Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues

by MCLANE, LUANN

  “They don’t call it the quickstep for nothing.”

  I’m still not sold on the “Dueling Banjos” theme. “What will our costumes be like?”

  He clicks the music off. “Jackie and Maggie think we should dress in overalls so we look like . . . what did she say?”

  “Rednecks?” I ask dryly.

  “No.”

  “Hillbillies?”

  He snaps his fingers. “Yes, that. She said we would look like Jethro and Ellie May and seemed to think that was clever. Does that make any sense to you?”

  I nod. “They are characters from the television show The Beverly Hillbillies. It was a classic comedy from back in the early 1960s but can still be seen in reruns. The show was about country folk, or hillbillies, if you will, who struck oil on their property and moved to a mansion in Beverly Hills, placing them totally out of their element. It was silly, campy fun and the audience will get the joke. We’ll be sort of spoofing the spoof. You’ll be a character, Rio,” I warn him.

  He shrugs. “Sometimes you have to bend, I suppose. The trick will be to make the dancing amazing, to prove a point that rednecks, or hillbillies, as you say, can dance. Think we can pull it off? We can change it and go with something more traditional.”

  “I’m flattered that you’re asking my opinion.”

  Rio takes a step closer. “I value your opinion.”

  “Thank you, Rio,” I tell him with a little hitch in my voice. I’m used to doing what’s asked of me and I’ve been happy to do it for my family. But I have to say that it sure feels nice to have someone interested in what I think.

  Rio puts his hands on my shoulders. “Abby, not only are you beautiful but you’re smart as well. You need to speak up. For instance, tell your mother that you wish to go to baking school. Let her know your aspirations and dreams about the coffee and pastries for the diner.”

  “You make me feel as if I can do anything,” I tell him softly. “You really do.”

  He gives me a slow smile and for a heart-pounding moment I think he’s going to kiss me. But instead he says, “I’m going to hold you to that. This routine is difficult.”

  With a lift of my chin I say, “Bring it on, buster.”

  Rio points the remote at the boom box and the banjos once again start dueling.

  “Dueling Banjos” is one of those songs that once it’s in your head you absolutely can’t shake it. When we’re not rehearsing, and granted that’s not often, the song is bouncing around in my brain. I hum it at dinner without even realizing it. It annoys everyone including mild-mannered Mac Murphy, although I think it’s really the pressure that’s getting to the group. With only four couples left we know that this next dance has to be perfect. So instead of the usual banter that we’ve shared over the last few weeks, we all have our game faces on and pretty much eat our dinner in silence.

  Finally I can’t stand it any longer. I put down the forkful of sea bass and say, “I hate this.”

  “I know,” Mac says, shaking his head. “I want a greasy cheeseburger and onion rings.”

  I shake my head. “Not the food, although that cheeseburger sounds heavenly.”

  “What, then?” Julia asks.

  “I hate that we all can’t win. That I’m in competition against y’all.” I feel tears well up, and I clear my throat. “I’m sorry, I’m just a wreck.”

  Mac reaches over and pats my hand. “I promise to harbor no hard feelings against you if you kick my butt, Abby.”

  Julia gives me a warm smile and then tucks her arm through Danny’s. “What I’ve gotten from this competition is already priceless.”

  “Oh . . .” Okay, now I can’t stop the tears from flowing. Julia dabs at her eyes with her linen napkin and the men are looking like they need to do something but don’t know exactly what.

  “How ’bout this?” Mac says with a bighearted trucker grin. “No matter who wins I’m gonna have a big ole pig roast out on my grandpappy’s farm. How’s that sound? We’ll invite all the dancers and their families.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” I tell him.

  “The winner can provide the pig,” Danny says.

  “It will all work out one way or another,” Julia assures me and by her expression I know that she is referring to Rio.

  I nod, hoping that she’s right.

  As the tiring week wears on I begin to wish that the banjo and the quickstep had never been invented. During our Friday afternoon rehearsal at the dance hall the fatigue is getting to me both physically and mentally.

