A Moment To Dance (14 page)

“She overheard someone at the restaurant talking about how we teamed up for the dance contest. Then when I mentioned you’re tutoring Johnny, she asked to meet you.”

“Didn’t you tell her we’re only friends?”

“Is that what you want me to tell her?”

“Of course. Why would you say anything different?”

He shrugged. “After that kiss last week and the looks you keep sending me, I just wondered…”

“We’re friends.” Her gaze didn’t quite reach his. “It’s all we can ever be.”

“You mean because of the pending adoption.”

“Yes. You don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the adoption. Besides, that thing between us was nothing.”

A pained expression flitted across Tony’s tanned face. She couldn’t let it get to her. This was for the best. The thought of getting caught up in an adoption interview made her stomach flip. Sure, she’d passed the background check for her teaching position, but she imagined this persistent investigator would want more of the nitty-gritty details about her life—details best left buried for all of their sakes.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

H
e’d stepped on her toes—again.

“I’m sorry.” Tony swore under his breath the following Friday evening. “I thought after practicing all week I’d have these new steps down pat. Maybe I’m just not cut out to do the Lindy Hop.”

In the middle of Josie’s Dance Studio, Ella smiled up at him. “Concentrate. You can do this.”

In truth, he did have the moves memorized, but every time Ella got close, he forgot what he was doing. Any hopes of being over her and moving past that unforgettable kiss were nothing more than wishful thinking.

When the music stopped, he backed away. He swiped his palms over his dark jeans. Ella tilted her chin upward to peer into his eyes, and his immediate thought was to swoop in and press his lips to hers. Yet, he resisted, remembering Ella’s warning that they needed to keep things cool and casual because of the adoption.

She was right. He couldn’t give the judge one more reason to delay or suspend the adoption. Tony was certain finalizing the adoption would give Johnny a much-needed sense of security. And Johnny’s needs had to come ahead of his own. That’s what good parents did—sacrifice for their children.

With the lesson over, Ella moved toward the door without saying a word to him. Something was wrong. The cautious part of him said he should let it go. If she wanted to tell him, she would in her own time. Still, he hated the thought of her walking away, angry with him.

“Hey, wait,” he called out.

With her head held high and her shoulders pulled back, she continued down the walk. She either didn’t hear him or didn’t care.

He picked up his pace. His long strides soon caught up with her. He reached for her arm, pulling her to a stop. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.” She jerked free of his hold.

“Why did you leave the studio in a huff?” Her only response was a shrug. He couldn’t leave without an explanation. “Obviously, I did something wrong. So spit it out.”

She crossed her arms and raised her chin. “It’s you and this contest. You aren’t even trying. Most of those dances we did tonight we’ve gone over numerous times. Yet, you made beginner mistakes.”

“I’m sorry. I was distracted. I promise I’ll do better next time.”

“We’re running out of time.” She threw up her hands. “Oh, never mind.”

When she started to walk away, he moved to block her. “What has you so worked up? And why are you so certain we’re going to lose?”

“Remember when you were off getting your firefighting certification?” He nodded. “Cord and Alexis showed me their Lindy Hop. Tony, they’re good. Really good.”

Cord was a big guy. Tony would never have guessed he was light on his feet. “You think they might win?”

Alarm registered in her eyes. “I do.”

Not wild about dancing, he’d been doing everything asked of him to fulfill his obligation to Ella. Now that she mattered more to him than he’d imagined possible, and knowing how much winning meant to her, he wanted to go the extra mile—he wanted to give her a reason to stay here in Whistle Stop.

“What if we practice some more?” he asked.

“But Josie is booked. She doesn’t have any more time for us.”

“Then let’s work on it on our own.”

“Shouldn’t you be heading home to Johnny?”

“He’s helping my mother bake his favorite treat, chocolate-chip cookies. Afterward, he’ll settle down to watch a movie. He’ll be fine. So what do you say? Shall we practice some more so we can beat those guys?”

“I don’t know.” She wrung her hands as she turned to watch a passing car. A quiet moment ensued before she softly uttered, “Okay. But where?”

