by Té Russ
When a live band began playing salsa music and people got up and began making their way to the dance floor, Julie turned to watch.
"Do you want to dance?" she asked Dylan as she turned to face him.
"Maybe another time," he said politely.
"That's right. You don't dance," she said in a tone of disbelief.
"No, not really," he confirmed.
"Then why did you dance with me that night at the club?"
He took a sip of his drink then sat it down before answering.
"Because I found you completely irresistible."
"But tonight you don't?" she challenged.
"I still think you're irresistible," he corrected. "However, right now, I'm enjoying getting to know more about you."
"Okay," Julie said, turning to fully face him again. "What do you want to know about me?"
"Your brother tells me you don't compete anymore."
That was something she typically didn't like talking about. But instead of telling him to mind his own business, she found herself saying, "No, I don't."
"Why not?"
Once again, instead of telling him that she didn't want to talk about it, she felt strangely comfortable opening up to him. Maybe I need to slow down on these margaritas, she thought to herself.
"I can't put my trust in another partner to dance that way again. I lost too much the last time."
"But you're perfectly fine with dancing with a bunch of strangers?"
"That's different."
"How?"
She looked away from his intense gaze.
"When I'm dancing with a stranger, there's no expectations. It's just one dance for one moment in time."
"Is that how you felt when we danced?"
"At the time, yes."
"So when you said to find you..."
"I never really expected to see you again," Julie admitted honestly. "I thought you were just some vacationer passing through."
"And now that you know I'm not just some vacationer?"
How was she supposed to answer that? There was no denying that there was chemistry between them. It was stronger than anything she'd felt before. That's also what scared her.
"I don't know," she finally answered.
"But you do want to dance with me again," he pointed out.
"You turned me down," she reminded him, with a teasing grin.
"No, I just said 'another time'."
"I'm going to hold you to that."
"Sweetheart, you can hold me anyway you'd like."
It always caught her off guard when he threw out a flirtatious remark like that. And he seemed to notice, and enjoy the way her cheeks would become flushed.
"It's getting late," he said, pulling out enough cash to pay for both of their meals.
And just like that, he went on as if he hadn't just made a remark that had her body ready to jump over the table and do wicked things to him. She watched as he stood and held his hand out to her.
"I'll walk you back to your car," he said.
She placed her hand in his and he helped her out of her chair.
Although it was still considerably warm for the evening, the temperature had drop several degrees and occasionally a breeze would blow through as they walked back to the car.
"Hey, have you ever thought of giving lessons at restaurants like the cantina back there?"
Julie looked at Dylan, surprised by his suggestion.
"No, I haven't."
"A lot of restaurants do that, you know? Have a dance teacher come in and give lessons on certain nights. I'm sure doing that would bring in a new string of students, and drum up some new business."
Julie stopped and glared at him. "Did Gram tell you business was slow?"
"What? No," Dylan said. "Look, I'm sorry if I overstepped. I just...noticed that the studio didn't seem to have a lot of students. I guess it's just an occupational hazard to automatically assess the situation and try to figure out the best way to fix things."
"What is it that you do exactly?"
"I own a business consulting firm."
That explained a lot, Julie realized. She knew he must have been pretty well off to live in this area of Coral Gables. She had to admit, she was slightly impressed that he had his own company as well. But she could tell he was a hard worker.
"I'm sorry if I snapped...again."
"There's no need to apologize. I'm the one who stuck my nose where it didn't belong." He added cautiously, "But if you or Miss Dottie ever decide you want some advice, I'm here."
"I don't think we could afford it."
"For you, it would be no charge," he said, gently squeezing her hand. She looked down and realized they were still holding hands. Once they left the restaurant, he obviously didn't seem to be in any rush to release her hand.
Oddly enough, she didn't feel the need to extract her hand from his either.
When they made it to her car, Dylan told her to get in and start it to make sure it was still working. Julie looked up and smiled when the car started with no problems.
"Thanks for everything," she said, stepping out of the car. "Including the meal, although I wanted to pay for my food and drinks. It's not like we were on a date."
He gave her a sexy grin as he said, "Be that as it may, my mother and your grandmother would skin me alive if I let a lady pay. Besides, hopefully the next time we go out like this it will be a date."
"'Next time'?" she asked. "You think there will be a next time?"
"I have no doubt," he said. "I thought I made my intentions very clear back at my apartment, where you're concerned."
Suddenly feeling incredibly bold, Julie gave Dylan a saucy little grin of her own as she said, "Why don't you refresh my memory?"
Before she could take her next breath, Dylan reached out, grabbed Julie's waist and hauled her against him as his lips came crashing down against hers.
All of Julie's thoughts scattered and she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck. Finally after what seemed like forever, yet not long enough, Dylan pulled away. He slowly released her from his arms and she slid back into her car, hoping he didn't notice how wobbly her knees were.
