Embraced at Seaside

by Addison Cole

  They watched the sunrise with little more than a few words said about passing birds or the colors in the sky. But even the air felt different around them now. Hunter was clearly making an effort, but she wasn’t sure he even knew why he was doing it or what it really meant. She liked this, though, sitting close, content without tearing each other’s clothes off. When she felt his fingers gently cover hers, she smiled. Finesse.

  The sun lifted into the sky, its reflection dancing off the water like diamonds. The perfect backdrop to a strange and wonderful morning. She closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the warmth of the sun.

  She felt Hunter brush her hair from her shoulder.

  “The morning sun looks good on you.”

  She opened her eyes at the tenderness in his voice and the sweetness of his words and met his gaze. The tense lines around his mouth had softened. Gone were the clenched jaw and the in-control stare, and all that was left was his beautiful face. She was pretty sure he would bark at her for calling him beautiful, but when he wasn’t making her crazy, she noticed things like the dimple beneath his left eye, his angular nose, and the way his dark brows arched slightly in the middle. When those brows came together and his gaze turned sinful, he could slay her steely resolve in a single hot second. Now the soft look in his eyes, coupled with the gentle sounds of the bay and the efforts he’d taken to be romantic, slayed her heart instead of her libido.

  “What time do you have to be at work?” he asked.

  “Work?” Ohmygosh! She jumped to her feet and began gathering the cooler and tugging at the blanket. “We have to go.”

  Hunter jumped up, took the cooler from her hands, and followed her as she hurried back over the dune toward the truck. “Why? Do you teach this early?”

  “No. I have to meet Bella and the girls.” She picked up their shoes and held them against her chest as she ran across the parking lot. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cut our time short.” She really was sorry. She wanted to know what might happen next between them, like if she were reading a book, maybe the couple would have shared a tender kiss or said something sweet.

  “For what?” He unlocked the door and she climbed in.

  She waited for him to settle into the driver’s seat and start the truck before answering. “To talk to Theresa about using the rec center for my new dance studio. Hurry, please.”

  How could she have forgotten to watch the time? Bella had texted her last night to say that Theresa was going back to Boston at nine o’clock for the day. She needed to hurry.

  “What new dance studio?” Luckily, the roads weren’t busy that early in the morning.

  “I’m thinking about quitting Marco’s and opening my own studio.”

  He didn’t say anything more until they were driving down her street and he’d pulled into the driveway. She jumped out as soon as the truck stopped.

  “You’re opening your own studio?” He stepped from the truck as she ran across the lawn carrying her shoes.

  “I don’t know!” She fumbled with her key, and he came up behind her and took it from her hand, calmly unlocking the door for her.

  “Why didn’t I know that?” He stood on the front step, clearly waiting for an answer.

  “Because we have sex; we don’t talk.” She saw something that resembled disappointment, or hurt, wash over his face, and she realized she was running off again. She slowed her frantic mind long enough to say, “Thank you for an incredible morning.” She dropped her shoes by the door, waiting for him to leave.

  “Maybe we should,” he said, remaining on the front porch.

  “Should…?” She’d been answering so quickly she hadn’t really processed the conversation.

  “Talk.”

  “Talk?” She laughed, thinking that maybe he was just playing with her, despite the effort he’d gone to this morning. “Seriously, I’ve got to get ready.” She started to close the door, and Hunter put his hand against it, keeping it open.

  “I’m being serious. We should…” He looked around the living room, as if the answer he was seeking was there somewhere. “Have dinner or something.”

  “Dinner?”

  “Yes. We should eat together.”

  She felt every second ticking away, still confused at where all this was coming from. “We eat in bed. We’re good at that.”

  He crossed his arms and lowered his chin, and she finally understood just how serious he was. Dead serious.

  “You want to have dinner with me? To talk?”

  “Yes.” His response was accompanied by a single curt nod.

  “Okay.” Oh my gosh. Hunter.

  “Okay.” A hint of a smile played on his lips. “Tonight.”

