Tidings of Love

by Alicia Hunter Pace

  Her phone rang. The number displayed brought a welcome rush of joy. “Excuse me.”

  She returned to the table blissful, yet wary of her next task. In their brief conversation, Felix had offered her a dream job, inviting her to be part of his upcoming performance. They started practice tomorrow with ten to twelve hour days through next Thursday and a half a day on Friday morning before their debut on Friday night. Normally, preparations took months. Felix had days. As two dancers he previously worked with scrambled to get flights from Europe, he called her, the only other person he said he wanted. She said yes immediately.

  The high risk circumstances frightened her. She’d need to cancel her callback in Orlando and skip two open auditions. Worse, Felix lacked financial backers. She’d get paid at the back end based on ticket sales. He’d jumped at the chance to fill a theater slot left vacant by a cancellation. But he promised no commitment beyond that, unless some investors came forth after the performance. There was no company, no steady paycheck. No harness, no safety net.

  Her ego soaring, she couldn’t wait to begin.

  But first, she had a promise to break.

  Sighing, she tried to stifle the smile her face wanted to wear. Sliding into the booth beside Eloise, she put her arm around the child.

  “I have some sad news and some good news for you. I know I promised to come to dinner on Wednesday, but I can’t and I’m very sorry.”

  Eloise pouted. A quick peek across the table confirmed his scowl. She hoped her next words would soften the blow.

  “I should be able to make it up to you some other night. I’m going to stay here for at least another month.” She met his gaze, searching his eyes for hope. “I’m going to be very busy the next two weeks preparing for a performance downtown.”

  “Can I come?”

  She smiled at Eloise, then back at Carson, who at the least looked less angry than earlier. In her enthusiasm to work with Felix, she realized she said yes without knowing if this would be one of his full frontal works or not. “I hope so, but I’ll know more tomorrow.”

  • • •

  They approached the will-call window, collecting the tickets Penelope had reserved for them. From the looks of it, there were plenty of seats still available. He wondered how awful this would be. At least she’d assured him there would be no nudity in this performance. The fact that she’d had to confirm this in advance was disturbing. She’d come to dinner only once since starting rehearsals and they hadn’t talked much privately, but he didn’t like the idea of her being naked on stage. He wanted her nude body to be only available for private performances. Not that they’d found time lately.

  The curtain rose slowly, revealing several trees, including the little Christmas tree from Penelope’s apartment, covered in fairy lights, creating a woodland scene. A male dancer with horns on his head crawled on all fours. The light followed him until he stopped in front of a woman who unfolded like a graceful flower. All their moves were performed in front of the shadow of a winged creature suspended in mid air. The man and woman continued for several minutes. The music shifted. Suddenly, the audience gasped as the shadow began to move, flying. A second curtain lifted and wow, she was beautiful. Iridescent wings suited her. He hoped Eloise’s enthusiastic shout of, “Miss Penny!” wasn’t too disruptive.

  Eloise gaped at the stage, clearly enthralled with the performance. Other than her tight grip on his sleeve, she sat still and silent. Even during the intermission, she spoke in reverent tones, barely able to complete a sentence. He understood her reaction perfectly. He knew squat about dance, having never attended a performance other than the ones for her class. Yet this transformed him, taking his mind and emotions soaring through an unknown landscape.

  Penelope transfixed him. Her body communicated generations of knowledge and feelings. He couldn’t take this away from her or ask her to give it up. It was powerful, sweeping across his body and straight to his heart. He adored her. He loved her. He had to tell her. Tonight.

  When the final curtain fell, his voice joined those crying, “Bravo!” as he and Eloise rose from their seats. Penelope practically defied gravity as she glided over the stage, accepting the audience’s adoration and making sure her fellow dancers and Felix also received their due. All too soon, she disappeared. The stage lights dimmed as the house lights rose. He didn’t know the etiquette, but in the movies, getting backstage seemed easy. He couldn’t risk waiting until tomorrow or even until she arrived at home tonight.

