suddenly felt very nervous.
"That's my boy." Diana said.
Nadine got up, and Taylor led her to an open spot on the crowded dancefloor. Nadine cringed when she saw how many people were watching them.
"Taylor!" She hissed. "I don't dance!" She said.
"Of course you do."
"No I don't." She argued. "I've never danced in my life." She claimed.
"Well we look pretty stupid just standing here." He said, motioning to all the dancing couples.
"Well...okay." She said. "But you HAVE to help me."
"Alright." He said. He took her hands and put one on his shoulder, then took the other in his, and began to guide her around the dancefloor.
"See?" He said after a few minutes. "This isn't so bad."
"No." She said. But she still wasn't sure.
Suddenly a slower song came on, and then separated. They looked at each other, then at the other people. Silently, Taylor took her hands and guided them behing his neck, then pulled her to him, putting his hands gently on her waist.
She hadn't been this close to him before, and it felt strange. She heard him quietly clear his throat, and she could feel his hair on her cheek. She could smell his cologne, and could feel him breathing.
The sun had set on the river, and it was dark except for the dim lights on the dancefloor and the candles on the tables. Taylor looked over across the room, and saw his mother watching with tears in her eyes. Taylor smiled. He looked at Nadine. She was resting her head on his shoulder, and she had her eyes almost closed. She looks beautiful, he thought. She isn't a hotel maid, not some girl he had met. She was Nadine, and he knew that he was in love. He took a deep breath, knowing that his parents were watching, and then leaned down to kiss her softly on the cheek.
He kept dancing, not wanting her to draw attention to them. Her eyes fluttered open, then looked at him. He looked back at her, his blue eyes staring into her brown ones. She gave him a look of surprise, then put her head back on his shoulder. He smiled to himself, then rubbed his hand on the small of her back. This had been a great evening.