  “It would be nice to ask me instead of tell me.”

  He dropped his gaze, and when he lifted it, his smile reached his eyes, and her insides went soft.

  “Jana, would you like to join me for dinner tonight?”

  She couldn’t help but smile at the restraint in his voice. “I can’t. I’m working until ten. But tomorrow I get off at seven.”

  “I’ll be here at seven forty-five, then. Tomorrow.”

  “Fine. But just for the record, you could have asked if seven forty-five was okay.”

  “You’re a pain, pretty girl. A sexy, smart, scorching-hot pain.” He leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before heading back to his truck.

  Jana closed the door and leaned her back against it, wondering how many stars had to be misaligned for Hunter Lacroux to ask her out on a real date.

  Chapter Eleven

  JANA’S NERVES WERE strung tighter than a ballet dancer’s shoe ribbons. She sat between Bella and Leanna on Theresa’s couch, trying desperately to stop thinking about her morning with Hunter and focus on her meeting with Theresa. Jana could see from the serious look in Theresa’s eyes and the firm press of her lips that she took her job very seriously.

  A plate of muffins and a jar of Leanna’s jam sat on the coffee table between them. Jana wished she could be on the outside looking in like the rest of the girls, who were watching the babies and, she was sure, watching Theresa’s house like hawks.

  Theresa crossed her legs and flicked a speck of thread from her pleated shorts. “So, you want to hold dance classes in the rec center? What types of classes, how often, and how many students do you expect to have per class?”

  Jana folded her hands in her lap, trying not to fidget as she took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Yes, I would. I don’t think you’d allow me to install a ballet bar, so probably hip-hop, jazz, line dance, experimental or freestyle, and maybe ballroom, if people sign up, but that’s rare around here.” Excitement filled her chest at the thought of actually being able to make these types of decisions for her own studio. “I was even thinking that you guys”—she turned to Bella and Leanna—“might be interested in taking a Foxy Mamas dance class.”

  “Hold on.” Theresa held up her palm and eyed Bella. “Is that some type of dirty dancing? Because I’m not sure we want to get involved with anything like that.”

  Jana couldn’t suppress a laugh before it came out. “I’m sorry, no. Let me explain. It’s a beginner freestyle dance class I came up with for new moms, to help them get back in touch with their bodies after having a child. I’ve found that a lot of new moms feel less attractive, even though they’re more beautiful than ever, after giving birth. They spend so much time being mommy that they forget they’re women, too.”

  “Boy, that’s the truth,” Bella said.

  “Dance is a very personal experience,” Jana explained. “Learning to move in ways that help new moms feel sexy again is what it’s all about.” She pushed to her feet and reached for Theresa’s hand. “Here, let me show you.”

  “Oh goodness, no.” Theresa shook her head. Bella had warned her before the meeting that Theresa was all business, from her polo shirt and smart layered haircut to her cool demeanor, but Jana wasn’t deterred. She believed that all women had an inner sexuality they c
ould channel, and when given the opportunity, most had fun with it.

  “Don’t be shy. I’m not going to embarrass you. I promise.” She pulled her to her feet and Bella gasped. Jana ignored Bella’s reaction. Maybe if Theresa got involved she’d be more apt to let her rent the space.

  “Leanna, Bella, please join us,” she urged. Leanna jumped to her feet, while Bella was more cautious, remaining seated.

  “I’m a total klutz,” Leanna said. “But I want to take your Foxy Mamas class. It would be great to get in touch with my inner woman rather than my mama side for a while.”

  “Really? That would be great.” Jana looked at Theresa. “I mean, if we end up coming to terms about the space. And, Theresa, please don’t feel pressure to approve this whole thing. So, what kind of dancing do you like?”

  “I don’t really dance anymore,” Theresa said. “But when I was a young girl I had my fair share of suitors. I wasn’t a bad dancer.”

