Kiss Me, Dancer (4 page)

“You can’t always choose, Casey. No one knows that better than I do.”

“I understand that, Mom.”

And she did understand how hard it had been on Lauren Richardson when her husband died, leaving her with a nine, a fifteen and a seventeen-year-old to provide for. But it hadn’t been easy on Casey either. Her youth ended early when her mom went from one poorly paying job to the next, never holding any for long because she drank herself into oblivion every chance she got.

Her brother had tried his best to move into their father’s role, but there was only so much a teen could do. Casey had taken on more and more responsibilities, nursing her sick father until his death, caring for her younger sister, as well as managing household chores and taking part-time jobs to help make ends meet. High school became something she squeezed in between all her duties.

But when the vineyards brought tourist trade to the North Fork, and Parker helped turn their mother’s house into a profitable Bed and Breakfast, life brightened. Things seemed possible. The new sense of optimism gave Casey the impetus go for something she wanted. She’d started taking college courses in Riverhead. And dance classes. Ballet, modern, jazz.

Kind of late at nineteen, but she fell in love fast with the beauty, discipline and athleticism of dance. Saved her waitress earnings and rented a room in a dingy apartment with three other dancers on Avenue B in Manhattan. But those days were over for Casey. She had looked long and hard trying to find something to replace that dream.

And with her academy and all her wonderful students Casey had thought she finally found it.

She heaved long sigh, which of course her mom heard.

“You know, Casey, if you’d accepted Trevor Barton’s proposal all this trouble wouldn’t be happening. He might ask again if you encouraged him a bit.”

“I’m not ready to get married,” Casey said, her teeth clenched. “And this ‘trouble’ is about something that’s important to me.”

Her mother’s tone sharpened. “Is there anything so wrong with settling down and raising a family?”

“Of course not. But I’m still not sure if he’s the one.” She took a swig of her coffee, swallowing down the truth. Casey knew darn well Trevor was not the one for her.

“Well, it’s been almost a year. Don’t let it go too long or he’ll up and marry another girl and you’ll be sorry.”

“If that happens it just means we weren’t right for each other.”

“Whatever you say, Casey. Go ahead and make another mess of things.”

***

That same night Drew Byrne pulled his metallic blue Porsche Panamera into the 7-Eleven to pick up a coffee before heading back to Southampton in the South Fork. After paying for his brew he sat in his car in front of the store. Drew rested his coffee in the cup holder and lit up a fragrant Montecristo cigar. He puffed a soft cloud of smoke out the window trying to clear his head over the little debate he’d just had with his ex-wife. Actually it wasn’t so much Heather this time, it was Josh. Not that his ex didn’t have a way of pissing him off every time they spoke.

Married in their early twenties, they’d had much to learn about life and each other. Apart from the lusty physical attraction that brought Heather and him together, there was the money. Drew had always taken his comfortable surroundings for granted, having been well off growing up. But it soon became clear that his resources were the bulk of his appeal to his young wife. After two years they both recognized they didn’t really love each other and that their marriage was a mistake. And the birth of his son only seemed to give them more to fight over. The divorce got messy, with Heather pushing for every dollar she could squeeze from him. A raw lesson in life marking the beginning of Drew’s suspicious attitude toward women who wanted to get close to him.

Earlier tonight when he dropped his son back at the house where the boy lived with Heather and her second husband, he’d barely stepped in the front door before Josh opened his mouth about the incident at the dance studio. Usually Josh sat stone-faced or left the room while Drew and Heather discussed schedules and plans regarding their child. He was a quiet kid who clearly didn’t like witnessing the tense exchanges between his two parents.

So Drew was blown away when Josh erupted in a flurry of anger over losing his dance classes. Heather went livid.

And Drew once again found himself on the defensive saying, “I’m going to take him to my gym instead. Put him on a real muscle building program. No more of this ballerina stuff.”

“Did you know Edward Villella was once a boxer?”

“Who’s he?”

“Of course. I forgot. All you follow is the NFL and MMA. Villella was a famous
male
ballet dancer from New York City Ballet.”

