Touch Me and Tango (10 page)

He sidestepped before she made anymore revealing jokes that
might get the journalist on his arm curious. “Mrs. Gentilliano, I’d like you to
meet Alix Nicole.”

Eva extended her hand to Alix, but turned to Parker.
“Whatever happened to that nice veterinarian you were engaged to?”

Reset one more time
.
“By the way, that lawn of yours must be on steroids. Whoever you hired to make
that silly path—”

“I did that,” Tanya said, coming through the door.

“You?” Parker laughed.

Eva jumped in. “You should’ve seen her. Covered herself from
head-to-toe so the bugs couldn’t get at her. Even wore a ski mask. Not that it
mattered. Two hours later, poor thing came racing into the house, eyes
watering, sneezing and wheezing. I went straight for the Benadryl.”

He caught Tanya’s eye. She turned red. She’d never been good
at admitting defeat, even on something like this.

Alix snickered. “Why didn’t you use a mower?”

“Anybody with half a brain would figure you don’t trim the
Great Prairie with a lawn mower.”

Parker backed away when a soccer mom with a little boy came
forward with a Royal Doulton Bunnykins figurine. “Your sticker says thirty.
Will you take twenty?”

“Make it twenty-five.”

As the woman passed her a line of fives, a bill slipped
through Eva’s fingers and sailed to the floor.

“Here let me,” said the woman.

“No need. I have it.” Still seated, Eva bent at the waist,
reaching out in an awkward attempt to pick it up. As she did, a gray metallic
object slipped from her fanny pack and hit the floor with a loud
kerplunk
.

All eyes focused on the steel magnum pistol lying at Eva’s
feet.

“Whoa,” said the little boy. “She’s packing heat.” His
mother’s jaw dropped open.

Tanya rolled her eyes. “Mom, please put that thing away.
Geez.”

Eva clasped it by the handle and slid the gun back inside
the zipper pouch hanging from her waist. “Just a little precaution.”

After her last set of grande battements, Tanya stepped away
from the barre and slid to the floor in a split. Reversed it. Then finally sat
with her legs spread wide, chest resting on the floor in front of her.

She listened to the cacaphony of sounds coming from other
studios along the hall: classical piano, rock music, a voice singing Broadway,
and a hand drum beating madly while someone called out, “
One
, two, three,
one
, two
three.”

Over the last week she hadn’t so much as flexed her
Achilles. Now she luxuriated in that taffy-like feel of warm, pliable muscles
ready for a good challenge. Even though this was only going to be a little
demonstration class in front of North Fork locals who probably wouldn’t know
the difference between good technique and bad, it still lit a spark in Tanya.
Performing filled some need in her that she couldn’t quite name.

For attention? Approval? Praise? Did it really all go back
to Daddy and Mommy?

This morning she had to talk her mother out of accompanying
her the way she had when she was a ten-year-old. Even in those days her mom
usually ended up doing something that meant Tanya had to cover for her or take
care of her in some way. But at least Eva had always tried. Although she could
never quite be the mother her daughter had needed, at least Tanya knew she
wanted to be. But with Daddy, it was all about himself.

And Mark was so like him. Truth was, her mom’s SOS had come
at just the right time.

“Have you trained in American Smooth?” Julio said.

“Sure have.”

“Would you mind working in that style? I know you’ve been
dancing mostly in Europe.”

“It’ll be a nice change.”

Julio had called Tanya this morning, asking her to come to
the North Cove Performing Arts Academy at noon so they could warm up and
prepare a few things for the demonstration class they’d be giving at two. She
couldn’t help wondering if Parker would show up. With Alix. “Do many people
come to these Sunday Family Days?”

Julio nodded. “We get a fairly good crowd. Especially when
Casey’s Cove Corps group gives a little performance.”

Tanya stayed in her ballet tights but put on ballroom heels.
“So this is both a demonstration and a class?”

He nodded. “I’d like to give a short demo of three different
dances and afterward teach the first steps in each. We’ll start them off with a
simple fox trot.”

They began working out examples of a fox trot, a tango and a
rhumba, adding in a few non-traditonal lifts and lunges to dazzle their
audience. Julio moved beautifully. He had an instinctive sense of timing and
took meticulous care on the lifts, setting her back on her feet with ease. She
also liked the feel of his ripped shoulders and chest.

