As Long As You Love Me

by LuAnn McLane

  “Bling?”

  “Some flashy leg moves. All you’ll have to do is hold me steady, but that will come later.” Ava closed the gap between them and gripped Jesse’s shoulders. “Like this,” she said, and performed a few lightning-fast twists and kicks.

  “Ah, like pole dancing.”

  “Excuse me?” Ava dropped her hands and backed away.

  “I’m like the pole, and you’re the dancer,” Jesse said, but she failed to crack a smile. Did she even possess a sense of humor?

  “What? It was a joke.”

  Ava rolled her eyes.

  “Right, okay, the flashy leg moves will come later.” Jesse looked up at the ceiling and drew in a breath. “I just have to stand here and look pretty. Got it.” Jesse closed his eyes and, to his surprise, felt a sharp poke in his chest. “Hey!”

  “Hey, nothing. Where’s that boy-band swagger?” Ava tilted her head and tapped her foot.

  Jesse frowned, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically grumpy. “Apparently, it swaggered out of the building.” He made walking motions with his fingers.

  “Bring it back.” Ava made the same motion.

  “I didn’t think you were a fan of the ‘boy-band swagger.’ ”

  “Well, it’s better than the woe-is-me Jesse standing in front of me right now.”

  “I’m not woe-is-me,” Jesse mumbled, sounding pitiful.

  “Pffft.” She poked him again.

  “For real?” Jesse asked, wondering if there was some paranormal weirdness going on, because apparently, they’d just exchanged personalities. Being annoying was his job. He raised his arms akimbo. “I dare you to poke me again.”

  “And just what would you do?” Ava put her hands on her hips and nudged one shoulder forward.

  Jesse blinked at her for a moment. “I got nothin’.”

  “What’s up with this sudden change in attitude? Come on, Jesse, you said you could follow direction. Memorize routines.”

  “I say a lot of things.”

  Ava gave him a deadpan look while tapping her foot.

  “That tapping-your-foot thing is super annoying.”

  “Okay, we’re done here.” She made shooing motions with her fingers.

  “Seriously?”

  Ava drew a circle around her face. “This is my serious face.”

  “You mean your everyday face.”

  “Go. Off with you. We can call it early today.”

  Jesse glanced in the general direction of the door. He was torn. Leaving early made him look like a total putz. A quitter, a complainer. And yet, even with a week’s worth of lessons under his belt, this was much more difficult than he’d anticipated. He’d watched a few episodes of Dancing with the Stars last night to try to learn some tricks, and he’d seen from a particularly disastrous performance that things could get ugly if you didn’t know the footwork by heart. But he had a bigger problem on his hands than executing the dance steps. He simply couldn’t concentrate on the Argentine tango, because he was continually distracted by Ava and her damned ponytail!

  “What?” Ava shook her head, making her ponytail swing back and forth like a metronome. And then a sudden vision of that silky hair sliding over Jesse’s naked chest floated into his brain and headed south. A sudden erection would be super embarrassing. Perhaps a quick exit was his best option.

  “Why are you glaring at me?” she asked.

  “Because of your damned ponytail,” Jesse sputtered, immediately wishing he could have a filter installed on his mouth—even though, knowing him, he’d probably find a way to get around it.

  “Excuse me?” Ava leaned slightly forward and looked at him as if he were one taco short of a combo.

  “You’re not excused and neither is your ponytail.”

  “Let me put it differently. What in the world does my hair have to do with anything?” Ava took a step closer.

  “Whoa there, we’re not dancing. You’re invading my personal space.”

  “I wasn’t aware that you had personal space. Seems like your space is up for grabs.”

  “Well, since you put it that way . . .”

  “Oh, stop! You know what I mean.” Ava stomped her foot.

  “Did you seriously just stomp your foot?” Knowing he was getting to her, Jesse felt some of his good humor return.

  “Apparently you bring out the worst in me.”

  Jesse closed the remaining gap between them. “Or maybe I bring out the fire in you.”

  “I’ve got plenty of fire,” she said hotly. “I don’t need you to bring it or anything else out in me.”

