Not Your Match (18 page)

Andi stopped in front of Luke and stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Andi.”

He took her hand uncertainly. “Luke. Shall we get our tickets and skates?”

“Sure.” Andi fell into step beside him. All around them people talked and laughed, but Luke stayed silent. Andi shoved her hands in her pocket, the lack of conversation suffocating. She hated first dates. It was one of the reasons she’d never really thought too hard about her relationship with Mark. He was easy and comfortable, and so she’d stayed with him.

Andi sent Luke a sideways glance. His jaw clenched and unclenched as he stared steadfastly ahead. He probably hated first dates, too. His Toujour dates had been extensively covered by the press. The one at the football game had seemed particularly disastrous. Of course, a date that ended with one or both parties doused in beer was rarely successful. He was probably exhausted from having to constantly be on for the media. If what Zoey said was true, he was also under a fair amount of stress in regards to his relationship with Brooke.

Andi wasn’t trying to impress this guy. She didn’t want to be Mrs. Luke Ryder, and she wasn’t looking for five minutes of fame. All she wanted was to fulfill her obligation to Rachel, and maybe stuff her feelings for Ben into a box. She could be honest with Luke. She wanted to put him at ease.

“I really hate first dates, don’t you?” Andi said.

Luke’s eyebrow hitched and his eyes clouded, and Andi had the urge to giggle. She liked befuddling him.

“Two tickets,” Luke said. Justin stamped their hands, and Luke motioned to the counter across the room where they could pick up their skates.

“First dates are so awkward and uncomfortable,” Andi continued. Luke’s eyebrow rose further, and she had to stifle a giggle. “Agonizingly painful experiences, and you’ve had some real doozies lately. At least according to the press. I was thinking, let’s pretend we’re not on a date. Let’s pretend we’re friends. Sound good?”

“Sounds great, actually,” he said. But his brow was still furrowed in concentration, as though he couldn’t figure her out.

He probably wasn’t used to women who didn’t play games. That was okay. Andi suddenly very much wanted to erase the tension from his face.

It would be easier to help Luke save Toujour and win over Brooke than to deal with Andi’s crush on Ben. Because if she wasn’t even attracted to Luke Ryder, her crush was a much bigger problem than she’d realize.

Luke was attractive, yes. But she wasn’t
attracted
to him the way she’d expected to be. The way every other woman in America was. Ben tickled the back of her mind, tugging, probing, begging to be let in. But no. He had Whitney to deal with, and Andi didn’t want another relationship.

She sat down on the bench next to Luke and laced up her skates.

“So what brings you to Toujour?” Luke asked.

“My best friend.” Andi flipped her hair over her shoulder and tightened the lace, then stood. Her knees wobbled and she held her arms out, struggling to stay upright. Luke was almost as unsteady as she was, and they slowly made their way across the floor. Andi grabbed the plexi-glass wall surrounding the rink and carefully stepped onto the ice, her skates nearly sliding out from under her.

Seriously, who’s idea had ice skating been? She was going to tell Zoey that in the future she wanted dates a little less challenging.

“Your best friend.” Luke’s voice sounded wary. “There’s got to be a story there.”

Andi laughed.
Nothing like your story, buddy.
“Oh, there is. It’s kind of Rachel’s fault my high school sweetheart dumped me six months ago. She’s a newlywed and seems to think I will only be able to heal from the indignity of being dumped once married. Whoa.” An ice skater flew past them, and she stumbled. Her arms spiraled as she struggled to keep her feet under her. Luke stuck out an arm to catch her.
Click.
Andi saw a cameraman out of the corner of her eye.

Holy crap. Why hadn’t she considered this date would show up in the papers? Of course it would. He was
Luke Ryder.

What would Ben think of their date?

It doesn’t matter,
she told herself sternly.

She swallowed, struggling to stay unaffected. “Thanks. Anyway, Rachel can be relentless, and she prepaid for three months at Toujour and gave it to me as a Christmas present. I figured it would be easier to go along with it than to try to convince her I’m over Mark.” Andi took a deep breath and plunged. His response would tell her everything she needed to know about their relationship, or lack of one. “That’s why I was excited when Zoey told me they’d matched us up. I knew you weren’t looking for serious either.”

Luke grabbed her hand, pulling her to a stop. He glanced around, his eyes wide with anxiety.

Bingo. He was exactly the guy to get Rachel off her back.

“What makes you say that?” Luke said.

Andi rolled her eyes, pulling him forward. “Oh, c’mon. You’re totally gone on Brooke. It’s obvious even from photos. Aren’t you two best friends or something?”

“Or something.”

She thought of New Year’s Eve and the way her body had ignited at the slightest touch from Ben. The way she ached for him when they were apart.
Or something.
That was a good way to put it. “Yeah, I’m ‘or something’ too. I think I might have a crush on Rachel’s brother.” The words slipped out before Andi consciously realized what she was saying.
Crap.
She hadn’t meant to tell anyone about Ben, least of all a stranger. She needed to get her head on straight. She hadn’t been thinking clearly since New Year’s Eve.

“Then why don’t you go out with him?” Luke asked.

Andi chewed on her lip. “It’s complicated. I don’t think any of our friends or family would exactly be thrilled.” Rachel would flip out, and Andi’s parents would lecture her about how teaching wasn’t an ambitious enough career, and she needed to marry a doctor or a lawyer or a dentist. “But you . . . ha! My parents and Rachel will die when they see the papers tomorrow. Definitely no ‘you need to find a nice guy to date and get over Mark’ conversations this week. Take that, Rach.”