  He realized his first gaffe as he waited afterward in the lobby. He followed the wrong crowd. Fortunately, Penelope’s parents saw him and directed him to join the throngs of people hovering by a dented red metal door.

  Eloise pointed out his second mistake. “How come everyone else has flowers but we don’t?”

  He swallowed his embarrassment. He should have gone to the florist beforehand. He didn’t know what flowers she liked. There was still so much he didn’t know about her, but he yearned for the chance to learn. The Glaziers again came to his rescue, offering Eloise one of the two bouquets they brought. The cheerful daisies suited her little arms.

  The door opened and a security guard began organizing the crowd, permitting entry to the few members of the media on hand. The Glaziers motioned for him and Eloise to join them. After the guard authenticated them, he pointed to another set of doors and into a dressing room littered with clothes, shoes and mysterious bottles in front of a brightly lit mirror.

  He sat on a stool in front of the mirror, restless, but unable to walk around with Eloise clinging to him. At first he tried to dissuade her from touching anything, but relented in an effort to keep them both occupied. It beat staring at the clock.

  The door burst open, permitting shouts of “You’re amazing!” and “I love you” to waft through the air. Penelope came into view, one arm laden with flowers, mostly roses, and the other doing a beauty queen’s wave to the crowd. “Thank you. You are too kind. Felix Hart deserves all the credit. He’s a genius.” She closed the door, closed her eyes, leaned against it and sighed.

  Her mom rushed to take the flowers before Carson had a chance to get Eloise on her feet and off his lap. He envied the scratched up brown door, supporting her in her moment of need.

  “You look exhausted, dear,” her mom murmured.

  Penelope opened her eyes, noticeably perking up when her gaze met his. “But in the best possible way. Thank you all for coming!”

  She accepted congratulations and praise as she hugged everyone in turn. Eloise excitedly gave her the flowers, talking a mile a minute and saying too much about how they forgot to bring flowers. Although he wished he could hide under a rock to escape his faux pas, she peeked at him through lashes he knew to be false. The twinkle in her eye showed amusement. But more than that, it seemed like a private message intended for him. In that one quick look he sensed appreciation, pleasure, and, dare he hope, love?

  He stood in the hall with Mr. Glazier as she changed into street clothes. He wasn’t sure what to say to him. It wasn’t as awkward as when he’d asked Catherine’s father for his daughter’s hand in marriage. If he tried that tonight, he suspected Mr. Glazier would laugh at the absurd formality. They kept to brief words of praise for the performance and the predicted snowfall for Sunday. When called back in the room, the Glaziers exchanged a knowing look. They asked him if Eloise could help carry the flowers out to their car before they drove home.

  Alone in her dressing room, he pulled Penelope close, ignoring her protest of needing a shower. He didn’t mind. He craved her more than ever. He kissed her tenderly then with more passion as she melted against him. He tasted her need. Giving in would be pure pleasure, but he knew everyone would return in minutes. With reluctance he broke their kiss, but held her so close, he felt his erection growing against her. Resting his cheek against hers, he whispered in her ear. “You are amazing
.” Her mouth found his neck, her lips soft, her tongue moist as she teased him. Loud footfalls carried in from the hallway. He pulled back. He had more to say. He looked into her eyes, dark with passion. “I love you.”

  Chapter 12

  Three little words. She must have heard them a dozen times tonight with no consequences whatsoever. None until spoken by the man who’d turned her world upside down.

  To her surprise, she believed him. In his eyes, she read sincerity. His calm voice spoke those magic words with conviction. He hadn’t said them to be polite, nor were they passionate words hastily thrown out in the heat of the moment. She admired his courage. He hadn’t hid behind Eloise as he’d done in the past, diffusing his own feelings by projecting them onto her.

  Only one thing made the moment bittersweet. She failed to return his sentiment. Not because of a lack of feeling, but because a rap on the door announced the arrival of an audience. She wanted the moment to be private, not in front of the crowd of family. She wanted him to know the strength of her love for him as a man, not just as a father.