Almost as beautiful as Parker’s. Dear, difficult Mr.
Richardson had one of those unbelievable torsos you’d see on the cover of a
romance novel. And, yeah, she’d spent half the night wishing he were in bed
with her. And the other half wishing him a miserable time with that nasty woman
he’d had the nerve to bring to the house sale.

“Do you mind my music choice for the tango?” Julio asked.

“I love it.”

When they finished rehearsing, he snatched her hands and
held them, his devilish eyes gazing at her with admiration. “You are so fluid,
so strong, and yet so quick and precise. And so incredibly beautiful.”

Before she could respond he began teasing her. “Admit it.
You can’t resist me.”

Tanya laughed. “And who could?” She returned a short,
friend-only hug, and pulled away. “I do think we dance well together.”

“So maybe you’ll consider me as your next partner.”

Bypassing that issue for now, she said, “What should I wear
for this Family Day? My costumes aren’t exactly family-friendly.”

“You’d look great in anything. You know, there’s the June
competition in New Jersey. Not as big as what you’re used to. Good place to
test out a new partner.” Julio flashed her a dimpled smile. She had a feeling
he knew the effect his sexy grin had on women.

“I’ll think about it.” She grabbed her duffle bag and headed
to the girls’ dressing rooms.

By the time she returned in a stretch jersey dress with a
flared skirt, sounds of people talking and children calling and laughing filled
the hallway. She peeked into different studios, guessing by the age and apparel
of the crowd what kind of program each would hold. She’d read the academy’s
brochure and was amazed at the range of theater and music programs they offered
in addition to all different kinds of dance.

A group of maybe twenty people already waited in the
ballroom studio. She shot a glance at Julio, her eyebrows lifted in surprise.

He murmured, “They’re not all here to dance. Word got out
that an internationally acclaimed ballroom pro would be demonstrating with me
tonight.”

Of course that made her nervous. Pre-performance jitters
were something that never went away, no matter how seasoned a pro a dancer was.

Their demo went beautifully, especially considering they’d
only put it together an hour ago. And that the space they had to dance in had
shrunk due to the now sizable audience filling the studio. Including Casey. But
not her brother.

Enthusiastic applause followed each dance, and they moved on
to the instructional portion, inviting participants. Only a few volunteered,
knowing they’d be watched by the large audience that showed no signs of
breaking up.

As Tanya scanned the crowd, she noticed a man about her own
age in a wheelchair lurking outside the open door to the studio. He had short
blonde hair and wore a Yankees tee that showed a Nautilus-pumped upper body.

She purposely caught his eye. “Hello.”

He looked embarrassed to be noticed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to
disturb you. My daughter’s in the ballet room. Thought I’d take a look around.”

“Well, there’s no need to hang outside the door. We’ve got
room in here for you.”

He hesitated. Tanya gestured to some people in front. “Would
you please make some room for… what’s your name?” She looked at him.

“Billy.” He wheeled himself into the studio.

“Nice to meet you, Billy. I guess you know this is Julio and
I’m Tanya.”

“Yeah. You guys are awesome.”

“Thanks.”

“I was never much of a dancer. Although a part of me used to
wish I could do all that fancy stuff.” He laughed and patted the side of his
wheel chair. “Like I said,
used to
.”

“To my thinking there’s no such thing as
used to
. Come here.”

“But…”

Tanya held out her hand. “You’re not going to turn me down,
are you?”

His cheeks went red, but he wheeled himself forward and gave
her his hand.

“Your posture is really good, but you could lift your chin a
little. It’s important to make eye contact with your dance partner.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No.” She did a rhythmic walk, still holding his hand and
carried him along with her. Then she pivoted toward Billy, took his other hand,
and went into a backward zigzag step. She ended by releasing one of his hands
and turning him into a wheeled pirouette under her arm.

Julio and the others applauded.

“It’s better with music,” Tanya said.

Billy laughed. “Isn’t everything?”

“Wheelchair ballroom is very popular in Europe, but it’s
just starting here. Like any other art form, it takes some work and dedication.
If you’re game, I’ll be your partner.”

