by Té Russ
"It was nice meeting you," he called over his shoulder, before they got lost in the crowd.
Dylan sat down in the newly vacated seat next to Brent.
"They seemed like a nice couple," Dylan mused.
"Not only were they nice people, they were nice for business."
"How so?"
Brent took a sip of his drink before he explained. "Maya works at a winery in Napa. She is going to connect me with her boss so they can distribute some of their wines to our club. I hear it's good stuff. Her husband Xavier owns a wine bar in Sacramento and he sells it. Says its one of his top selling wines."
"What's the name of the wine?"
"Russell Oaks," Brent said.
"I'll have to see if I can find some of it around here." Dylan looked around the club. "This place is amazing, you've done a great job Brent."
"Thanks man! I'm pretty damn proud of the place. So what have you been up to since high school?"
"Went to college in Tallahassee and been up there working. But being back here is a nice change, especially after last winter's freak storm."
"I hear you. It's good to have you back, where it's always sunny," Brent joked. "Hey, I've got to go mingle, you know, boss shit, but stick around for awhile, and enjoy yourself."
Brent gave Dylan a pat on the shoulder before he headed off. Dylan sat enjoying the spicy ambiance of the club. A waitress came and took his order and brought out his drink when he noticed Brent getting on stage.
"Hello everyone and welcome to the grand opening!"
The building was filled with applause and cheers.
"I hope you all are having a great time and enjoying the drink specials. For your viewing entertainment I now present a showcase of dance by an amazing performer. She is a previous world dance champion and now teaches in Coral Gables, and I am honored to call her my sister. Please put your hands together for Julie Richards."
"Here's your drink sir," the waitress said to Dylan as the music began. He was tapping his fingers and nodding to the beat, about to take a drink when the crowd parted.
"Holy..."
Dylan sat there frozen as a woman stood posed in the center of the dance floor. The room was filled with an erotic sounding drum beat and she began one of the sexiest solo latin dances he'd ever seen. But it wasn't the dance that had his eyes ready to pop out of his head, but rather the dancer.
It was the woman he'd danced with the previous week. His mystery partner.
Once again, he watched her, fixated on the swaying of her hips. His eyes drifted down to her long tone legs rocking back and forth then side to side. The crowd was under her spell as she moved around the dance floor. She smiled and winked at the spectators as she continued to perform.
"Isn't she something?"
Dylan hadn't even noticed that Brent had returned, he was too entranced watching Julie dance.
"That's your sister?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound as aroused as he felt at the moment.
"The one and only."
"She's very talented."
"Yeah...it's a shame she doesn't compete anymore."
Dylan turned to Brent. "Why doesn't she compete?"
He watched as Brent's fist tightened around the glass he was holding. "Her partner," he said, clenching his jaw. "They were together for years. Then one day out of nowhere, he tells her he doesn't want to be with her anymore, and not just as a dance partner."
Dylan looked out at Julie on the dance floor.
"Why would anyone want to leave her?" he murmured. He wasn't quite sure whether or not he'd asked the question out loud.
"He was a damn fool," Brent said, before he tossed back the rest of his drink. "I should have kicked his ass when I had the chance."
"Sounds like she's better off without him," Dylan said.
"Better off without him, but not dance."
"You said she runs the studio right?"
"Yeah, but...it's just not the same. She's not the same."
They both sat in silence for several minutes before Brent spoke again. "One guy breaking her heart was enough. I can guarantee you this, if another dude so much as makes my sister shed one tear of pain, I'm going to make him regret the moment he laid eyes on her."
The music ended and Dylan watched as Julie ended her dance in a sexy pose, then took a bow.
"Hey, let's go over and I'll introduce you."
"Actually," Dylan said, clearing his throat, "I hate to head out so soon, but something came up."
If Brent knew exactly what 'came up', and that his sister was the cause of Dylan's current state, he knew he would get tossed out on his ass. So it was best to remove himself before they all got embarrassed. He had a plan to approach the lovely Julie Richards and he didn't want an audience for the things he had to say to her.
So he decided he would face her on her own turf. Which, lucky for him, wasn't too far from his own.
Chapter 3
"Brent told me you were back in town, but I told him I wouldn't believe it until you walked into my studio."
Dylan smiled as he walked into Miss Dottie's Studio.
"How have you been, querido?" he asked Miss Dottie as he wrapped her in a tight hug.
"I've been good. What about you?"
"The same."
Dottie took a step back and pushed her glasses up on her face. "Let me look at you."
Dylan held his arms outstretched as Dottie inspected him.
"You're looking kind of thin. Nothing we can't fix in no time with my chicharrón de pollo," she said with a chuckle.
He joined in with her laughter. "I always loved your fried chicken."
"I know you did. But you really do look good, kid."
"Thanks Miss Dottie, so do you."
"Oh honey, I'm looking old."
"You could give some of these young girls a run for their money."