  Dimly, Jesse heard the bell for classes to begin but he captured Ava’s gaze and stood his ground. “Are you sure about that?”

  “Positive,” Ava replied firmly, but the rise and fall of her chest said otherwise. “You should go before the class arrives and starts fawning all over you. It’s annoying.”

  “So is your ponytail.”

  “For the love of God, what in the hell do you have against my ponytail?” She reached up, grabbed it, and then looked at him with wide, frustrated eyes.

  Jesse remained stubbornly silent. But then again, how could he tell her he longed to wrap his hand in her hair, tug her head back, and kiss her senseless? He couldn’t.

  “You know what?” she asked.

  “Probably . . . not.”

  “I don’t think this is going to work out. You just aren’t willing to try hard enough.”

  “You want me to fail.” Jesse felt a muscle jump in his jaw.

  “I do not! That’s preposterous!”

  “Preposterous? Who even says that?”

  “If the shoe fits . . .”

  “Do I look like Cinderella?”

  “You’re sure not Prince Charming.”

  Jesse took long strides to retrieve his forbidden phone. He shoved it in his pocket and headed toward the door. “Right. I’m outta here.”

  “Good!”

  “Fine!” Jesse scoffed, but just as he reached for the door handle, Nancy Parsons, director of the center, entered the room with her usual pizzazz. Bedazzled reading glasses hung around her neck from a gold chain, and she wore a flowing, gauzy dress of many colors. Her usual chin-length gray hair had been dyed an unnatural shade of bright red. Jesse had to wonder if the color was what she’d expected to achieve. “Hello, Ms. Parsons.”

  “Jesse, darling!” Nancy gushed in a slightly British accent. Her accent varied depending upon what local play she was currently involved in. “I’m so glad I caught you and had the chance to personally thank you for volunteering to do the event.” She stepped forward and gave him a kiss on each cheek before turning to Ava. “Oh, and Ava, darling, I want to thank you as well. The two of you taking time out of your busy schedules so early in the morning shows such dedication.” She smiled broadly and inclined her head. “I am ever so grateful.”

  “Oh . . . no need . . .” Ava began with a brief glance in Jesse’s direction, but Nancy Parsons was on a roll.

  “Ava, darling, I don’t know if you’re aware of how much the Heart family has supported the Sea Breeze Performing Arts Center over the years.”

  “Um, I’m afraid not,” Ava said.

  “Ah, yes, you’re still fairly new to the community.” Nancy smiled warmly. “Well, the Heart family has always been generous through the years, donating musical instruments to the high school band. Jesse and his brother Jimmy give music lessons to local children unable to pay.”

  “Ms. Parsons,” Jesse began.

  “Now, Jesse.” Nancy shushed Jesse’s protest with a wave of her hand. “This building would have surely crumbled to the ground if the Heart family hadn’t graciously—”

  “Really,” Jesse said again. “We don’t need—” But she shushed him with another dramatic sweep of her hand through the air.

  “Always so modest,” Nancy continued with a slow shake of her head. “Anyway, I wanted to let you two know that we’ve set up a photo shoot for a poster advertising the dance comp
etition.”

  “Oh, um,” Ava began, but Jesse cut her off.

  “Great. When and where?” Jesse asked.

  Ava shot him a pointed we’re-not-doing-this-together look, but Jesse ignored her.

  “Tomorrow, early evening, if that’s okay? The photographer is providing her services for free, so we had to jump on the offer right away. And the weather should cooperate.”

  “The weather?” Jesse asked.

  Ava remained stubbornly quiet.

  “Well . . .” Nancy clasped her hands together. “Jane Plummer does most of her photographs on the beach, so she requested a beach setting rather than the dance floor. I know it’s a little bit different than what we might have come up with, but I couldn’t turn down a free photo shoot, now could I?”

  “Of course not,” Jesse said. “So where would she like to do it?”

  Nancy cast him a hopeful glance. “Well . . . I was ever so hoping we could do the shoot on the beach behind your house. It’s private there. We don’t want to have to deal with fans, now do we? And I’ll get the pleasure of seeing what new treasures are in your house! So, are we on?” She squeezed her eyes shut as if in prayer.