  “Abby, you have to remember to smile. This dance is bright and happy. Your delivery has to be twinkling.”

  “Sorry, Rio. I’m trying but it’s doggone hard to twinkle when my feet are killing me.”

  “I know,” he says gently and draws me in for an unexpected hug. His strong arms and warm embrace are like a comfort zone that for a moment shields me from all of the stress and worry of the semifinals. Rubbing his hands up and down my back, Rio says, “I’m sorry to push you so hard but it’s because I believe in you.”

  With my head resting on his shoulder I say, “I’m just so afraid of letting everyone down.”

  “Abby, that’s impossible. Win or lose, you won’t be letting anyone down. You know that, right?”

  I lift my head up to look at him. “It means college for Jesse. Updating the diner . . .”

  “Don’t worry so much. It will all work out. Trust me.”

  “Rio, I appreciate your faith in me but I’m not so sure.”

  “Just trust me,” he says and then dips his head and captures my mouth in a sweet and tender kiss. I think it was meant to be brief but when our lips meet we both lose our heads and suddenly we’re kissing like I’ve been dying to be kissed all week long.

  “Um, so sorry to interrupt your little . . . interlude,” says the biting voice of Angelina. “But your time is up. Danny and I have the floor.”

  Rio pulls back but keeps one arm looped around my waist.

  “Whoa there.” Danny slides Angelina a don’t-be-a-bitch look.

  “Oh, how sweet. You have both the rich man and the poor man coming to your little redneck rescue.”

  “Angelina, that’s enough.”

  I feel Rio stiffen in anger.

  Wait a minute . . . I give Rio a questioning look. “Rich man? What is she talking about?”

  “Oh, did I let out a little secret?” she says in a singsong voice and puts a hand over her mouth in mock horror. “You didn’t know that Rio is a multimillionaire? He owns Starlight Dance Studios.”

  “I know.” I frown at Rio. “In Mexico City, right?”

  Angelina laughs. “Yes, and franchised all over the United States. My, my, seems like you are suddenly out of your league, little hometown girl.”

  I give Rio another questioning look, and his expression says it all. A cold knot forms in my stomach but I don’t give Angelina the satisfaction of seeing my discomfort.

  “You’re a bitch,” Danny snaps at her.

  My eyes widen but he doesn’t apologize.

  “If I wasn’t under contract I’d quit.”

  “Oh, right.” She snickers. “And give up your shot at the money? I don’t think so. Consider yourself lucky, Danny the mechanic. I’m the only one who can beat Rio.”

  Danny shakes his head. “Yeah, well, you’re lucky you’re a woman or you’d be picking yourself up off the floor.”

  “How very redneck of you,” she purrs. “I find your crudeness rather sexy.” She slides her hand suggestively down his chest.

  “Lady, I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.”

  With a hiss she snatches her hands away. “Your loss, then,” she snaps but looks a bit disappointed.

  “Danny, don’t let her get to you,” I tell him, feeling responsible for this little scene.

  Danny manages to grin. “Don’t worry. We’re doing the tango so I’m supposed to glare at her and believe me, it’s not a stretch to do that.”

  “Enough!�
�� Angelina says and gives Rio and me a shooing motion with her hands. “Off with you.”

  Rio looks like he’s going to give her a piece of his mind, so I tug on his hand. “Come on. She’s not worth it.”

  “You’re right,” Rio says and we remove our dancing shoes and quickly gather up our duffel bags to exit the dance hall.

  Once outside in the sunny parking lot I turn to Rio. Trying to sound casual I say, “So, you own a chain of dance studios, not just one?”

  He nods and has the grace to look a tad embarrassed. “When I took over for my father I felt so guilty that the studio was going under that I threw myself into the business. When it was back to flourishing it was just about when ballroom dancing was becoming popular again in the United States. I decided to franchise Starlight Dance Studios and hit the market at just the right time. I agreed to do this show to give the newest studios a boost. That’s why I was so angry when I thought this was nothing but a joke. But, Abby, it’s become so much more than that to me. Please believe me when I say that.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t think it mattered.”

