In a fluid move, he rose off the floor and met her challenging gaze. "Wouldn't have brought you here if I couldn't," he stated matter of factly and took her hand to lead her out to the center of the floor.

Before showing her the steps, he started the music again and moved to stand in front of her. It was so freeing somehow to be doing this, to be dancing like this, even if he'd spend most of the night teaching and not dancing.

"Okay, so here are the basics. Watch my feet, I'll do it slowly to start with." Without touching her, he showed her the very basic steps once, then caught her eyes again. "You should have those down before we break for dinner. After that, I'll show you some more. I hope you don't mind working up a sweat, because I'll keep upping the pace every time you've gotten used to it. Now, again."

After showing her the basic steps twice more, this time taking her right hand in his and resting his left one on her shoulderblade, he let go. "Good. Now keep repeating those while I watch." He stepped away from her, but not before, almost as an afterthought, he leaned in and muttered conversationally. "And I guess I'll just have to find something else to unwrap if Santa doesn't come through."