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Her heart fluttered at his words, and she couldn’t help but smile. The room around them seemed to fade as they swayed to the soft, romantic melody. Ruth didn’t care who might be watching—she didn’t even notice. All she could focus on was the man in front of her, his steady presence holding her in a way that felt both thrilling and safe.

As the song ended and the applause rose around them, Noah didn’t let go immediately. Instead, he leaned in just slightly, his voice a soft murmur against her ear. “Still think I can’t dance?”

She laughed quietly, her cheeks warm. “You’ve made your point, Kandor.”

The energy between them crackled with something unspoken, something Ruth wasn’t sure she was ready to name.

As the last notes of "Unforgettable" faded, the band pivoted to a lively disco medley. The opening beats of "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees electrified the room, drawing a wave of people onto the dance floor. The atmosphere shifted, becoming more energetic and playful.

Noah glanced at Ruth, raising a brow. “Ready for round two?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Disco? Really?”

“You’ve got to show me your moves now,” he teased, holding out his hand. “C’mon, Ruth. Don’t make me do this alone.”

With an exaggerated groan and a smile tugging at her lips, she let him pull her back onto the floor. The tempo was fast, the beat infectious, and before long, they were both caught up in the fun of it. Ruth twirled and laughed as Noah attempted a cheesy finger-point dance, earning a round of applause. She found herself mirroring his moves, surprising herself with how much she was enjoying letting loose.

But as they danced, Ruth’s gaze flicked toward Matt Brandt, and her laughter faltered.

Matt had abandoned Jenna on the sidelines and was now center stage on the dance floor, clearly having indulged in far too many drinks. His shirt was slightly untucked, and he was gesturing wildly as he attempted to lead a poorly executed and awkward rendition of The Hustle. Jenna stood a few feet away, arms crossed and face flushed with embarrassment. Others around the floor were giving him a wide berth, some openly smirking while others avoided looking altogether.

Noah followed her gaze. His jaw tightened slightly as he observed Matt’s antics. The man was practically daring someone to intervene.

Matt stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding a collision with a couple mid-spin. “Hey!” he slurred, waving a hand in the air. “Where’s my dance partner?” He scanned the floor until his bleary eyes landed on Ruth. A grin spread across his face, and he began weaving unsteadily toward her.

Noah immediately stepped in, positioning himself slightly in front of Ruth. Matt barely noticed, stopping just short of them with a drunken sway.

“Well, well,” Matt said, his words thick. He looked Noah up and down with open disdain. “Didn’t know Ruth liked charity cases.”

Ruth stiffened beside Noah, who tilted his head and smirked. “Guess you’re the expert on charity tonight,” he said coolly, his voice laced with an easy confidence that made Matt’s grin fall.

Matt’s face flushed a deeper shade of red. “I’m just saying,” his voice rose above the music, “Ruthie’s got a reputation to protect. Don’t want her slumming it.”

Ruth’s mouth fell open, fury burning in her chest, but Noah placed a steady hand on her back, signaling her to let him handle it. “Funny,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “You’d think a guy who can’t even keep his own balance would be the last person to talk about reputations.”

A few people nearby chuckled, their attention now fully on the unfolding confrontation. Matt’s eyes darted around, catching the amused smiles of the onlookers. He puffed out his chest, clearly trying to regain control of the moment. “You think you’re funny, huh?” he sneered, stepping closer to Noah and Ruth. The smell of alcohol on his breath was unbearable.

Noah didn’t flinch. “I think you’ve had enough for tonight,” he said firmly. “Why don’t you take a seat before you embarrass yourself any further?”

Matt’s face twisted in anger, but before he could respond, Jenna appeared at his side, her expression a mix of exasperation and mortification. “Matt,” she said sharply, tugging at his arm. “Let’s go.”

“Get off me,” Matt snapped, shaking her off. His movements were clumsy, and he nearly toppled over, catching himself on a nearby chair.

The commotion was now impossible to ignore. Even the band faltered for a moment before picking up again, trying to restore the mood. Ruth felt a wave of heat crawl up her neck as the attention shifted to their group. She opened her mouth to say something, but Noah beat her to it.

“Looks like your date’s calling.” He nodded toward Jenna, his voice carrying just enough authority to make it clear Matt wasn’t welcome to linger.

For a moment, it seemed like Matt might argue, but the crowd’s stares, and perhaps Jenna’s death glare, seemed to sober him slightly. With a muttered curse, he turned and staggered back toward his seat, Jenna trailing behind him.

As the tension eased, Noah turned back to Ruth, his expression softening. “You okay?” His hand rested on her back.

She nodded, though her pulse was still racing. “That was…” she trailed off, searching for the right word. “Awful. But also, kind of impressive,” she admitted, glancing up at him with a small smile.

He chuckled. “Glad you think so.” Then, with a teasing tilt of his head, he added, “Now, where were we? Oh, right—dancing.”

She laughed, the tension finally breaking. “You still feel like dancing after that?”

“Ruth,” he said, his voice warm, “you have no idea how much fun I’m having tonight.”