He had her hooked on the idea. Now he needed to reel her in. “I’d offer up my place, but it’s nothing more than blueprints and a patch of open land. How about we head to your cabin?”

“There isn’t much room.”

“We’ll move the furniture around. There will be plenty of room.”

With her nod of agreement, they climbed into their separate vehicles. Tony let her take the lead. This extra practice would give him a chance to show her that he’d been paying attention at all of the lessons. He wouldn’t give her any more reasons to worry about whether they could win.

When he pulled to a stop in Ella’s driveway, he promised himself he’d give this practice his full attention. If he wanted to fantasize about her lush lips, rounded hips, and soft hands, he’d wait until they got these dance moves down.

With his game plan firmly in mind, he followed her into the cabin. His first wayward thought was that they were all alone except for one rambunctious puppy. Before his thoughts could go any further, he reined them in. Nothing would happen tonight. They’d practice, then he’d go home. Nothing more.

While Ella fed Patch, Tony called his mother to check on Johnny and let her know he’d be late. Then he made short work of rearranging the living room furniture, creating a makeshift dance floor.

When it finally came time for them to dance, he had his mind set on one thing, making Ella proud of him. He could do this. If Cord could do the Lindy Hop, so could he. And better!

With the puppy safely out of the way in the bedroom, Ella walked him through the series of moves they’d done earlier at the studio. He really focused on the task at hand. He counted out the six beats in his head to keep his rhythm. When he started to get the hang of it, Ella scanned the radio stations until she found an oldies station playing big-band music.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when Ella looked at him with one of those smiles that made her eyes sparkle like polished sapphires.

“By George, I think you’ve got it,” she cheered.

Her praise made his chest puff up, and a smile tugged at his lips. He’d wanted nothing more than to please her, and he’d succeeded.

“We did it.” He swung her around and set her back down on the floor, but he continued to hold her close.

“Yes, we did.” Her face glowed with happiness. “Maybe we’ll have a shot at the prize after all.”

“There’s only one problem.”

The smile vanished. “What?”

Tony noticed the tiny crease that formed between Ella’s brows. A frown tugged at her very kissable lips. She was so cute that all he wanted to do was pull her even closer and kiss away her worries.

He swallowed down his desires and settled for, “I’ve worked up a ravenous appetite.”

“Oh, you!” She pulled out of his embrace. She swatted his arm, barely touching him. “I thought you were serious.”

Without Ella in his arms, he noticed a distinct chill in the air. “I am serious. I’m ravenous.”

“How about you put this furniture back while I scrounge through the kitchen and see what I can find that’ll feed two?”

While repositioning the couch, his gaze landed on the stone fireplace. The glow and crackle of a burning log would be a nice touch. “Want me to start a fire to take the chill off the evening?”

She kept busy at the stove and called over her shoulder. “No, thanks. Besides, I’ll be in bed soon.”

Images of them tangled together in sheets, lip to lip, skin to skin… He inwardly groaned, fighting back his yearnings. He refused to let his imagination run unleashed. Ella was his dance partner. Nothing more.

After the furniture was repositioned, he took Patch outside to stretch his legs. When he returned, Ella carried two plates of taquitos and a couple of bowls of white chili into the living room. The spicy scent wafted through the air. His stomach rumbled in anticipation.

“You’re in luck,” she said. “I had a craving for Mexican food, and there was on sale last week, so I splurged.”

“Right about now I’d eat almost anything.”

They took a seat on the couch and placed their food on the coffee table.

“How do you like Whistle Stop now that you’ve been here for a while?” He took a bite of one of the small rolled-up tortillas filled with chicken and cheese.

“The town hasn’t changed much since I spent my summers here as a kid. The rustic atmosphere is one of the town’s charms.”

“Are you saying the slow pace doesn’t bother you after growing up in the city?” He wondered if she’d soon grow bored and move on. After getting shuffled around as a child, she’d probably think nothing of picking up and moving on.

“The laidback pace takes some getting used to, but I’m adjusting. I might even swing by the old movie theater one of these days.”

“I haven’t been there in years.” He rewound his memories back to a time when life wasn’t so complicated. “I remember when my father would finish up his work around the ranch early on Saturday evenings and round up the family to catch the latest flick.”