“Yeah, well …”

“Baryshnikov is no sissy either. Ask Jessica Lange. And Natalie Portman obviously found Benjamin Millepied’s athleticism appealing.”

“That’s just it. Josh has real talent as an athlete. And I can’t see him reaching his potential with some rinky-dink ballerina like Casey Richardson.”

“Then how come she beat you at the ping-pong match?” This low blow came from his own son. And of course brought a barely concealed grin from Heather.

Heather sent Josh out of the room and lowered her voice. “Look, I know this dance academy is merely a local, downhome place. But Casey does have a way of opening up shy kids like Josh. She brought something out in him that I’ve had a hard time reaching. Don’t worry, though. I already have plans to send Josh to a more professional school that’s attached to an internationally famous dance company.”

“Dance? You’ve already got him on piano lessons and art classes. He should be playing ball. When I was his age—”

“Your father had you under his macho iron thumb. Pardon me for treading on sacred ground, but your father customized your world and drove you hard to excel in manly games and manly business. And now you’re acting just like him.”

What Heather seemed to forget was that he also excelled at negotiating. And by the time he left she agreed to let him have two weeks to try a fitness program with Josh instead of the dance classes.

Now, grumbling to himself, Drew took one more swig of coffee and hit the ignition. The lights of his Porsche broke across the wall of the 7-Eleven highlighting a collage of posters. The one directly in front of him caught his eye. He squinted at the bold black print against the bright yellow background.

Was there no escape from Casey Richardson? He got out of his car and marched over to the poster for a closer look.

FAMILY FITNESS BOOT CAMP

It’s summer again! And for the third year in a row the

North Cove Civic Association is offering a high energy and

fun program for parents and their kids to work out together in a safe,

but intensive system under the supervision of two expert trainers.

Trevor Barton

North Cove High Phys. Ed. Instructor and Football coach

Casey Richardson

Dancer and Director of North Cove Dance Academy

Location: North Cove High School gymnasium

7 to 8:30 PM. Tuesdays and Thursday, July 6th to August 17th

Active wear required. Come ready to sweat!

Drew ripped the poster from the wall, tossed it onto the passenger seat of his Porsche and sped off.

Chapter Four

On Monday morning Casey drove her ancient-but-still-kicking Honda Civic down Cove Street, one of the two main streets that made up the downtown area of North Cove. She found a parking space and ran through the rain to a bright blue door between latticed bay windows. Natalie’s Coffee Cove.

Clinking dishes punctuated a low-keyed buzz of neighbors chatting at shiny white tables amid the rich scent of fresh java. Photographs of Phil, Natalie’s beloved West Highland Terrier, lined the walls. Today classes at the studio did not begin until the afternoon. Casey had scheduled an early appointment at the bank to at least get information about buying Vonrelis’s building. Not that she actually thought it was possible. But this morning Natalie called and insisted she come over for breakfast beforehand.

A slow starter in the morning, Casey offered sleepy nods to regulars — two cops, the woman from the insurance agency across the street, Millicent who ran a gift shop, Larry from the health food store — and made her way to a table next to the window. Her bottom barely hit the seat before her BFF appeared at her shoulder.

Natalie gestured toward the rear of the store and said, “I’ve got us all set up special in the back. Time to watch and learn. Our lucky winner could call at any time.”

“Oboy.” Casey followed her friend to her office. Desk and computer against one wall, a small table and chairs against the other. And yet more photos of Phil.

“Over there, sweetie.”

“Thanks, Nat. This looks yummy.” Casey eyed a plate of scrambled eggs set on the table next to a tray of fresh baked scones and muffins. She sat and poured a mug of her favorite roast from a carafe.

Natalie slid a stack of papers with a cell phone on top across the table. “Keep this phone with you. It’s the number our winner has been given for Madame Lumina.”

“So, is this person anyone I know?”

“He’s somebody from out of town. Can’t remember his name. Got a quick glimpse of him when we passed out the prizes. A real looker, but I’d never seen him before.”

“That’s a relief.”

