Let's Dance (The Winters Family Series: Book Four 4)

by Terra Kelly

  They started swaying to the beats of their own hearts, and off in the distance you could hear the soft sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore. Danny had Shawna tucked snuggly against his body. Her skin was silky smooth, and her hand felt warm beneath his own. As they continued to move back and forth, Shawna carefully placed her head against his chest. It took a few moments before he felt her settle comfortably against him. Then, as if she had raised a white flag in front of him, she let out a very heavy sigh and relaxed her tense body.

  They were both silent for several minutes, letting the weight of the moment sink in finally. Shawna stayed against Danny’s chest but spoke in a hushed tone, “Danny? Do you think it’s possible for people to let go of the past that haunts them?”

  He stopped moving and carefully nudged her back a bit, so they were looking right at each other. “Maybe? I wonder about that for myself every day, but still don’t have a clear answer.”

  He noticed her step from one foot to the other, maybe unsure what to say next. Then she surprised him by reaching her hand up and cupping his cheek. She asked, “You have a haunted past, too?” She spoke quietly, “You always seem so happy. I would never have guessed.” She dropped her hand and stepped away. He immediately missed her touch, the way she felt in his arms.

  Staying rooted to the spot, he let his mind relive the moment, dancing with her over and over in his mind. He watched her take the few steps over to the railing and rest her hands lightly on the wood surface. He cleared his throat and asked, “How do you laugh so much? Joke? Yet, you try to question the possibility of letting go of something that happened years ago. What are you hiding Shawna? What has you so scared to give me that one chance?”

  She stayed against the railing but turned to face Danny. “Doesn’t everyone have a shitty past?” she said with a shaky voice.

  He chuckled softly. “Way to evade a question. Care to elaborate?” He stepped up beside her and leaned his body against the railing. “Or should we have dinner first?”

  She narrowed her eyes and said defensively, “Who said I was evading anything?”

  He nodded and decided to drop the subject. He knew Shawna opened up to him at her own free will. When she was ready to talk again, he would be right there ready to listen. He headed toward the back door to her house, turning to glance her way. “How does Okami Japanese Steakhouse sound?” Then he walked into her house with the intent to go straight to her front door and wait.

  About two minutes later Shawna came striding into the living and quickly said, “You know how to change a subject, mister. We’ll resume that conversation another time. On to more important things, like dinner. Is Okami the Teppanyaki place?”

  He shook his head at her declaration. “Yes,” he said, while starting to walk to his Jeep. “Why? Not something you like?” Secretly he said a little prayer that she liked his choice. He helped her up into the Jeep and walked to his side to get in. As he settled into his seat, Shawna let out a soft chuckle. Turning to face her, he gave a questioning look and asked, “Should I be worried? That laugh sounds suspicious.”

  She rested her head back and rolled her eyes. “Did Isabel tell you?”

  He scowled. “Tell me what?”

  Shawna let out a sigh. “That it’s my favorite restaurant?”

  Danny had never asked Isabel about restaurant choices. As a matter of fact, he chose the place because it would be a great place for a first date. No pressure involved since you sat with other people at a large table around the grill where the chef prepared each meal. He closed his eyes and let out a small laugh. “Well, do I get brownie points for picking a good spot?”

  He pulled out of her driveway, and right before he turned left, he glanced her way. She was staring at him. Like a half-smile, twinkle in her eyes, staring. Shawna cleared her throat. “You may even get a kiss-on-the-check-at-the-end-of-the-date points,” she said, gushing.

  Danny put his hand to his chest and moaned, “Don’t tease me. You know this heart couldn’t take it.”

  Danny took his glass, raising it in front of them both. “To new beginnings, and maybe a dance competition,” he said with a wide grin plastered across his face.

  She turned her head to the side. “I’m sorry, did I hear you right? Did you just say competition?”