Luke stared at her like she had two heads. “I, uh . . .”

She’d said too much, and now she seemed like a crazy girl.
Pull it together, Andi.
She spun around, grabbing his hands and skating backward so they faced each other. “Don’t tell me Luke Ryder is without words.”

“I don’t know what to make of you.”

That’s because I’ve lost my mind.
“There’s nothing to make of me. I’m just me. So, tell me about Brooke.”

Luke glanced around nervously. “I’d rather not.”

Andi looked around too, but no one was within hearing distance. “Oh, psh. No one’s listening. And if they are and somehow print our conversation, I’ll sue them for unlawful invasion of privacy.”

Luke laughed and let her pull him forward. “Is that even a real thing?”

“I’ll make it a real thing, then I’ll sue them. I’m very good at my job.” Andi let go of one of his hands and moved so they were skating side by side again. But she didn’t let go of his other hand. “So what’s the deal with you and Brooke?”

A skater flew past, and Andi and Luke both wobbled on their skates. Andi laughed as they slowed to a snail’s pace, clinging on to each other.

“I love her, but she’s getting married to someone else.” His eyes were dark and brooding, and he clenched his jaw. Every line of his body tensed in frustration.

Andi could relate to his frustration, at least a little. Maybe she didn’t believe in love, but Luke obviously did. And he needed help if he was going to get the girl. Andi flexed her fingers, a new purpose filling her.

She would help Luke get his happy ending.

“Yeah, that sucks,” Andi said. “What are you going to do about it?”

“I told her I loved her.”

She had told Mark she loved him too, more times than she could count. In the end, it hadn’t mattered. Andi shook her head. “Not good enough. Women respond to actions, not words.”

“What, like I’m supposed to overwhelm her apartment with flowers and chocolates?”

Again, Andi shook her head. “You’re rich—buying things takes no effort or sacrifice. You have to do something to really
show her you’re committed. That she means more to you than anything. You know—the big gesture.”

“A big gesture, huh?”

Andi nodded. Like moving from Arizona to California on New Year’s Eve. Was Whitney’s big gesture going to win Ben over in the end?

“If I save Toujour, that’ll go a long way toward convincing her,” Luke said. “If I don’t, she’s moving to Italy.”

“Well, that fits in with my plans perfectly then.”

Luke chuckled. “Ah, you do have ulterior motives.”

Yes, but Luke didn’t need to know one of them was helping him win over Brooke. “Obviously. I need Rach off my back for a few months. But my plans benefit you too. I think we can help each other. You need a fake relationship for the papers. I need a fake relationship so Rachel can stop feeling guilty.” She grinned. “Well, what do you say?”

Luke pulled her closer, tightening his grip on her hand. “You make a persuasive argument. Deal.”

Ben nervously knocked on Andi’s door a few minutes before five-thirty. Soon he’d be holding her in his arms as they danced together for the first time in five years. He nervously brushed invisible lint off his gym pants and adjusted the duffel bag holding his shoes and water bottle. He hoped his shoes still fit okay, and he didn’t end the night with blisters.

The door opened and his jaw dropped. Andi wore tight leggings and a loose-fitting tee that hung off one shoulder. Her hair was piled on top of her head, and she had a bag slung over one shoulder.

She didn’t invite him in, but stepped into the hallway and locked the door. “Right on time,” she said. “You ready for this?”

“Absolutely.” He followed her to the elevator, struggling to keep his eyes where they belonged.

Two hours of his hands caressing her body in dance. He flushed at the thought.

In the car, Andi entered the address into her phone’s GPS and then pulled out of the parking lot.

“How was your first day teaching?” Andi asked. “I meant to text you yesterday, but things got busy at work and I didn’t have a breather until late.”

“The school has an A/B schedule, so I had all new classes yesterday and today. I think it’ll be a good semester. There are a few students that seem like trouble makers, but most of them were respectful and attentive. I gave them an assessment to try and figure out how behind we are, and I’m about halfway through grading them. It isn’t as bad as I anticipated after half a year with no real teacher.”

“That’s great, Ben. I’m happy for you.” Andi glanced at him, the returned her focus to the road. “How are things with Whitney?”

“I haven’t heard from her since New Year’s day.” He flicked his nail against his teeth, the worry pouring back. “It’s kind of freaking me out, honestly.”

“Maybe she’s giving you space.”

“Maybe.” But he didn’t think so. She wasn’t giving him space—she was planning how to get him back.

Andi tapped her finger against the steering wheel. “You could call her, if you’re worried. Ask what her plans are.”

“I’ll wait her out.” He wasn’t about to play into her hands.

Andi pulled into the parking lot of Footsteps for Change. Ben’s eyes widened. He’d been picturing a tiny dance studio in a strip mall, but this building was the size of an elementary school. The lines were clean and modern, the exterior a black vinyl that screamed dance. The sign that hung above the double doors hadn’t faded or cracked.

They got out of the car, and Andi gave a low whistle. “This place is a lot nicer than I expected. Looks new.”

“I didn’t realize it was so big,” Ben said. “How many dance studios are in this place?”

“At least a few.” Andi glanced around the parking lot. There weren’t many cars, but the bike racks on either side of the sidewalk leading to the front doors held at least a dozen bikes each. “It’s busier than I expected it to be.”

Ben pulled open the door and held it for Andi, then stepped inside and looked around. A few chairs sat in front of the bay window. One wall held pamphlets for everything from heating assistance to financial aid for school. A black desk sat along the far wall, with a closed door on either side of it.