The next four days passed far too quickly, and before Xavier knew it, Thursday night had crept up on them. They were flying home tomorrow night, and he hadn’t had any time alone with Izzy. He’d hoped to show her he could be trusted, but the focus right now needed to be on these children. He didn’t have a clue what Izzy was thinking about him, about his hope that they’d develop a relationship.

Izzy had been amazing, taking great care of all the little ones’ medical needs and accomplishing much more than other nurses he’d worked with because she had additional medical knowledge and pediatrics training with her advanced degree. She’d needed to use a translator quite often, but Mama and the orphanage workers had been extremely impressed and grateful Izzy was here.

Mama and the two workers who stayed the night at the facility were upstairs putting the little ones to bed. Xavier had sung baby Isabella to sleep. She seemed to be doing better each day. Holding that baby gave him a peace he rarely felt in his busy life. He realized he hadn’t even charged his phone down here. He’d noticed a few missed calls from his agent Sunday morning, but he’d ignored him. The guy made him feel slimy and Xavier was done getting setup on dates and trying to project some image. He could deal with his agent and the contract negotiations when he got back to Dallas. The decision between Texas and Denver didn’t feel as heavy or pressing since he’d stepped away from the situation. Though he longed to be closer to Mama and be there for little Marcos, if he kept being as impressed as he was with Izzy, and somehow broke through her trust issues, he’d have a much harder time leaving the Titans.

Music floated up from the main floor, and he headed toward it. Traipsing down the stairs, he could hear a familiar song from home that had a Spanish flair and equal parts Spanish and English words. He strode toward the main area, but stopped before he entered the arched doorway. Izzy was dancing with some of the older girls as they giggled and twirled. The way she moved was beautiful and much too appealing to him. She swayed and twisted with fluid movements, her skirt floating out when she spun and her white tank top showcasing her beautiful shape.

“X.” One of the girls pointed to him and giggled.

Izzy whirled and saw him. Her face was flushed with exertion and excitement. She literally shone, and the smiles on the girls’ faces reflected exactly how he felt when Izzy was around. She brought joy and a spark wherever she went.

Xavier slowly walked toward her, not letting his eyes stray from her beautiful face. She flipped her hair and arched an eyebrow. “Really? You going to drool now?”

Xavier couldn’t help but laugh. He reached her side and wanted with everything in him to take her in his arms. He stepped close and lowered his voice. “Is this like your dirty dancing?”

“No!” She laughed. “You really need to see the movie.”

“Why didn’t we watch your movie on the plane?”

“I didn’t dare with Mama right there.”

“Oh? It’s one of those movies.” He pumped his eyebrows and lifted the hair off her shoulder, grazing her smooth skin with his fingertips.

“Not really, well, sort of.” Her beautiful skin flushed even darker.

“Maybe we can recreate it?” His voice dropped lower so the girls couldn’t overhear.

The pulse in her throat throbbed, and she licked her lips, but her answer was a prim. “Not with the children watching.”

Xavier reached down and took her hand, the simple touch shot awareness through him. He wanted to dance with her and much more. He turned and waved to the girls who were watching them like a movie screen. “Buenas noches. Dulces sueños. Mama está esperando.”

They all groaned with disappointment, but returned the salutations and filtered from the common area.

“What did you tell them?” Izzy’s voice was husky as she met his gaze.

“That I needed to be alone with their beautiful nurse so she could teach me how to dirty dance.”

She gasped. “You did not.”

Xavier lifted their clasped hands to his chest and wrapped his other palm around her hip, bringing her body in tight to his. He smiled. “Your willing student, mi bella señorita.”

Izzy started swaying her hips to the music, and he tried to follow her, but feeling her movements was distracting him completely. She pulled away from him, but held onto his hand, swinging out and shimmying her torso before swinging back in. Xavier laughed and pulled her close again.

“Now put both hands at my waist.”

He complied happily. She leaned back, and he almost dropped her in surprise, but he held on, and she arched so low her hair swept the ground as she swooped from one side to the other. Xavier’s breath was coming in short pants, and it was all he could do to keep her waist in his grasp. She came back up and grinned at him.

“Can we do that again?” he asked.

She threw back her head and laughed. Xavier bent down and kissed the pulse in her neck. Izzy stopped laughing abruptly and stared at him, her chest rising and lowering quickly.

“No,” she whispered.

“No?”

She shook her head and said, “Now you pick me up by the waist and lift me up high above your head.”

Xavier was good at taking orders. He’d done it his entire life with his mama, coaches, and superiors in the military. He didn’t mind doing it with Izzy, not at all. He wrapped his palms around her tiny waist and easily plucked her off the ground and lifted her high above his head. She laughed again and straightened out her body like a beautiful arrow above him.

“Now spin,” she said.

Xavier smiled at her, hoping he was fulfilling some fantasy or something. He spun a slow circle then carefully lowered her, bringing her in close to his chest. She blinked up at him, those long lashes fluttering appealingly. He studied her, the light sheen on her warm brown skin, and the way her chest rose and fell tellingly. He knew he was affecting her. Her eyes filled with a pleading look, and he hoped she ached for him like he did for her.

“Do I have to say it?” she asked.

He wanted her to say it so badly. He wanted her to want him. “Your wish is my command, mi señorita.”

Her eyes fell to his lips then rose again to his eyes. “Now kiss,” she said softly.

Xavier’s hands tightened around her back, pulling her up and in. She stood on tiptoes and he bent down, capturing her warm lips with his own, inhaling her intoxicating gardenia scent. She moaned so sweetly he didn’t know that he’d ever been more enamored. He deepened the kiss and …

“Oh! Excuse me.”

“Mama,” he whispered against Izzy’s lips. She smiled, and he felt it. They pulled apart and turned to face his mama. This was their first kiss since the two that he had stolen at paintball before he truly knew Izzy. He wanted it to continue all night. Mama’s interruption was horribly timed.

“Well, I was going to offer some of my pineapple upside down cake, but I think you two have had enough sugar for the night.” Mama winked broadly.

Xavier wrapped his hand around Izzy’s hip and pulled her against his side. “A man can never get enough sugar.”

Mama arched an eyebrow. “Come on, now, let’s have our treat and get some rest. If you two want to see the waterfall, you’re going to have to wake up early tomorrow.”

Xavier nodded and followed along, Izzy at his side. He always obeyed Mama, but tonight he really didn’t want to. He leaned down and whispered so only Izzy could hear, “Was that like your Dirty Dancing?”

She looked up at him and smiled sweetly. “It was pretty close. You did good, X.”

He tightened his hold on her. “We need to watch your movie soon then practice over and over again.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Xavier couldn’t think of anything better than having plans with her, especially if they involved … dancing.