  I shake my head. “Rio, that’s not true or you would have told me. Were you afraid I’d try to sink my claws into you like Angelina?”

  “Of course not,” he answers hotly. He runs his fingers through his hair. “You’ve got it all wrong.”

  “Yes, you’re right, I do.” I swallow the moisture clogging my throat. “See, I thought I could trust you, Rio. Just like you asked me to do. I thought I knew who you were but now I don’t.”

  “I didn’t really lie to you, Abby.”

  “You just conveniently let me think you were part of a small family business like me. I thought we had so much in common and now I realize that’s so far from the truth. Angelina’s right about one thing. I’m out of my league.” I turn away from him and start walking, which is silly since he’s the one with the car, but I have to get away.

  “Abby, wait,” he pleads and gently tugs on my arm. “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d overreact like this.”

  “You should have been honest. I’m reacting to your dishonesty, not your money.”

  “Really? Are you so sure about that?”

  I think about this for a second. “No, you’re right. This changes everything.”

  He pulls me in close. “It changes how you feel about me, Abby?” A cool breeze blows my hair across my face and he gently brushes it away. “Surely you must know that I’m falling for you. Don’t let this come between us. So I own some studios. So what?”

  “Oh, Rio, I feel like a huge gulf has just opened up between us. I’m already having a hard time coping with the competition. This is just too much to digest.” It hurts to tell him this but I’m feeling overwhelmed.

  Rio nods. “I understand. You have to keep focused on the dance.”

  “Yes, I do. I’m going to head back up to the lodge to rest instead of having lunch in town.”

  “Do you want me to drive you back?”

  “No. I’ll catch a limo. I’ll see you at the dress rehearsal.”

  He nods but doesn’t let go just yet. “I’m sorry. You have to believe that. There were so many times when I wanted to tell you, and to have you find out this way was the last thing I wanted to happen. But it really doesn’t matter.” His eyes are so stormy that I hug him before heading over to the waiting limo.

  But once I’m back up in my room I flop onto my bed and stare at the ceiling. I want to believe that it doesn’t matter that Rio is wealthy. I mean, am I crazy or what? He’s handsome and rich and he’s made it clear that he’s falling in love with me.

  So why do I suddenly feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me?

  24

  Down to the Wire

  “We can do this, Abby.” Rio gives my hand a squeeze as we wait in the wings to perform the quickstep for the live performance. We’re last to perform, which he reminds me is a good thing. The dance hall is packed to the gills and there is an air of excitement rippling through the audience. Jesse told me last night that tickets for tonight and the finals are selling for hundreds of dollars on eBay and that there isn’t a room left in town.

  I give Rio a nod even though my hands are trembling and my knees feel weak. I don’t voice that I’m having second thoughts about our Jethro and Ellie May getup, especially when we’re following Danny and Angelina, who are sexy as hell in more traditional ballroom dance attire as they perform the tango to “Roxanne” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. It makes me feel dorky in my tight jeans cinched at the waist with a frayed rope. I feel as if we should be doing a barn dance instead of ballroom. What were we thinking?

  “Our attire is going to be unexpected and original, Abby,” Rio says as if reading my mind. He’s getting good at doing that.

  While Danny and Angelina might be rocking the house, Julia, bless her heart, fumbled a bit while dancing the rumba and the chemistry with her partner just wasn’t there. Mac and his partner danced to “Beauty and the Beast” dressed as Belle and the Beast. But while his partner was a vision in her yellow gown, Mac looked ridiculous in a curly mullet Beast wig, and titters from the crowd took away from the otherwise lovely waltz. I’m thinking that Jackie and Maggie were overdoing the costumes. I make a mental note to request something stunning for next week . . . if we make it. Danny and Angelina are sizzling and are going to be a tough act to follow.

  When the song ends the crowd roars in approval. After deep bows Danny and Angelina spin closer to the judges’ table and breathlessly wait for their scores.