  • • •

  By Sunday morning, the newspaper trumpeted the latest arrival on the local dance scene. She wished she could enjoy the triumph more. Carson loved her, but she missed the Orlando job opportunity and the trades showed no local auditions — only New York, Albuquerque, and Las Vegas. They were all so far away. She poured another cup of coffee and retreated to her childhood bedroom before her parents could waylay her.

  Decisions, decisions. She stared at the maps, newspaper clippings, and audition announcements. She searched the web, travel websites, companies, real estate. Her fingers clutched the chain at her neck, her thumb and forefinger rubbing the fairy pendant as if it could provide all the answers. But there was no magic. At least, no magic wand and fairy godmother to make it possible for her keep her career and her man. He loved her, but she couldn’t ask him to wait. He would never understand. She eyed the red circled ad once again as she drained the coffee. She returned the mug to her nightstand, right beside her flight voucher.

  She made the call. Her phone rang almost as soon as she hung up.

  “Good morning, superstar.”

  “So you saw the papers?”

  “Eloise wants to put it on her wall.”

  Why does this have to be so hard? Her heart wasn’t done with dance, or him, or Eloise. Like a band aid. Be quick. “I fly out tomorrow.”

  Seconds stretched into an eternity. She waited for him to yell, be sarcastic, spit bile in her direction. Anything.

  “Where?”

  “Vegas.”

  “Is it topless?”

  “Some nights.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “I don’t have the job yet. There’s no guarantees.”

  “You’ll get it. You’re too good not to be hired somewhere. Come over tonight?”

  This wasn’t the same man who rolled his eyes at fairy houses and blew a gasket over a bruise. It couldn’t be. But there was only one way to find out for sure. “Okay.”

  • • •

  She took the stage, breezing through the basic choreography of the first round. In the second round, she punctuated the high kicks in heels with a smile and a shimmy. She noticed the judges observing her carefully. She commanded their attention. The job was hers to lose.

  Round three, three dancers left. She attacked the modern dance choreography, spine curving as she emoted agony seconds before flinging her head back in exultation. Passion coursed through her veins. They called her name. But instead of the pure triumph she expected, a pin pushed lightly on the skin of her bubble of happiness.

  She retired to her hotel, cheap and off the Strip, to read the paperwork. The rehearsal and performance schedule, the weight restrictions, the health plan. I’m not done yet. She repeated her mantra but the words sounded empty. She had the job, dancing six shows a week, with Sunday and Monday off. She could catch a red-eye, be in Chicago before Sunday breakfast every week.

  She glanced through the apartment rental guide she’d picked up on her way to her room. Each option looked less appealing than the last. The choreography, so stunning to watch performed, left her cold. The two weeks with Felix and the time teaching the girls reminded her of her passion for the unpredictable. She rubbed the fairy around her neck. It was too late to make calls tonight. She’d arrange for apartment hunting in the morning, only not in Las Vegas.

  • • •

  She couldn’t afford much, but her former New York roommates gave her back her share of the security deposit so at least she had a down payment. The Dance School guaranteed her one creative movement class. Her sister helped her find a few students interested in musical theater who wanted private lessons. She’d have plenty of time to hit auditions, if anyone was hiring.

  She stared at the handsome male sitting across from her at the table. She wasn’t done yet, not with him anyway. Her heart had spoken. Less than a week after leaving town and leaving him, she was back. Eloise sat beside her at the breakfast restaurant. She wasn’t dancing yet either, but she couldn’t stay away from Carson and Eloise.

  He offered to help her apartment hunt, arranging for Eloise to spend the day with Sue and Pappy. Pausing with her syrup slathered waffle poised halfway between her plate and her mouth, Eloise offered, “You should live at my house. We have two whole bedrooms that nobody uses. One of them even has a bed but sometimes Grandma and Grandpa sleep there. If you promise not to snore, you can sleep in my bed. It’s got pretty flowers on it.”