  From the moment they sat down at the restaurant, Danny realized he had to find a way to spend more time with her. Then it dawned on him—the dance competition. Why not compete? It could be perfect. She brushes up on her dancing. He gets to spend several hours a week with her in his arms. It was a win-win from what he could tell.

  Danny straightened up in his chair and spoke quickly. “Shawna, just hear me out, okay? Maybe it’s just what we need. Plus, you have to admit, you were having fun the other day.”

  Shawna shrugged her shoulders. “Fine.”

  He laughed. “Fine, you’ll dance with me? Or fine, I give up, you’re driving me insane, Danny?”

  She let out a low giggle “Well, you are driving me insane, but yes, I will dance with you.”

  Just then the chef preparing the meals leaned forward and asked, “Shrimp, ma’am?” On the tray was a heart made out of several small shrimp.

  Shawna’s eyes went wide, and she burst out laughing. “Are you kidding me?” she said in between snorts.

  Danny put his hands up in surrender. “It wasn’t me, I swear.” He leaned forward so only Shawna could hear. “But I will have to remember that for next time.”

  They ended up talking so long, there were three families that had come and gone at their group table. Danny grabbed the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and polished off the last few drops in each of their glasses. As he set the bottle back down, he glanced around the place. “Um…I guess we bored everyone.” There had only been one other couple still sitting at a table. He finished the last of his wine and asked, “Should we head out?”

  Danny watched as Shawna sat back in her chair and placed her hands in her lap. Her mouth opened slightly and then closed again. She seemed to be struggling with what to say. Finally, she said, “Danny, I’ve had a really good time tonight.” She smiled. “I may even tell Isabel she was right.”

  He had to laugh at that declaration. “Nah, don’t give her the satisfaction of being right.” He went serious. “But I am glad you finally gave me a shot. I don’t bite that hard, do I?”

  She winked. “I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know when I have that answer.”

  Chapter 7

  Shawna raised her eyebrows and put her hand to her mouth. In a muffled voice under her hand, she said, “Um…sorry, sometimes my mouth has a mind of its own.” Of course, after their lovely evening, she hoped to get the chance to see more of Danny…and maybe more than just dinner and dancing. She cleared her throat, took a huge gulp of water, and then asked, “So…with your schedule, could you really dance with me? Practicing for a competition is rigorous work, and long hours.”

  She knew all too well about the intense schedules that went with competitions. From the moment she’d started dancing, it became her life. She would eat and sleep her dance routines. Shawna’s “normal” was grabbing a quick meal on the way home from long nights of practicing, or plotting out the perfect travel snack to throw in her gym bag to keep her fueled. Her favorite go-to recipe was always her famous kitchen sink muffins. They included strawberries, bananas, quinoa, bran, and a few other ingredients that would keep her body functioning through every dance routine. Still today, even though she was not competitively dancing, she took her diet seriously and made those muffins every week.

  Danny finished paying the bill and then stood to put his wallet in his back pocket. He nodded. “Oh yeah, I plan to make the time. Did you by any chance see when the competition is happening?”

  Shawna paused for a beat but then remembered. “I had to look it up, because I had no idea what Anya had been talking about. On Dance with Me’s website, it stated May fifteenth.” After looking at the date, she realized the other day that they
would have about four months to practice. Which would be more than enough time to get the dance routines down pat and maybe even perfect a few new moves. She stood and headed out with Danny right by her side. She bumped up against him playfully. “Four months of putting up with me. Think you can handle it?”

  As they reached the Jeep, Danny turned, stopping her in her tracks. “Oh yeah, I’m definitely up for the challenge.” He reached his hand up and brushed one single finger lightly down her cheek. His touch sent shivers down her spine. He cocked his head to the side. “What I’m wondering. Can you handle it?”

  Shawna didn’t expect that question. She gave a half-grin and nodded. “Challenge accepted.”

  Two-days later, Shawna stopped by Curvalicious Boutique for some much-needed friend time.

  “Okay, talk, and don’t leave out any juicy details,” Kenzie demanded as she continued hanging up the new shipment of corsets that had just arrived.