  “Of course,” Jesse said. “What are we supposed to wear?”

  “Um,” Ava began, but Jesse didn’t even look her way.

  “Jane requested a white theme. For you, Jesse, that means khaki pants and a white dress shirt. Ava will wear a dress—a sundress, maybe? It should be white too, to match your ensemble. She does most of her photos that way. I hope you both have something in your closet that will work?”

  Jesse nodded but Ava frowned.

  “Ava?” Nancy asked. “I could try to round up something.”

  “I . . . um.” Ava hesitated as if trying to find a reason to back out, but then nodded. “I’m sure I’ve got something suitable.”

  Nancy expelled what appeared to be a breath she’d been holding. “Excellent! I’ll see you both tomorrow at six thirtyish?”

  Jesse nodded, avoiding eye contact with Ava until Nancy left the room. Footsteps in the hallway indicated that students would be filing in any moment, but she still took the time to shoot him a glare.

  “What?” Jesse raised his hands, palms up.

  “I’m having a hard time figuring you out.”

  “I get that a lot.”

  Ava shook her head. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. You’re impossible . . . and I bet you get that a lot too. I mean, first you’re ready to bolt and then you dig in your heels. Now you’re all excited to do a photo shoot. What am I supposed to make of you?”

  “Just keeping you on your toes.” Jesse grinned. While she failed to grin back, the glare was gone from her eyes, and if he wasn’t mistaken, there was a little glimmer of hope there as well.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  HAIR UP

  Ava looked at the digital clock on her nightstand and let out a little squeal of distress, realizing it was almost time to go to Jesse’s. “I’m going to be sooo late,” she said through gritted teeth. “Ugh!” And after all the flack she’d given Jesse about being prompt! But seriously? Her day had begun at five thirty that morning, since she’d had to wake up extra early to rummage through her closet for something white and wonderful to wear for the photo shoot she’d somehow gotten herself roped into. The photo shoot shouldn’t have been such a big deal, but the beach theme and white attire reminded her of save-the-date pictures she’d taken with Anthony on the shores of Lake Michigan. She’d intended to pick out a dress the night before, but she’d fallen asleep after a much-needed long, hot shower to soothe her aching muscles. Starting her day two hours early was proving more difficult than she’d imagined. But at least Jesse’s dancing had improved over their disaster of a first week.

  Although he hadn’t admitted it, Ava had a feeling he’d binge-watched videos of the Argentine tango before rehearsal, because he had the eight basic steps down pat. Of course, along with his confidence came a return of his swagger and his off-the-wall sense of humor. Unfortunately, Jesse found the Argentine tango drama quite funny. Although Ava didn’t always find Jesse’s take on the tango amusing, she sometimes struggled not to laugh at his antics. Knowing she needed to keep the rehearsals productive, Ava shook her head at Jesse’s wisecracks and funny faces, but deep down she enjoyed the reprieve from the constant seriousness that Anthony had always insisted upon.

  After having a bit of a panic attack trying to find the perfect outfit before she’d even had her coffee, Ava had finally settled on an off-the-shoulder white lace dress that would do the trick. Blowing out a sigh, Ava picked up the dress that she’d laid on her bed that morning and gave the style another once-over. It was a bit too snug and short, but nothing else in her closet came close to being suitable. “It will have to do,” she murmured with a slight grimace.

  Ava’s stomach growled, reminding her that she’d skipped dinner since she’d had to shower and do her hair and makeup for this damned photo shoot at the beach. With a sigh, she slowly pulled the dress over her head, careful not to get foundation on the white lace or to mess up her hair that she’d arranged in a sensual knot at the nape of her neck. She’d considered leaving her hair down in beachy waves, but feared the ocean breeze would cause havoc.

  Wanting to keep her jewelry simple, she put diamond studs in her earlobes. After a precious moment of deliberation, she opted for a delicate floating pearl necklace to finish off the look. With another glance at the clock, she slipped her feet into strappy white sandals and then rushed into the bathroom for one final makeup check. Were her smoky eyes too overdone? She rubbed her glossy coral lips together and then shrugged.