Everyone fell silent, waiting for Billy to answer. Tanya
wondered if she’d done the wrong thing, putting him on the spot like this. She
was about to tell him she wouldn’t be insulted if he chose not to do it, when
Casey stepped in.

“You know something? There’s a lot of people on wheels who
might like a dance class. I’ve been wanting to expand our ballroom roster.
Julio can be in charge of the standers, you can be in charge of the wheelers.
How about it, Tanya?”

She hesitated, thinking if she left here it would be one
thing to let Julio find a replacement for her in his classes, but quite another
thing to abandon her own group of wheelchair dancers.

“If your game, I’ll be your partner,” Billy said, reaching
out his hand.

She took it. “Okay. We’re on.”

***

Monday morning at five a.m. Parker met Miles and Billy for
their usual tri-weekly workout. But this morning Parker had trouble keeping his
mind in the gym. In a few hours he’d be picking up Tanya and heading out to the
Rubikoff Preserve.

With the agility and strength of a gymnast, Billy Trolitsky
lifted himself from his wheelchair and with Parker’s help, positioned himself
on the bench press machine. After rolling out the first ten reps Billy huffed
and strained, his face red, his arms slowing and shaking.

Miles Harnett stood behind the bench spotting the disabled
vet. “Let’s see it, Billy. Two more.” His hands hovered inches above the bar,
prepared to assist. “Pump it out, bro.”

Billy exhaled with a determined burst of energy, and pushed
out the final two. He sat up with his legs wide; legs that ended mid-thigh.

“Nice work,” Parker said.

“Thanks, man, but where’s your mojo this morning? Looks like
you’re going around in your head about something. What’s going down?”

Miles grinned. “That woman at the Coffee Cove?”

“A woman, huh? Who is she?”

Parker waved them off. “You sound like a couple of old
cackling hens. I’m just thinking about some business issues.”

“Pretty lame act, but I’ll have mercy and let you slide for
now,” Billy said, flashing the same sly grin Parker had known him for since
their high school wrestling days. Seemed like only a short time ago when the
two of them ruled in their respective divisions. Billy in the 152 pound weight
class and Parker at 160. With only a slight difference in size between them,
the two would often pair up during season practice.

He liked seeing his friend acting like the same old Billy.
But Parker also saw the other side of the story in his eyes. The frustrated,
angry side that reflected a more recent and painful history of a bitter divorce
and a brutal war that left Billy without the use of his legs and struggling to
cope with the ego wound of being seen as an invalid. A role Billy refused to
accept.

Parker shook his head and said to Miles. “You’re up.”

He slid onto the bench. “Yo, Billy, what time’s the meeting
tomorrow night? Seven or seven-thirty?”

“Seven.”

“Meeting?” Parker asked.

“For the hospital fundraiser.”

It was Billy’s job in the administrative offices at North
Cove Memorial Hospital that had brought him in contact with Miles, a volunteer
pilot for their maritime ambulance. Knowing the rugged, independent Miles would
hit it off with his rugged, independent childhood buddy, who also did volunteer
work for the hospital, he’d introduced them three years ago.

“You mean the big soiree,” Parker said. “I heard it’s going
to be held over at the Martin and Stephanie Le Bosse estate?”

“You got it,” Billy said.

Miles whistled. “Ever seen the inside of that place? Looks
like Buckingham Palace.”

Billy feigned an air of sophistication in his voice. “A
night of fine food, entertainment and daahncing.”

Miles cranked out twelve reps.

“More weight for this guy,” Billy said. “You made that look
too easy.”

“Nah,” Miles said. “Don’t want to get all pumped. Want to
keep my muscles nice and loose. So I can shake it up and put you guys to shame
on the dance floor.” The humor in his eyes waned immediately as he looked at
Billy and realized what he’d said.

True to form, Billy came back with his usual spikey
attitude. “Oh, yeah? Well, maybe I’ll be shaking a set of wheels on the dance
floor. Yesterday, my daughter and I were at the open house at Casey’s school. I
went snooping to get a look at this new ballroom instructor everybody was
talking about, and before I knew it, she had me out on the floor learning some
moves. Would you believe they have wheelchair ballroom dancing? And she asked
me to be her partner.”