Dottie chuckled and smacked his arm. "You always were a flirt." Once she stopped laughing, she said, "I really wish you and Brent had done a better job of keeping in touch over the years. You two were the best of friends growing up."
"You're right. We should have. And I should have kept in touch with you better as well. Brent told me about the old place. I'm sorry about that."
Dottie waved off his condolences. "No need in crying over spilled milk, right? We moved on to bigger and better things."
"Yes," Dylan said, looking around. "It looks like you did."
"Miss Dottie!"
Dylan and Dottie turned at the sound of a little girl running towards her.
"Kylie, what have I told you about running in the studio, eh?" Dottie lightly chastised the little girl.
"I'm sorry Miss Dottie, but the toilet overflowed. Again."
Dottie sighed, muttered something in Spanish then looked at Dylan. "Even bigger and better things have problems I suppose."
"You want me to take a look at it?"
"You would do that?"
"Of course."
"Follow me."
Dottie lead Dylan to the back, and he found himself glimpsing in each classroom to see if he would find his dance parter from the club a few weeks ago.
"She's not here."
Dylan came to a halt suddenly, not realizing Dottie had stopped in front of him and turned to face him.
"I'm sorry...who's not here?"
"Jules."
"Jules...your granddaughter?"
"Oh boy don't play dumb with me. You know Miss Dottie knows all and–"
"Sees all," he finished with a laugh. "Yes ma'am. I remember."
"I didn't know you'd met Jules already."
"I haven't exactly met her yet."
"What does that mean?"
"We kind of ran into each other a few weeks ago. I didn't know who she was until I saw her again at Brent's club this past weekend."
"I see..." Dottie said pensively. Instead of asking for more details, she turned on her heels and opened a door. They both hopped back quickly as water from the bathroom poured out.
He shrugged as he rolled up his sleeves. "My dad taught me quite a bit about taking care of things around the house. Wanted to make sure we could handle anything. And save money."
"He was a good man."
"Yeah...I hate that he's not here to see my sister get married. I know she's sad about it as well."
"Are you giving her away?" Dottie asked.
"Yes ma'am."
"Then she's got the best man filling in for the job."
He smiled at her compliment. "Thanks Miss Dottie."
Thirty minutes later, Dylan was finished in the bathroom.
"It's only a temporary fix for now. But I can get the supplies and come back one evening and fix it. It will be better then, so no one will be inconvenienced."
"You're a godsend," Dottie said excitedly.
"It was no trouble at all Miss Dottie. You know I'd do anything for you. You helped keep me out of trouble growing up."
"You were always a good boy. And a good dancer. Do you still practice?"
Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. "I haven't done any dancing like this since you forced me to take classes."
"That's such a shame. I always thought you were a natural. Well, if you ever decide you want a refresher course, lessons are on the house."
"And if you need any help with anything else around here, feel free to give me a call. Did Brent tell you I live a few blocks down?"
"Yes, I heard those were some nice condos. And expensive. You must be doing very well for yourself."
"I'd like to think so."
He looked around and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I promised Diana I'd meet her for dinner with her fiancé so I've got to head out. But I'll see you soon."
As he made his way to the exit, he heard Miss Dottie shout out, "She went out of town, but she'll be back on Thursday."
He stopped with his hand on the door handle and grinned. Then he looked back over his shoulder at Dottie.
"I guess you'll see me again on Thursday."
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As soon as her flight landed back in Miami on Thursday, Julie got in a cab and headed straight for the studio. Her body was incredibly tense, as it always was after she returned from a trip to Georgia to visit her parents.
As usual, the first thing her father asked was if she was still throwing her life away dancing around his mother's ridiculous studio. Then he would go on and on about how she had so much potential but it was wasting away. When she was a young girl and would visit her grandmother in the summers, her father never complained about her dancing. But when she told him she'd decided to move to Miami for college to get her degree in dance and that she would be competing as well, he went ballistic. But Julie's mind was made up.
She went home a few times a year to visit, and every trip was the same. Over time, she gave up trying to argue with her father and silently accepted his barrage of insults to her and her grandmother's craft.
The last class of the day was letting out when Julie arrived at the studio. She got out of the cab, grabbed her bags and dragged them inside.
"Querida, you're home!" Dottie's face lit up as Julie walked in.
"How was your trip?" she asked, her face growing concerned as she noticed the stress etched across Julie's face.
"It was the same way as it always is, 'Lita," she said, dropping her bags.
"I'm sorry dear. I don't know how that son of mine became such a stick in the mud."
Julie smiled for the first time in a week and hugged Dottie. "I missed you, Gram."
"I missed you too. And so did your students, but we all managed."
"That's good." She picked up her duffle bag and slung it over her shoulder. "I've got to work out some of this frustration. I'm going to go and change."
As she turned and headed for the locker rooms, Dottie called out, "We finally got that toilet fixed."
Julie stopped walking and turned to look at Dottie. "We did?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Dottie nodded smiling.