  “That was hot,” Ben says and fans his face. “How do you feel about your performance?” Ben asks Angelina.

  “Confident,” she says with a lift of her chin. “We worked hard on our technique.”

  “Let’s see what the judges have to say. Peter?”

  “Yes, the technique was definitely there . . . the staccato movement, the emphasis on the head and torso. But I found the chemistry to be more angry than sexy. But perhaps it was just me.” He flips up his paddle. “I give you a nine.”

  Angelina smiles up at Danny but he doesn’t return the smile.

  “Carson?” Ben asks.

  In his clipped British accent Carson says, “I have to agree with Peter but to me the tango is an angry dance. I think they were perfect. Ten!” The crowd cheers in approval.

  Ben turns his attention to Myra and she shakes her head, making her big hair bob. “Yes, it was angry almost to the point of danger. I felt it sitting here like a hot wind blowing in my face. Angry but smokin’-hot sexy. I give you a ten!”

  “There you have it, folks,” Ben says with his wide MC smile. “Now to a commercial break before we see your final couple in this very exciting semifinal of Dancing with the Rednecks!”

  Rio and I hurry to our opening spot in the middle of the dance floor. The three minutes we have to wait seems like forever but then the spotlight snaps on and “Dueling Banjos” begins. I hear a collective gasp from the audience and a bit of laughter and I’m thinking that this can’t be good but then again perhaps they’re getting the irony of the whole thing. Pushing that thought to the back of my mind, I concentrate on the trick steps, trying to keep it light and twinkling . . . slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick . . . slow on the heel and quick on the toe. My Ellie May pigtails bounce and I try to keep a smile on my face but it feels a bit forced. Our synchronization and leg tension are working, though, and Rio’s lead is strong and powerful, yet he’s light on his feet . . .

  Oh God, here comes the really fast part where the banjos play together and we do a complicated run across the floor. The crowd roars in approval and the smile on my face finally relaxes when I realize that we are nailing the hard part. We end with me perched on Rio’s knee. My left leg shoots out and my right arm reaches skyward for our big finish.

  The audience is once again on its feet. People are waving huge cardboard signs. Rio swings me to my feet and we take a bow a
nd then spin in a circle, milking the moment for all it’s worth. The disco ball spins, sending confettilike light spinning everywhere.

  After the applause dies down . . . and I have a sneaking suspicion that the last loud clap and whistle belong to my mama . . . we head over to stand before the judges.

  “Interesting choice of song and costumes,” Ben comments. “Were you trying to make a statement?” he asks and thankfully thrusts the microphone in front of Rio, because I’m still trying to catch my breath.

  “As a matter of fact,” Rio says while trying to slow down his breathing, “yes.” After another deep breath he continues. “I have to admit that I was leery when I began this competition. When I first saw the contestants, I shook my head, thinking that this was going to be impossible. But as our costumes suggest, anyone can learn to dance. Ballroom dancing is all about romance, love, and strength of character. The people of Misty Creek have all of that and more.” He waves to the crowd and they cheer like mad.

  “Well said,” Ben says with a nod and for once I think his toothy smile is sincere and not just for the camera. “Let’s go to our esteemed judges. Carson?”

  “First of all, I want to say that I’m in agreement with Mr. Rio Martin. I too was leery and, while there have admittedly been some painful and hilarious moments, by and large this show has proven that dancing is to be enjoyed by all. I began with my tongue in my cheek but I was proven wrong.”

  “Okay, now down to business,” Ben warns. “We’re live.”

  Carson nods. “Sorry to have gotten on my soapbox. Rio and Abby, this performance was unique and entertaining.”

  My heart starts pounding when he hesitates. That can’t be good. I hear a big but coming.

  “The technique was there but there was something . . . lacking. Abby, you seemed a bit on edge, making your normal bubbly nature feel a little forced. While I understand that we are coming down to the wire, this is where it all counts. I give you an eight.”

  The audience gasps. Rio slips his hand in mine and gives me a reassuring squeeze.

  “Myra?” Ben asks.