  “Oh well . . .” Ava muttered, thinking that this was as good as it was going to get. She grabbed her purse and all but ran out the door of her loft apartment, which sat above Thelma’s Sweets and Treats, a bakery that had confections to die for. Her apartment continually smelled of fresh buttery baked goods, better than any scented candle.

  Luckily, because of Ava’s rigorous dance schedule, she could indulge in a flaky croissant or cheese Danish here and there. And the dark, rich coffee at the bakery was sublime. Living in the heart of the quaint seaside town was nothing like living in Chicago, but she’d come to adore her spacious apartment, and the lovely rooftop patio had a view of the ocean in the distance.

  Ava all but flew down the back staircase leading to the parking lot in the rear of the building. She hurried over to her red VW Beetle convertible and flung open the door. She grimaced at the stuffy interior, wishing she could put the top down, but her hair would be a windblown mess if she indulged. Instead, she cranked up the air-conditioning, hoping her makeup would hold up in the Florida heat.

  Thankfully, Jesse’s beachfront house was only about ten minutes away on Sea Breeze Boulevard, but when Siri cheerfully announced Ava had arrived, she frowned. All she could see was lush landscaping and palm trees—no house—but she put her trust in her GPS and turned into a crushed-shell driveway. In less than a minute, a bold blue house with an angled, thatched roof came into view. “Wow,” she said, completely charmed. A few steps led to a spacious porch lined with several colorful Adirondack chairs. Two hanging ferns moved slightly in the breeze, and cheerful red geraniums spilled over terra-cotta planters.

  Moving forward, Ava shook her head when she spotted a teal Volkswagen bus in the side yard. Two surfboards were mounted on the roof. “Seriously?” she whispered, thinking she’d just slipped back into a 1960s beach movie set. She wouldn’t be surprised if Frankie Avalon suddenly appeared on the front porch.

  Ava parked her car next to the VW bus and after getting out, she couldn’t resist the urge to peek inside the windows. Not only was the interior perfectly restored, but there were vintage items strategically placed to look as if the bus were packed to head to the beach for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

  “Pretty cool, huh?”

  Ava nearly jumped out of her skin and turned to glare at Jesse. “You didn’t have to sne
ak up on me.”

  “Um, I can’t sneak around—I live here,” Jesse said, looking incredibly hot in an untucked white cotton shirt unbuttoned enough to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of tanned skin. The sleeves were rolled up to just below his elbows. Loose-fitting beige linen pants might have looked silly on someone else, but Jesse pulled off the beach attire as if he were born to wear it. “Hey, look, you like Volkswagens too.”

  “I do, always have,” Ava admitted. “This bus is really sweet.”

  “I just got it a few months ago.”

  “Does it run?”

  “Absolutely. If you’re lucky, I’ll take you for a ride,” Jesse said with a grin that nearly made her grin right back.

  “If I’m lucky?” Ava rolled her eyes, but she could seriously imagine sitting up front in the bus, dressed in some cool vintage bathing suit, headband on and her hair flipped up at the ends. She looked around and realized there weren’t any other cars in the driveway. “Where’s the photographer?”

  Jesse shrugged. “She canceled.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah.” Jesse nodded. “She had what she called an ‘emergency meeting’ with one of her clients. A bride, I think.”

  Ava raised her hands skyward. “Okay . . . and why wasn’t I called?”

  “Just got off the phone with her a minute ago,” Jesse replied, not seeming at all put out by the sudden change of plans.

  Ava pursed her lips, nodding slowly. “So I busted my butt for nothing. Perfect.”

  “We can take selfies, since we look so amazing.”

  Ava responded with a deadpan stare. “I’ll just get going.”

  “Wait . . .” Jesse shoved his fingers through his hair.

  “Why?”

  “Have you eaten dinner yet?”

  “No,” she answered glumly.

  “How about if I make dinner for you?”

  “You know your way around a kitchen?” Ava asked suspiciously.

  “Yes, I do,” he boasted.

  “So, you can cook?” She found the idea rather sexy.

  “I didn’t say that . . . but I can reheat, usually without disaster.”