"But 'Lita," Julie said, walking back toward her grandmother. "I thought we were going to wait on that. The price the repairman quoted–"
"Was a rip off," Dottie said, interrupting Julie. "Dylan fixed it for next to nothing. He wouldn't even take my money for the parts."
"Dylan?" Julie said, confused. "Who is Dylan? And why does his name sound familiar?"
"He was your brother's best friend growing up. He recently moved back to the area. Actually he only lives a couple of blocks down the street from here. He came in the other day to see me and we had an accident. He took a look at it then came back a couple of days later to fix it."
"Wow...that was nice of him."
"Dylan is such a sweetheart. I think you'll like him."
There was something in Dottie's tone of voice that gave Julie pause. But she wasn't in the mood to delve deeper into her grandmother's crypticness this evening, so she turned again and made her way back to the locker room.
The sooner she got changed and started dancing, the sooner she could forget about her latest trip to her parents'.
Chapter 4
It was one thing watching her dance in a club, with the crowds around her and the lights flashing.
It was something totally different watching her dance by herself.
She was leaving everything on the dance floor, all her vulnerabilities, her fears, her sorrow. She was pouring her soul out to the world through her dance.
Dylan had returned to the dance studio Thursday evening just as he'd told Dottie he would. She gave him a teasing grin and pointed to the back of the studio.
He stopped and nearly lost his breath when he saw her in the room dancing. She was in a whole other world as she moved across the dance floor. It seemed so personal, that he almost felt like he was intruding on her personal time. But he couldn't get his feet to turn and walk away. He didn't want to. She was in some kind of pain. And he wanted to reach out and touch her, hold her, comfort her.
The music ended and she finally opened her eyes. When she looked up at the mirror and saw him standing in the doorway, her eyes grew wide with recognition.
"You..." she whispered. She whirled around to face him, her expression still filled with shock.
He slowly began walking into the room and she made her way toward him as well.
When they were in front of each other, she looked up into his face and asked, "What are you doing here?"
He grinned at her, remembering her saucy challenge from the night they met.
"You told me to find you...and I never back away from a challenge."
She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Dottie.
"Oh you two finally met!"
Julie turned to Dottie confused.
"What are you talking about?" She gaped at Dylan. "You two know each other?"
"Honey, this is Brent's friend I was telling you about, Dylan!" Dottie answered for him.
Dylan shrugged. "It appears that it truly is a small world after all. Nice to officially meet you, Jules."
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She'd never expected to see him again. She'd just been teasing when she told him to find her. But he didn't need to search too hard, because, as he said, it was a small world.
Julie couldn't believe how the sound of his voice affected her. The sound of her name rolling off of Dylan's lips made her body heat up even more than it already had been from the last hour of dancing almost non-stop.
"Jules? Julie...Julia!"
Julie snapped out of her haze as Dottie nearly shouted her name.
"Lo siento, 'Lita...sorry Gram, did you say something?"
"I was telling Dylan, again, how appreciative we are of him for fixing that bathroom issue."
Julie blinked and shook her head. She was still thr
own off by the fact that he was standing here in her studio in front of her, and he was a family friend. Dottie was fussing over him as if he was one of her own grandchildren.
"Yes," she finally said. "Thank you so much for that. Are you some kind of repairman or something?"
He shook his head and smiled, revealing a dimple that made her want to bite her lip and groan.
"No, nothing like that. Just extremely handy."
For some reason, Dylan's words brought back memories of the night they danced together in the club. Her eyes drifted down to his large hands, remembering the way they'd gripped her hips, caressed her backthen slid down to cup her a–
"Dylan has offered to help us out and fix some things around the studio."
Julie looked up when she heard Dottie speaking. She glanced at Dylan, who had a mischievous grin on his face, as if he'd read her mind.
"That's awfully generous of you."
"I'm a generous guy."
Julie stood there staring at Dylan, still in disbelief that he was there. And he was looking directly into her eyes. The sound of the door closing forced her gaze away from his. Dottie had left them in the room alone and Julie hadn't even realized it. This man in front of her had her so distracted, that everything around her seemed to fade into the background when he was in her presence.
"You all right?"
His voice captured her attention again. And just like every other time he spoke to her, it made her body feel things she didn't want to think about. It annoyed her.
"I'm fine," she snapped. "Why wouldn't I be?"
She turned away from him and began gathering her things.
"By the way you were dancing, it didn't seem like you were fine."
She faced him again, narrowing her eyes. "If I recall the first time we met, you said you didn't dance."
"Just because I don't dance doesn't mean I'm not observant. Any man with half a brain could tell there was something bothering you."
She rolled her eyes and picked up her bag. "Dylan is it?"
When he simply nodded, she slung her bag over her shoulder. "Look, I get that you were friends with my brother ages ago and 'Lita thinks you hung the moon or something. But you don't know anything about me. So please, save the pyschobabble for someone else."