"I'll see you soon," he promised, then he closed the door and stepped back so he wouldn't be in the way as she drove off.
She rolled her window down and cleared her throat, before asking, "Do you want a ride back to your place?"
"No," he said smiling. "It's a rather nice night, I think I'll walk."
Then she watched as he turned and sauntered down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets.
If she didn't know how he'd felt about her before, she certainly knew now after that kiss.
As she backed out and began her drive home, she discovered that she was actually looking forward to seeing Dylan again soon.
Chapter 7
Julie sat behind the counter off to the side of the studio, absently watching her grandmother teach an adult ballroom class. Her mind wasn't all there though, since she was thinking of Dylan and the kiss he'd surprised her with after the dinner they'd shared. It had been several days, yet every time she closed her eyes it felt like he was kissing her right then.
Her lips tingled at the thought.
Her grandmother's words brought Julie back to the present.
"Now, normally I have my granddaughter, Julia, present how the waltz should look. Unfortunately, my male student teacher Emilio is out sick today so I guess..."
Dottie's voice trailed off and her face broke into a smile. Julie looked out the storefront window to see who her grandmother was smiling at and beckoning into the studio and nearly gasped when Dylan walked in. Dottie told the class she would be right back and made her way over to Dylan, who was making his way over to Julie.
"Dylan! You walked by just in time, querido!"
"What can I do for you Miss Dottie?" Dylan said, grinning at both women.
Dottie took one of Dylan's hands and one of Julie's and pulled them toward the students
.
"Julie needs a partner to show the class how to waltz."
Both Julie and Dylan stopped in their tracks.
"Miss Dottie," Dylan started, "You know I'd do anything for you but–"
"He can't dance, 'Lita," Julie said, cutting off whatever Dylan was going to say.
Dottie looked from Julie to Dylan, then waved her hand. "Nonsense! He's a natural. Always has been."
Without giving them a chance to argue, Dottie turned and made her way to the stereo.
Julie turned to Dylan with an apologetic look on her face as the music started.
"I'm so sorry that she's putting you on the spot like this...I–"
Her words were lost as Dylan took her hand, spun her to him and then placed one hand on the small of her back, while holding the other hand with his in the perfect stance to begin a waltz.
Julie looked up at him with a shocked look on his face. There was no way he just knew how to do that. His frame was too correct.
"I knew you could dance," she said, with a gleam in his eye.
He pulled her a little closer to his body before he pressed his mouth to her ear and said in a whisper, "I never said I couldn't dance...I said I don't dance."
And then he was leading her around the dance studio, waltzing with her. She looked up at him and he gave her a small grin.
"I'm glad I haven't stepped on your toes," he teased. "I'm pretty rusty at this form of dancing."
But she never would have known. They were so in sync as they moved, she felt as though they were gliding.
The music ended and she eased to a halt. They stood there, with Julie still in Dylan's arms, just gazing at each other.
The loud applause snapped Julie out of whatever trance she'd been in and she looked around.
An odd feeling began to wash over Julie and she backed out of Dylan's hold.
"Oh that was beautiful, you two!" Dottie said, hurrying over to them.
Julie took a step back, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
"Are you all right?" Dylan asked, a look of concern clouding his face.
"Yeah...I just...I've got to go and change for my ballet class...excuse me," she stuttered before turning and walking away.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What was that about? Dylan wondered as he watched Julie rush off.
"She hasn't danced like that in a long time, if ever."
Dylan turned to Dottie, who'd just answered his unspoken question.
He glanced back in the direction of where Julie was.
"Maybe I should go and check on her."
"She'll be just fine, querido." Dottie placed her hand on his forearm. "You still dance wonderfully."
Dylan threw his head back and laughed.
"I think you're being too kind Miss Dottie. I haven't done any kind of ballroom dancing since I was a teenager."
"But it felt like it was just yesterday, didn't it?"
Dylan stopped and thought about it. "Yes," he realized. "It did."
When the music began and he pulled Julie into his arms, it was as if a switch was flipped and his body was able to recall moves he didn't think his mind remembered. But he had a feeling that his ability to dance again with such ease had less to do with some kind of muscle memory and more to do with the woman he was dancing with.
From the moment they'd first locked eyes with each other from across the club dance floor, he'd felt bewitched by everything about her. Her smooth cocoa kissed skin, her silky dark hair that hung around her shoulders in a long blunt cut bob. And her eyes...those brown eyes, combined with those curvy hips had him unable to say no to her when he'd turned down every other woman's offer to dance that night.
"You just might be able to do it."
He turned to Dottie confused. "Do what?" he asked.
She gave him a cunning smile then turned and began to walk away. "All right class, let's get back to work."
When Julie didn't return after a few more minutes, Dylan decided to go and search for her. He found her in one of the smaller classrooms. She'd changed into her ballet outfit and was sitting on the floor, lacing up her ballet slippers.