Natalie shuffled a deck of tarot cards and dealt a few out on the table. “Step one, you let the cards do the work.” She pointed to the papers. “I’ve made charts of the basic meanings for each and every card. If a meaning still isn’t clear or doesn’t make sense, study the pictures on the card. Go by what symbols you see. For instance. White lilies mean purity. Maybe she’s still a virgin.”

“Then she didn’t go to
our
high school.”

“Stop joking, Casey. I’ll bet you’ll like doing this. And you’d be surprised how accurate you can be.”

“Oh, I’ll be surprised all right.” Casey bit into a cinnamon scone.

“By the way, the Death card does not mean you’re going to croak. If that comes up just tell him things have run their course and it’s time to start anew.”

“Got it.” Casey refilled her coffee and added half-and-half. Another few cups, and she might actually have the courage to face the bank officer. She considered opening up to her friend about her lease problem, but decided Natalie had enough worries keeping the Coffee Cove running.

Natalie raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of starting anew. When are you going to get out of your comfort zone and begin dating someone other than Trevor?”

“Trevor’s a good guy.”

“He’s a domineering bore. And he didn’t even show up to see your students perform yesterday.”

“He’d already made plans to go out of town.”

“You told me having sex with Trevor is about as exciting for you as playing catch in the backyard with your neighbor.”

Casey paused with her cup halfway to her mouth. “Did I say that?”

“You sure did.”

“Yeah, well, I guess maybe every so often things get a little…”

“Admit it girl. You’re in a funk.”

“Okay. So he’s not my ideal.”

“The man is limited. Sure, he’s good looking, has a great bod. But his world is the size of that cup you’re drinking from, and you know it. How many times have I heard you complain that he doesn’t get your jokes or understand half the things you say to him? Like his mind was spawned on a different planet from yours. At least I believe that’s how you put it. Remember?”

Casey nodded.

“Well, then? Wouldn’t you rather have somebody who understands what makes you tick? A man who can keep up with you? Even challenge you at times?” She leaned forward and quirked a brow. “A guy who’s so dangerously sexy he turns your knees to Jell-O.”

Drew Byrne immediately came to Casey’s mind. Now there was one dangerously sexy dude — and did he ever challenge her. No question the electricity flowed when he got close to her. In fact, hot fantasies of his powerfully graceful body moving over hers had kept her tossing in bed for the last two nights.

But between accusing him of abducting his own son and then embarrassing him in front of the boy with a ping-pong beat-down…

“Wouldn’t work,” Casey said, her voice sober. “Even if a guy like that ever bothered to get serious with me, Calamity Richardson would do something dumb and mess it up.”

“Don’t call yourself that. You are not a
calamity
. Always blaming yourself every time something goes wrong.”

“I just somehow manage to fail at everything.”

“Your dance academy is no failure.”

Casey shrugged, thinking about her latest dumb mistake. The one she’d made by not hiring a lawyer before signing her lease. And this one would likely cost her the little school she’d worked so hard for.

Natalie reached across the table and touched Casey’s wrist. “I think you’re avoiding when it comes to men, sweetie. Living in denial. You’ve been hiding behind that possessive and pushy Trevor Barton long enough.”

“Okay, okay. But this one’s got all the makings of another Jeff Renstadt.”

“This one?”

Casey’s hand flew to her mouth. Her fantasy had invaded her conscious mind. How bad was that?

Natalie pulled Casey’s hand away. “You met a guy.”

“Not really. In fact, it was more of a squabble than a meeting.”

“But you’re into him. I can tell. Who is he?”

“The divorced father of one of my students. But I’m certain he’s just another rich, arrogant player. And I’ve learned my lesson with those kind.”

“Just because you got burned by Jeff doesn’t mean it will happen again. I mean, take your choice. Which is it gonna be? The World Series or that same old boring game of catch?”

Casey stared into her coffee. Natalie had her dead to rights on the safety verses excitement thing. Why else would Drew Byrne’s piercing eyes and wickedly sexy body be seared into her brain, taunting her, when she knew going anywhere near him would spell trouble?