Two Left Feet or The Waltz

I'm diligently working on the sixth novel in my published version of my Beauty of Life series, SERENITY: A Path Home. I'm hoping to release it in early to mid-December.

This is a tiny taste of new content that will be in Chapter 29 of SERENITY.

SETTING: SRU Christmas Party for the Second Christmas. (the difference between the published series and FP one is that Dan and Lexa (Sam/Jules) are secretly dating in the published one and broken up in the FP version. This works either way though. Ignore any other minor differences as this is based/written for the published version and must be different.

Swan Lake Hotel – Ballroom – 11:15 p.m.

Spirits flowed, and dance music blared as the party was in full swing. The dance floor remained packed as the men and women of SRU, and their guests now relaxed and having a grand time.

Sam kicked back in his chair with a cold beer and observed everyone dancing. So far he resisted all efforts to get him out on the floor. A dancer he was not. The two official balls he was required to attend for graduation from MP training and for SF training, he and Matt had snuck out of after making the requisite appearance. They ended up at bars playing darts.

In hindsight, he shouldn't have made such a big deal about going to them. Matt liked dancing, but as a true brother, Matt didn't force him to stay at a function where Sam felt awkward and out of place. Growing up at the SFTB Yukon afforded him no opportunities to learn to dance. Being a remote Special Forces training base, it typically lacked women. Sure, there were a few women, but usually in the support staff capacity. And if there were ever a dance, which there wasn't, the women would've danced with the soldiers, not him.

There was only one time he was forced to dance, his Guardian mission in Makhachkala. He sucked then, and he still sucked now. He was done making a fool of himself—a dunking in the pool was enough. Taking the last swig of his third beer of the evening, Sam stood to go grab another and glanced at those still at the table. "Anyone want something from the bar?"

"I'll take another ginger ale," Greg responded.

"Beer for me," Ed requested.

Sam waited to see if Sophie or Christiana wanted something. Both shook their heads. He started for the bar when Shelley stopped him.

Shelley gripped Sam's hand. "Come on, Sam. I've requested a special song just for you."

Sam stared at Shelley like she had two heads. "I don't dance."

"Anyone can line dance to a country song, even Wordy."

Coming up behind Shelley, Wordy snorted. "Hey, not cool. At least I'm out there trying."

Flashing a smile at her husband, Shelley said, "And doing very well." Then she tugged on Sam's arm. "Just one dance."

Sam rolled his eyes but maintained a pleasant smile. The ladies had hounded him to dance tonight, everyone except Jules. "No."

Spike bopped over and grabbed Sam's other arm as he batted his eyelashes at Sam. "Team-date, please dance with me."

Sam couldn't hold back the laugh, nor could Shelley and Wordy at Spike's outlandish behavior.

Sauntering up with Lou, Maurita said, "Pretty please. I'll help you."

As the country song started, Sam found himself dragged onto the dance floor by Shelley, Wordy, Spike, Maurita, and Lou. There was no escape. He was surrounded by all of them as Jules appeared on his left and Shelley on his right.

"Just follow us," Jules instructed with a bright smile.

Sam looked down at their feet as they all began to move. He had to step with them as the group shifted side to side and front and back. Sam tried in vain to emulate the moves, but he was clumsy and his motions entirely out of step with the others. Everyone called out encouraging comments and confusing instructions to him.

He started laughing as he stepped on Spike's foot and Spike hopped around shouting that he was crippled for life. "Serves you right, team-date. Told you I couldn't dance."

"You just need practice," Jules encouraged. "Ow!"

"Sorry." Sam cringed after stepping on Jules' toes.

"Lots of practice," she muttered under her breath, but loud enough to elicit chuckles from Wordy and Shelley.

Sam massacred the feet of anyone who came near him as he went left when they went right or back when he should go forward. He was pink with embarrassment but after a while figured they deserved the stomped feet for making him prance around. The only saving grace was that he was sock-footed since his shoes were still soaking wet from his dip in the pool.

At the table, Ed chuckled. "He wasn't kidding he can't dance."

Greg wrapped his arm around Christiana's shoulders as he watched the antics on the dance floor.

Christiana leaned in close to Greg. Her voice full of mirth, "Sorry, but I seriously don't think lessons will help him."

Greg squeezed her shoulder and snickered. "He's got two left feet."

Sophie lightly giggled. "Looks like he's marching."

They all laughed. In some ways it did.

Her lips near Ed's ear, Sophie spoke softly, "Wonderful to see Sam so happy."

Nodding, Ed quietly shared his thoughts, "Greg too. Never seen him smile so much at Christmas."

Sophie glanced at Christiana. "She's lovely and right for him. I'm happy he is moving forward now."

"Couldn't agree more." The music changed to a waltz, and Ed stood, offering his hand. "Ready to dance again or do you want to go up to our room?"

"A few more dances. Then alone time with you." Sophie rose, and they walked hand-in-hand to the dancing area.

Relieved the song was over, Sam turned to go to the bar. Now they couldn't bug him anymore. He danced once if what he did could even be called dancing. That was all he was willing to do.

Harriet Holleran stopped in front of Sam. "Will you do me the pleasure of a dance, young man?"

Sam wanted to groan but plastered on a smile. This was his godmother and his commander's wife … he couldn't say no. "My honor, but I'm afraid your feet might not survive."

"You let me worry about that." Harriet then inquired, "Have you ever waltzed?"