He gently knocked on the door.
She glanced up at him, then returned her attention back to her laces.
"I came to see if you're okay."
She remained silent until she was done with her task. Finally she looked up at him.
"I'm fine."
"Then why'd you take off?"
When she didn't answer, Dylan tried to lighten the mood. "I warned you that I was rusty. You didn't have to run off embarrassed like that."
He saw a hint of a smile cross her face. "Your dancing wasn't the problem, Dylan."
"Then what was?"
He held out his hand to help her stand.
"You're...you're different."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I'm not sure yet," she answered, looking at their hands intertwined.
He took a step closer her and pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "I guess I'll have to work on making sure it's a good thing."
"Why did you come here tonight?" she blurted out.
That reminded him that he did, in fact, have a purpose for coming by.
"Right, with your grandmother putting us on the spot like that, I forgot. I came to talk to you about that kiss the other night."
"The kiss?" she asked.
"Yeah..."
"What about it?"
"I just wanted to say that if I came on too strong, then I apologize."
That didn't seem to be what she expected to hear from the look on her face. "Oh," she said. She looked down shyly. "There's no need for that. I mean it was unexpected, but it was..."
"Different?" he teased.
"Yes..."
He hadn't expected her to agree with him, but then she added. "But in a good way. It...it was a pleasant surprise."
Knowing that she'd enjoyed the kiss as much as he did tempted him to kiss her again, right then and there.
His hand moved from her hair to the back of her neck. He watched her eyes drift closed as she seemed to relish in the feel of his touch. He slowly began to lower his head.
When their lips were close to touching, he felt her breath rush out as she said, "You're a distraction I don't need right now."
He chuckled. "And you're a distraction that I'm more than willing to accept."
His lips brushed hers lightly, then the sound of girls laughing and talking, seemed to break whatever spell they'd fallen under. Julie's eyes snapped open.
"My class is coming," she said, taking a step back.
Dylan took that as his cue that he should leave.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked again.
"Yes."
There was something going on in that mind of hers, but he didn't want to push. He knew she was just as attracted to him as he was to her, but he had a feeling she hadn't dated much, if any, since her break-up with her dance partner, so she was probably a bit gun shy.
But he felt like he was breaking down her resistance and that gave him hope.
Chapter 8
Saturday morning, Julie found herself lounging on the beach with Dottie.
"'Lita, I don't think we should have closed the studio for the day," she said, apprehensively.
"Aye, querida! You need to relax more. It's Saturday, the weather is perfect and look at that beach. Sometimes you act more like an old lady than I am."
"Is Brent still coming?" Julie asked.
"Of course, he's bringing the food to barbecue."
Dottie held up her romance novel, effectively ending their conversation.
Julie sighed and flopped back on the recliner next to her grandmother.
She tried to just sit and enjoy everything around her, but she was too wound up.
Thoughts of Dylan filled her mind.
First it was that kiss. Then it was their waltz. The dance rattled
her more than she cared to admit. Not because it made her uncomfortable. In fact, it was the exact opposite. Julie had enjoyed dancing with Dylan more than she could recall dancing with anyone in a long time. Even her old partner. That was the part that confused her. She had grown up dancing with Camden since she was a child, they'd bonded through dance, fallen in love through dance. Yet, the connection she had when she danced with Dylan was completely different.
It was...effortless. Once they began to move it felt like they were doing a routine that they'd spent countless hours creating and perfecting rather than something they were just making up as they went along. And it felt perfect....she felt free.
It made her question whether or not she'd ever truly been in love with Camden at all.
Not wanting to think about either man at the moment, Julie stood. "I'm going for a swim," she said to Dottie, as she unwrapped the sarong from around her waist.
"Have fun," Dottie murmured, as she turned the page of her book.
Julie jogged the short distance from the shore to the ocean. She didn't even wade in once her feet hit the water. Instead, she kept jogging and then dove in and began to swim. Each stroke relaxed her a little bit more. After she swam out a good distance, she turned and began to float on her back, letting the waves carry her around. Swimming in the ocean was one of the only other things that seemed to calm her when she felt like she was in turmoil. When she was in the ocean it felt like she was dancing with nature as the water swirled all around her body.
Her grandmother knew that as well, which was probably why she'd dragged Julie out here. She closed her eyes, let out a sigh, finally feeling content and smiled. Abuelita knew Julie better than she knew herself most of the time.
"'Lita knows all and sees all," Julie murmured to the wind.
She opened her eyes and realized that she'd floated farther away than she intended, so she began swimming back to the shore. As she headed back to where they'd set up their seats, Julie heard Dottie's laughter float through the air.
She quickened her pace, figuring her brother had finally arrived.
She stopped when she realized Brent wasn't the only one with her grandmother.