  Jana tried to ignore Bella’s raised brows. “Wonderful! Here, let me put on some music, and we can see how it goes.” She navigated to Spotify on her phone, and within a few minutes Leanna and Bella were rocking out to Taylor Swift, while Theresa moved cautiously.

  “That’s great. Now try this.” Jana showed her how to move her hips in a more fluid motion. She wasn’t surprised to see that Theresa picked up the moves quite easily.

  “Theresa! Wow, look at you. I can’t even do that.” Leanna jerked her hips from side to side.

  Bella laughed. “Girlfriend, you need that Foxy Mamas class bad.”

  “I know, right?” Leanna touched Jana’s shoulder. “Can you help me do what Theresa is doing?”

  “Of course,” Jana said. “Theresa, that’s marvelous. You’ve got it.” She gripped Leanna’s hips and helped her move in a less jerky fashion.

  “I feel sexier already,” Leanna said. “Kurt is going to be so happy.”

  They danced for a few minutes, laughing and chatting about how silly they must look. Jana assured them that they looked beautiful.

  Theresa looked at her watch and gasped. “Oh my. I have to leave for Boston. I’m sorry, girls, but I need to cut our meeting short.”

  “Theresa, thank you for considering this, and for taking the time to talk with me this morning. I truly appreciate it.” Jana didn’t think before she moved in for a hug. Theresa stiffened at first, then awkwardly patted Jana’s back. “As I said, even if you don’t want to approve the space for classes, I’m so thankful that you took the time to consider it, and I’d still be happy to help you learn to dance if you’d like.”

  “Oh, goodness.” Theresa stepped out of the embrace. “Well, we’ll have to review the association bylaws. Assuming there are no legal issues, then we’ll have to take a vote of the owners, and if they don’t have an issue with it, then as long as we set up rules about hours of operation, number of people on-site, and parking…oh, and insurance. We’ll have to speak to our agent about that, and you should look into that, too, Jana. There seems to be much to consider, and I really do have to leave.”

  “That’s okay,” Bella said as she opened the front door. “Why don’t you take off? In the meantime, Jana can look into insurance and put together the other information you’d like to see.”

  “So, this is really a possibility, then?” Jana asked.

  “Well, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. We’ll need to read the bylaws, as I mentioned. If that’s in order, then as long as we can come to an agreement with the rest of the items, you have proper insurance, and the majority of the owners agree…” Theresa smiled as she reached for her keys, glancing around the room one last time.

  As soon as they were outside and Theresa drove away, Jana said, “We might really do this!”

  Jenna, Amy, and Jessica came outside with the babies and joined them, squealing with joy. After a round of hugs, the girls began talking about the details Theresa had mentioned: insurance, majority vote, parking.

  Jana leaned against the laundry building and closed her eyes.

  “Oh my gosh,” she whispered more to herself than anyone else. “I might really do this.”

  HUNTER SPENT THE day helping Grayson with an order for hibachis that had come in late last week. Once they finished fabricating parts for them, Hunter’s thoughts returned to Jana. From the moment he’d seen her dancing, so graceful and confident alone in her studio, he’d known exactly what he wanted to create for the competition. After leaving her house last night, he’d come straight to the shop and tried to sketch his ideas, but his thoughts kept racing, then just as quickly, fraying, just out of reach. He’d finally given up and realized that what he wanted to create was too big, too alive, for drawings, and he’d heated up the forge and gone to work.

  Now, as he headed out the back door toward the warehouse where they kept the scrap metal, it didn’t take long for his mind to skip from images of Jana in her skintight dance shorts and barely there top to the hurt look in her eyes when he’d turned away from her in the studio, causing his chest to tighten. Those thoughts were chased by the surprise in her eyes this morning when he’d shown up at her door, and later, to the confused look on her face as she studied him. His feelings for her had taken a deeper, meaningful turn, and he had a feeling that she’d not only noticed, but was confused by them.