  She thought Carson might choke on his coffee as his eyes grew wide with surprise. Swallowing a large gulp of freshly topped off hot coffee had to hurt. It was bad enough with the small burning sip she swallowed.

  “That’s a lovely offer,” she stammered.

  She ignored the piercing glare Sue Patterson gave them as she counted heads in the car. She was glad she couldn’t hear what words passed after Eloise entered the house. She hoped Carson would hurry back to the car. They had a lot to do today.

  They barely backed out of the driveway before Penelope put her hand on his thigh. He gave her a knowing look that curled her toes. All the more reason for an apartment. Even if she couldn’t afford one, being virtually unemployed. “I thought I’d look for an apartment near your office.”

  “Why?”

  “You were right at Christmas. We have something wonderful together, but we don’t get much time alone and realistically, that may not change. I thought if I were close to your office, you could come over for lunch and … ”

  His booming laugh filled the car. “So your main criteria is booty call proximity?”

  She laughed at his unexpected use of slang and hoped it covered her embarrassment at being caught so easily.

  “Thinking of which, we can be home in about five minutes.” He waggled his eyebrows and offered a wicked smile before turning back to focus on the road.

  She didn’t point out his slip of the tongue. She liked the way it sounded. Besides, his suggestion sounded a lot more fun than signing a twelve month lease.

  Entering the house, he wasted no time helping her shed her clothes. In his haste, a button flew off her coat. He paused, watching it bounce across the tile floor.

  “Sorry.”

  She shrugged. “I need a new coat anyway. The wind cuts right through that one.”

  “In that case, let me warm you up.”

  With the look he gave her, the voices of self doubt stopped tormenting her.

  He pulled off his leather gloves, cupping her face with his warm fingers. Heat filled her body in anticipation and he kissed her. His mouth greedily explored hers. Between his masculine scent and his delicious taste, she finally understood what it meant to swoon. Her hands tugged at his shirt, needing to feel his body, muscles tensing and throbbing with need as they had the
ir one night together.

  She pouted as he left her mouth until his hot breath and teasing tongue found a home on her neck. His hands roamed down her arms to her pants. He pressed his palm against her womanly place, already moist from his touch. She groaned and reached for his button fly jeans, wanting to liberate the bulge straining the fabric.

  He clenched his teeth, pulling away even as she wanted more. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got to get something upstairs.”

  “I’m coming with you.” His raised eyebrow gave them both the giggles as they raced to his bedroom, loosening clothes as they went.

  They tumbled on the bed, naked in flesh and need. He covered her body in kisses, working toward that magic place between her legs. She arched her back, breath catching in her lungs as he teased her most intimate pleasure spot. Suddenly, the tension released. Her body quivered. For an instant, her mind, body, and spirit united, freed from gravity and other tethers. This was better than the sensation of flying she had in the harness. Much, much better. Because of the man she shared it with.

  After recovering, she raised her head, meeting his amused gaze.

  “Feeling warmer now?”

  She sat up, pulling his head against her breasts, his hair soft against her skin. “I think I’m overheating. Get up here now.”

  He complied and she rewarded him with hot steamy kisses of her own until he begged to be inside her. In the heat of the moment, she slowed down her rhythmic grinding atop his hard body. She looked into his eyes, darkened to the color of storm clouds, and touched his face tenderly, tracing his square jaw with her fingertip. She sensed when his body neared its release. Carefully and controlled, she told him the words she’d held back far too long. “I love you, Carson Langley. I always will.”

  • • •

  She counted the minutes until arriving at his house for their midweek dinner. All afternoon, she wanted to burst, to sing from the rooftops and generally exalt the world. Felix Hart secured financing for a new experimental dance troupe and he wanted her. Although there would be some travel, mostly to festivals, she’d be based here. She wasn’t sure what Carson would think about the type of dance, but she hoped he’d help her apartment hunt. For real this time.