  Shawna had met Kenzie through Isabel, and they immediately hit it off. She even worked about two days a week in the afternoon to help relieve Kenzie for a few hours to get paperwork and errands completed.

  She let out a heavy sigh, grabbed a paperclip that was sitting on a little side table, and started flipping it around in her hand. “Well, I don’t know,” Shawna said, dropping the paperclip. She walked to the front of the store and stood by the big bay window next to a rack of clothes. She ran her hands across each item of clothing within arm’s distance. Wincing slightly, she whispered, “Maybe you and Izzy were right after all.”

  Kenzie burst out laughing. “What did you just say?” She grabbed her phone and held it out in front of her. “Wait, let me record it this time.”

  Shawna rolled her eyes and held up her middle finger. Moving away from the clothes, she went to stand next to Kenzie. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Maybe it’s time I told you and Izzy more about my past.” She held up her hand and pointed her index finger right at her friend’s face. “But it will be a night of no joking,” she demanded.

  Kenzie’s eyes went wide. “Are you sure? Shawna, you don’t owe us anything. You know that, right?”

  Shawna did know that, but she was ready to share with her “family” something that impacted whom she was today. She winked and said, “Oh, I know.” Walking over to grab her friend’s hand, she reassured her by saying, “But I want to. Plus, it will feel great to get that extra shit off my chest.”

  Just then the front door flew open. Shawna laughed at how Izzy threw her hands up in the air and yelled out, “Morning, lovelies!” She stopped suddenly and looked between Shawna and Kenzie. “Who died?”

  Shawna burst out laughing. “Why do you just assume someone died?” She loved her friends. They had a bad habit of saying exactly what they felt. Shawna, of course, had the biggest problem with not keeping her mouth shut.

  Kenzie shook her head. “Maybe we were having a deep conversation…which is so like us, right?” In unison, all three ladies chuckled and high-fived one another.

  Shawna noticed Kenzie go serious. “Izzy, what are you up to later? And don’t say bedtime with Drew, you’re married now.”

  Isabel’s mouth dropped open. She looked as if she was attempting to gain her composure, but her voice still cracked. “First, what does married life have to do with the amount of sex I have? Two, it sounds like I’m hanging with my girls later, huh?”

  “How about we make a few batches of old fashioned cocktails and complement them with pizza and doughnuts?” Shawna asked. She would be the first to admit, she required fatty foods when feeling the pressure.

  Isabel’s eyes went wide, and then she bent to grab her phone from her purse. “There’s a new doughnut shop in town. Supposedly they have fancy doughnuts with crazy fun toppings. We should grab some before they close for the day? I think they close early. Let me check really quick.” She took a few minutes to search before calling out, “There it is. Okay, they close at four p.m. We better jam over there fast.”

  Shawna headed over to the front counter to grab her purse. Then she turned to face the girls. “One of everything, right?”

  Shawna sat on her patio rocking chair waiting for Kenzie and Isabel to arrive. It was an unusually warm day. She noticed a few people swimming in the ocean and some just sunbathing on towels or chairs. There was a light breeze, and the sun had just started to set over the horizon. She had a bottle of Chianti sitting next to her that seemed to be disappearing quickly. She took another long sip of her wine, soaking up the moment. Finally, after all these years she could stop hiding, stop being afraid. Now, heading into the sixth year of no communication with her parents, she actually wished for something to change. They had been supportive during her teen years and the many hundreds of dance competitions. Why did her career choice have to divide them? She let her mind wonder back to the day when she left home with big dreams in tow. She had so many aspirations when she left for the big city. Not even her parents’ doubts could break her big dreams for the future.

  The night she arrived in New York City to audition at Juilliard, nothing could have prepared her for the bombshell that was laid on her at the front entrance of the school. The sign on the cork board next to the administration office read, No more auditions. Vacancies filled. Come back next year. There was more to the notice, but those were the words that stuck out in bold print for Shawna.