Her eyes lit up. “That reminds me of how my mother used to take me and my brother to a matinee on Black Fridays. We didn’t have money to Christmas shop, but somehow she’d always scrape together just enough for a holiday movie and popcorn.”

A smile settled on her lips, but it didn’t hide the haunted look in her eyes. There was so much more to this woman than he knew, and he longed to learn every single detail about her. But he didn’t want to push her and scare her off.

Ella munched on a taquito. When she licked the sauce from her fingertip, he couldn’t turn away, fascinated by her rosy tongue as it swirled around her finger. He mustered all his self-restraint not to help her.

“Mm…delicious,” she murmured. “I’ve always loved these.”

Tony’s imagination kicked into overdrive, imagining her tongue and fingers on him. The delectable image had him reaching the end of his tether. He tried reminding himself of all the reasons they shouldn’t be together, but suddenly those reasons weren’t sounding quite so insurmountable.

“Johnny loves them, too.” Tony tried to focus on anything but how much he wanted her—all of her.

Ella gave him a thoughtful look, pursed her lips as though to say something, but stopped. Instead, she glanced away. She couldn’t leave him wondering if she was having the same sort of thoughts as he was.

“Whatever you’re thinking, just spit it out.”

“It’s none of my business.” She gazed warily at him, then said, “I’m just curious. How did you end up being Johnny’s guardian?”

The question doused his heated thoughts. He cleared his throat. “Someone had to step up to the plate. Seemed like the thing to do.” It was his stock answer whenever poked and prodded, and he felt guilty for not being more open with Ella.

Her gaze lowered to the napkin in her hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up the subject. I just thought if I understood a little more about Johnny’s background, I might be able to connect with him and be more effective when we’re going over his lessons.”

Tony took a long drink of cold water while wrapping his mind around the fact that Ella was concerned enough about his nephew to risk asking such a sensitive question. She might as well hear the entire truth from him instead of some twisted version from Whistle Stop’s gossip mill.

“A year or so ago, I was living near Santa Fe. My brother had been pestering me to come down to Whistle Stop and see what he’d done with the ranch. It wasn’t his first request, but each time he mentioned me visiting, I found a new excuse. I didn’t want to face the huge responsibility I’d dumped on him, nor hear my mother’s subtle innuendos about how much I was needed at home. I knew my girlfriend, Jessie, wouldn’t go with me. She and my mother didn’t exactly hit it off.”

“It’s hard to imagine Carlota not getting along with someone.”

“Jessie was different. Sort of a wild child, but always lots of fun. I met her at a bar when I was at the firefighting academy. We started dating, and she convinced me to move away. My mother tried to tell me that Jessie was a pack of trouble just waiting to happen, but I thought I knew better.” He paused, waiting for the wave of betrayal to hit him, but for the first time, the anguish had dulled. “I never thought Jessie would hurt me. I guess I was wrong.”

“Maybe she’ll come to her senses and come back to you.”

He shrugged. “For a long time I thought that—I hoped for that. But it wasn’t meant to be. I’m not meant to be happy.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“That’s because you…you don’t know the whole story.”

“If this is too painful, we don’t have to talk about it.”

He did. For himself. He had to prove he was strong enough to deal with these memories.

“The night before the accident, my brother called. He asked me to drive out to the ranch. He had news to share. Even though I didn’t have any plans, I lied and told him I did. I wasn’t up for another one of his guilt trips. The next evening, there was a knock at the door. It was my brother and his wife. They wanted me to be the first to know that I was going to be an uncle again. They were hoping it’d convince me to move home and help my brother run the ranch, giving him more time for their growing family.”

Tony’s throat grew thick. Though a year had passed since the accident, the loss still caused a throbbing ache in his chest. He pushed past the pain, intent on telling the whole, awful tale.

Ella’s mouth opened, but before she could utter a syllable, he barreled on. He feared if he stopped now, he wouldn’t be able to continue. “I was selfish and could only think about my life and my future. I told them I was happy for them, but I wasn’t moving back to Whistle Stop. That was the last time I saw either of them.”