"Sort of. When I was little, with my mother. She loved to listen to the Tennessee Waltz and would spin me around the room with her."

Harriet and Sam began a slow waltz, he tried not to trod on her feet and apologized every time he did. Halfway through, Harriet said, "Do you know why your mother liked that song?"

"No."

She smiled. "It was the first song she ever danced with your father at the Majors Ball. That night they fell in love. Your mother was so radiant that evening. Your father was quite debonair too. Lovely watching the two of them glide across the floor."

"Wow, I never knew that. Oh, sorry." Sam moved his foot off her toes. "Guess I missed out on the dancing gene."

Giggling, Harriet divulged, "Your father only waltzes. He had to learn at the military academy. With practice, you could be as smooth on your feet as him. Ladies love a man who can waltz."

When the song ended, Sam was feeling rather good. Harriet put him at ease and gifted him with a story of his parents. "Thank you, ma'am," he said as he escorted her back to his godfather.

Norm took his wife's hand and smiled at Sam. "Enjoying your evening?"

"Yes, sir. Quite a party. Can I bring you something from the bar?"

"No thank you. I believe we are heading home shortly. Have a wonderful rest of your night," Harriet answered.

"I will. Thanks again for the waltz." Sam inclined his head to the commander. "Good night, sir."

"Evening," Norm replied. He tucked Harriet's arm in the crook of his as she gathered her purse. Tonight had been superb with one tiny exception, Mr. Bewick.

Sam turned and ambled away from his godparents. He had to keep it on a formal basis with them at a SRU function. So far there had been no backlash when the team found out about their affiliation. Many things were different at SRU versus the military. For that he was grateful.

He nearly made it to the bar before he was waylaid again and dragged back to the dancing pond. Ah hell, just let loose and have fun, Braddock. You might look like an idiot out there, but it's okay, you're with family, and they accept you.

An hour later, the ballroom filled with far fewer people, couples having gone to their rooms or headed home, leaving mostly the single officers, the DJ called out, "Last dance," and started a gentle waltz.

Jules tugged on Spike's hand. "Dance with me then we can grab the cab as we discussed."

Spike shook his head. "My feet ache."

"Come on. Last one." Jules begged, secretly desiring to ask Sam instead of Spike. Though, she refrained from doing so, unsure how either of them would react if they held one another intimately.

"You danced with me three songs tonight. Take Sam. You haven't danced one with him yet. He won't murder your feet as bad on a slow song as he does on the fast ones."

Sam snorted. "You guys are the ones who kept pulling me out there. Mangled feet are the price to pay." He stood, now or never. Sam wanted to hold Jules close all night. A dance would be a great cover.

Bowing at the waist, but keeping his eyes on Jules, Sam said, "May I have the honor of this waltz, m'lady?"

Jules gave in and curtsied. "My pleasure, sir."

Sam led Jules onto the floor. He pulled her into his arms, and they began waltzing. Their rhythm natural, as if they had danced together forever, Sam found his feet light and sure, never threating to land on Jules's toes. They spun around the almost empty floor, their eyes locked together as the world around them faded away. The only part of reality to make itself known to them were the romantic strains of the Tennessee Waltz.

.

The Beauty of Life series takes my original fanfiction stories and revamps them—with tons of new content and expanded storylines while still keeping the same heart and familiar feel of my fanfiction stories.

The first FIVE books in my Beauty of Life series are available as ebooks or paperbacks on Amazon—just search for Laura Acton in books.

If you don't have a Kindle—no problem—just download Amazon's free reader app—it works on phones, tablets, and computers.

If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read them for FREE, too. And I think Amazon offers a free 30-day trial of Kindle Unlimited (where available) which is even better for you if you want to read all of them in one month :)

Beauty of Life series

- FORSAKEN: On the Edge of Oblivion (Beauty of Life, Book One)

- SOLACE: Behind the Shield (Beauty of Life, Book Two)

- BELONGING: Hope, Truth, and Malice (Beauty of Life, Book Three)

- OUTLIER: Blood, Brotherhood, and Beauty (Beauty of Life, Book Four)

- PURGATORY: Bonds Forged in Hellfire (Beauty of Life, Book Five)

- Work in Progress: SERENITY: A Path Home (Beauty of Life, Book Six)

You can visit Amazon and search for LAURA ACTON in Kindle Books to read the first few chapters of each book with the look inside feature.

Come meet Daniel Broderick, Alexandra 'Lexa' McKenna, Jon Hardy, Nick Pastore, Loki Baldovino, Bram De Haven, Ray Palomo, Tia Walsh, Brody Mikhail Hunter and the rest of your favorite characters (General Broderick, Yvonne, the Broderick cousins, Blaze, Mason, Patch, Winds, Ripsaw, etc.). Delve into a complex world of courageous men and women riding a roller coaster of emotions and danger. Explore the nature of relationships and bonds developed, tested, and strengthened in the face of adversity as they seek to find the beauty of life.

If you like all the details, twists, turns, and connections of my fanfiction – then you'll love the books — they're filled with them.

If you're a JAM fan become a LAN fan – come fall in love with Dan and Lexa. Their relationship has all the passion of JAM with a new exciting and hot way they first meet. Their relationship has a surprising beginning that turns into a slow burning build of their soulmate connection—it's quite a ride.

If you love the Team, the General, the Broderick cousins, Blaze, Patch, Winds, Mason, and the rest of the cast of characters, you should enjoy the new Beauty of Life series—they get more time than before.