  There she was: She had uprooted her life to go to New York City in hopes of continuing her dance career. Her parents were mad that she chose dancing over law school, and worst of all, she had no friends to lean on in the city.

  For a moment, her fiery Irish roots surfaced, and she marched into the administration office demanding answers. Of course, she had the answers in black and white on the note posted. The ladies behind the desk just shook their heads and apologized. They seemed used to the anger Shawna displayed, which made her realize she was just another face in the crowd with those golden dreams.

  As Shawna turned to leave the school that day, her life shifted. The competitions. Dance recitals. Special costumes for each routine. They were all gone. What took the place of the competitions were struggles and scrounging for money for the next meal. She discovered New York City was not all it was cracked up to be. Sure it had the city lights, amazing food, and so many opportunities. What else did it have a lot of? Night clubs for strippers, who made some good cash every night by just dancing on a stage for a few hours.

  If Shawna could’ve gone back home, she would have. Unfortunately, that was not an option. Her parents made it very clear to not come back until she had her life straightened out. By the time she had it fixed, five years had passed. There would’ve been no way to go back after the failure she had become. Well…failure according to her parents’ standards.

  Now, as she sat sipping wine and living the dream—her dream—she knew what a great opportunity she had at Burlesque Me Tonight, showing off not only her dancing talent, but her singing capabilities, too. Plus, her time at the TV station would not go unrecognized. It had been a rock-solid job that provided benefits and decent pay for a couple of years.

  She had done well for herself. A little part of her wanted to believe her parents would be proud of the woman she had become. Her eyes focused on a family sitting on a blanket close to the shore. There was a little girl and boy with their parents. The girl seemed determined to get the sand castle to stay intact, even though the water inched up, threatening to tear it down. The boy had long since given up and was in the water swimming around. Every so often, he would reach down to grab a rock and inspect it. Where were the parents in all this? Sitting on their computers completely oblivious.

  Shawna wiped a lonely tear as it escaped from the corner of her eye. She felt like she was being taken back in time with her parents. They had always been busy with work. Sure, they did take her to her dance classes, but they were always working even during those lessons.

  Now, several years later with many amazing friends she could call her fa
mily, she realized it was time to start treating them like family and be honest about her past. Maybe share why she kept her life hidden from prying eyes for so long. Shawna really did fear her dancing at the night club would haunt her to her dying day. Since her friends would be there any minute, she would soon find out if that fear would become a reality. In her heart, Shawna knew Kenzie and Izzy would be understanding of her past and finally see her reluctance to give Danny a chance.

  She heard a loud creak and the noise about made her fall off of her chair. She grabbed her glass of wine with both hands and looked toward the steps to her little patio. “Shit. You both sure know how to scare a woman.”

  Chapter 8

  Shawna sniffled and wiped a stray tear. “Hey, ladies.” Then she stood to greet her friends. “Damn memories.”

  Both Izzy and Kenzie were standing there staring at her from the porch step. Showing any display of emotion was definitely out of character for Shawna. She started heading into her house and then turned back toward her friends. “Are you going to just stand there all night?”

  Two containers of pre-mixed margaritas she had prepared earlier waited in the refrigerator. She shook off the past and grabbed the blender from a nearby shelf and then the tray of ice from the freezer. Finally, Kenzie and Izzy made their way in and set all the goodies on the little table. Kenzie glanced toward Izzy and then at Shawna.

  “Want a doughnut?”

  Shawna burst out laughing and walked around the kitchen counter to give Kenzie a hug. “Way to change up the mood in the room, girlie.”

  Izzy lunged forward and grabbed them both around the waist. “I really hope we have enough doughnuts now.”

  Shawna loved those ladies more than she could express in words. How did she get so lucky? Breaking from the love-fest, she headed over to grab one of the delicious sweet treats. The doughnuts were fancy with unique toppings and tempting fillings. She pointed to one that had pink frosting, chocolate drizzle, and what looked like cherry filling oozing out of the center.