  Despite the hot and cold signals Jana had tossed his way, she’d not only gotten under his skin, but she’d found her way into his heart. Not only had Hunter found his creative muse, but Jana had also inspired him in other, more important ways. He’d begun looking hard at the man he’d become, and while he was proud of his accomplishments, and his loyalty to family and friends ran deep, he also saw his faults. And where Jana was concerned, they didn’t look like mere fissures. He was staring at the freaking Grand Canyon. He was bound and determined to be the man she deserved. If she wanted romance and finesse, then she was going to get it.

  Sometime later, with a cart of metal, he headed back into the shop.

  “What’s all that?” Grayson asked as Hunter laid the metal out on the table.

  Clark came through the doors to the shop and hollered back to them before Hunter could answer. “Do you mind if I take off?”

  Hunter and Grayson exchanged a hopeful glance.

  “Going to see Nina?” Grayson asked.

  “Sort of.” Clark joined them by the machinery. “When we went out the other night, it made me realize how much I missed her, and how much I missed Billy.”

  “That’s great, man,” Hunter said. He’d heard him on the phone late last night, and he’d been hoping they were patching things up.

  “Yeah, I guess. It also made me realize how far we have to go. As a couple, I mean.” Clark rubbed the back of his neck and looked away for a moment before saying, “Nina made an appointment with a therapist in Yarmouth, and she wants to talk to each of us separately first, before we do any couples counseling. So I’m taking Billy out for a few hours.”

  “That sounds like a great start.” Hunter was relieved. It sounded like his friend was on the right path. He went into his office, where he’d stowed the pieces he’d made last night. He’d only begun forging the metal for the body, but he could already feel it coming to life. He laid the pieces carefully on another worktable.

  “Have fun with Billy,” he said to Clark.

  Clark lifted his chin toward the table. “New project?”

  “No. Just an idea for the competition.”

  “Cool,” Clark said. “Can’t wait to see it. I’ll catch up with you tonight at your place, then.”

  “I’ll be late,” Hunter said, eager to spend a few extra hours working on the sculpture.

  Grayson lifted his eyes from where he was crouched before a shelf, picking through iron rods.

  “Okay,” Clark said. “Catch ya later.”

  Grayson rose to his feet. He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair and studied the pieces Hunter had already made. He lifted the piece of metal Hunter had been working with last n
ight. The form hadn’t taken shape yet, but it was close enough that he knew Grayson would recognize where he was going with it.

  “A woman’s stomach?” Gray cocked a brow. “Wow, and I thought you and Jana were just bed buddies.”

  “Don’t call her that.” Hunter snagged the metal from his brother’s hand. “It’s just an idea I had.”

  “To build yourself a woman?” Grayson teased. “I’m pretty sure she won’t do for you what a living, breathing woman will.”

  Hunter ignored him.

  Grayson laughed. “Okay, seriously. Tell me what’s going on, big bro. I thought you were ending things with Jana, and then you show up at the bonfire with her after searching ‘how to be romantic’ online.”

  Hunter ran his hands over the smooth, cold metal and set it on the table as he chose the next piece. “It’s a dancer, from the thighs up. I see her with her head back, and I’m thinking about thin twisted strips for her hair, hanging down. No eyes, just lashes, nose, and mouth.” He pictured Jana in the studio, her head back, eyes closed, as she swayed to the music.

  “Wow, dude. You’ve got it bad.” Grayson smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

  “It’s a piece of art.” He wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all himself.

  “She’s getting to you.”

  Hunter leaned against the table. He crossed his arms and shook his head. “Shoot. She already has.”

  Grayson laughed again.

  “Seriously, Gray? What’s so funny?”

  “You. You have this look of pain on your face, like you can’t stand the idea of any woman getting to you, but then your voice is all dreamy like a girl’s.”

  Hunter cocked an arm to punch Grayson, and Grayson sidestepped, laughing louder.

  “Moron.” Hunter chased him around the table and grabbed him around the neck, wrestling him into a headlock. “Shut up.”

  Grayson continued laughing. Hunter ground his teeth together, trying to stifle his own laugh. Grayson elbowed him in the ribs and spun away with his arms up in surrender.