“Who even talks like that?” Nora asked, eyes still narrowed back at him. “Look, thanks for putting on this party and everything, but I don’t know you and I don’t think I’m the girl you’re looking for. So I’m just gonna go back to my sister now…”
“Who wouldn’t?” Peter tilted his head a little, but noticed that she hadn’t quite left yet. “What makes you think you’re not the girl?”
“I wouldn’t,” She said, looking back at him again. Who the hell was this guy? Frustrated, she sighed as she turned to watch him, eyes narrowing again. “You really need reasons? It’s not obvious enough for you?”
Peter shook his head. “No. It’s not. I see a gorgeous, headstrong, and determined woman. How could I not be looking for that?” In his mind, it was decidedly appealing.
Nora fought a sigh of exasperation. She couldn’t even see much past that mask but it didn’t necessarily matter to her right now. “Look, you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree here. I’m not at this party to, I don’t know, be hit on I guess. I’m here with my sister. And there are plenty of people I’m sure would love the company of the host.”
“Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. Shame that you won’t let me find out.” She was gorgeous in her own way, that much was a given. But she also didn’t seem to be interested, which was not okay. “But I understand, family first. If anyone knows that, it’s me.”
“What’s your name, anyway?” Who came up and sparked up a conversation without even giving the other party a name first? Someone who thinks everyone already knows him, Nora thought to herself.
“Not important,” he said reached for her hand. “But I’ll tell you if you dance with me.” He doubted she’d say yes, but it was worth asking in his mind. He knew he could nudge her in the right direction, and he was tempted, but for now he held off.
She instantly panicked when he reached for her hand, but that was only for a moment before she reminded herself that, of course, she had gloves on. That she wouldn’t be caught without them now. “What if I’m a terrible dancer and you make a fool of yourself with me out there on the dance floor?”
He took the extra glass of champagne from her and gave her a gentle pull towards the dance floor. “You can’t be a terrible dancer with the right partner. Promise, you won’t look bad, nor will I.”
Nora tripped, although it was small. She’d half picked this dress because it didn’t constrain her around her ankles, which she thought would keep her from tripping but apparently not. Turning back to glare at him, she downed a good half of her champagne before putting the glass on a small table nearby. “What if I don’t want to dance with you?”
He caught her arm as she stumbled, and shifting back to draw her closer. “Who else are you going to dance with?” Peter asked, smile playing his lips. “Come on Cinderella, come dance with me before you run away with just a shoe left behind.”
“My shoes are strapped to my feet…” Nora said seriously, because she was no Cinderella and she didn’t need Fancy Party Man here thinking she was. But she was somehow dancing with him, at a masquerade, which was so far beyond normal for her that it had to be the definition of surreal itself. “You owe me a name.”
He slipped his free hand around her waist, grinning as they started moving to the music. “Then you won’t leave me with a shoe. Maybe just a nice memory,” he told her. “Peter. And you are?”
“If Prince Charming thought she was the love of his life and he still needed a stupid shoe to find her, he was doing something wrong…” Nora said, looking back at Peter as she awkwardly placed her hands on his shoulders and tried to follow his lead so she didn’t feel strange. “Nora.”
He took one of her hands, holding it in his and twirling her a little. “Prince Charming didn’t have anything else to go on. Though I always thought he might be a little drunk. And needed the shoe to remind him just who she was.” Peter still liked the story, even if it was just a fairy tale.