Spring Into Love

by Chantel Rhondeau

  When those phone calls came in from Drew this morning she’d been so tempted to pick up, to start the whole affair again. It was clear now that Josh was the only reason he’d finally called her. She was his son’s teacher. Someone important to the boy. But obviously nothing more than that to Drew. Good for a sexual toss and—

  “Casey? Karl asked if you needed air conditioning?”

  “Sorry, my mind sort of wandered. Air conditioning? Not necessarily.”

  They got out of the car and walked into the huge, rundown, barnlike building. The moment Casey stepped inside she felt herself expand with the incredible immensity of the space. “I love it,” she murmured.

  Drew heard her and flashed a smile that sent a rush of heat through Casey. She tried to cover her reaction by strolling to a doorway that led to a small room. Perfect office.

  “The high ceiling will make it difficult to heat,” Karl said. “And the reason I asked about the AC is that the wiring is a bit dated.”

  A “bit dated” turned out to mean in shambles. Not only would the building need a whole electrical overhaul, but it would also need new plumbing, as well as extra bathrooms for dressing rooms. There was a leak in the roof. Rodents had made a home in one wall. And it went on. Sinking Casey’s initial hopes.

  Drew pointed out a lot of these things, and Casey was grateful for his astute observation and the knowledge he had of real estate. She scolded herself for being the same old dreamer she’d always been. Whether it was seeing only the beauty of this old building instead of what it would cost to make it usable, or spending all those weeks imagining that Drew loved her.

  She glanced at him now on his mobile phone. The high roller doing business. Or maybe he’d gotten a call from his latest fling. Or Amber. Was Amber the one girl he always went back to in between flings? Was she the one he’d eventually marry?

  Drew finished his call and strode toward Casey and Karl. “Can you two hang out for a half hour? Got a hold of a contractor who’s done several projects for me. He’s going to buzz by and give it a look. Check for major structural issues. If he doesn’t see any, I’ll get a ballpark estimate of what the renovations might cost and we’ll talk turkey.”

  “Oh, Drew,” Casey said, shaking her head, “there’s no way I could earn enough on a dance studio to pay you back for that. And we haven’t even considered dance floor, mirrors and start-up promotional costs.”

  Drew rested a hand on her shoulder. Her body stiffened to avoid feeling the delirious sensations his touch ignited. He lowered his voice, his eyes boring into hers. “Tell me the truth. Would you want this place if the repairs were affordable?”

  “But they’re not.” Casey backed away. Aside from his proximity making her already taxed self-control even harder, she hated his question. It reminded her so much of growing up in a household where mentioning anything she wanted required coupling it with the phrase “if we could afford it.” Which of course meant “don’t get your hopes up.”

  “Answer me, Casey. Can you see this as your dance studio?”

  “It’s much bigger than I could ever—”

  “Yes or no. And don’t lie. I can tell you like it. I saw the look on your face when you came in. I heard what you said.”

  “Well, yes. This building appeals to me and the space is exhilarating, but—”

  “Location, size, layout, ambience.” He looked at Karl. “Those overgrown weeds outside the west wall? Is that part of the deed?”

  “It is.”

  “Parking.”

  “Drew, I can’t possibly—”

  “I’m the one buying here. I’ll pay for the repairs and renovation of my property. And if I want to make my property into a dance studio, I’ll pay for that too. So no more talk about borrowing or paying back. All you’ve got to do is advise me on what a dance academy it needs. And run the place.”

  That rendered Casey speechless. Her reaction brought out a delight in Drew’s face that made him look adorably boyish. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back. Drew turned away, giving her space, pretending he didn’t notice her struggling not to cry.

  No fair. How could she not love him when he did something like this and made it clear he didn’t even want to be thanked? Regardless of his womanizing issues there was a sweetheart in Drew Byrne that touched her deeply. She wanted to hug him, but she didn’t dare.

  So Casey just walked to his side and said, “Wait’ll Josh sees this place.”

  ***

  Drew followed his ex-wife, Heather, through the living room that looked like an obstacle course. He sidestepped boxes and crates and the movers sent by Nate’s company to pack up the house, most going into storage. “I told you not to buy his airfare. He won’t be going. At least not yet.”

  Heather made a tsking sound. “Give it up, Drew. Just because you suddenly feel that fatherly urge after nine years of acting like an adolescent doesn’t mean—”

  “How about we let Josh decide?”

  “Decide what?” a voice called from the stairway.

  Both parents looked up at the boy standing on the stairs, Yankees cap backwards, baggy cargo pants drooping off his narrow hips.

  “Got stuff to tell you,” Drew said and loped up two steps at a time.

  Heather walked behind him.

  “I’d like to talk to him alone,” Drew said to her.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m in on this conversation. This is too important. And I know how persuasive you can be.”

  Drew felt like reminding her that when it came to their son she was the all-time champion at that. But he just said, “Fine.”

  Josh’s room had yet to be packed by the movers. Drew took a seat on the bed, Heather the desk chair. The boy stood, looking wary of both parents.

  Drew began. “Josh, I want you to know that Miss Casey only closed the school because the man who owned that building sold it to someone else, and she didn’t have enough money to rent another. So I bought a building today that’s going to be a beautiful studio.”

  “What?” Heather shrieked. “You bought a whole commercial building for that slut, who can’t even—”

  “Stop it, Mom! Miss Casey’s a nice lady. You used to like her a lot.”

  “I seem to recall that, too,” Drew said, but figured it had probably changed the moment Heather had learned Casey was dating him. “You told me what a great teacher she is.”

  “Okay, so she’s a good dance instructor. But I don’t know much else about her. And I don’t like how important she’s become to Josh.”

  Drew shook his head. “It’s not Casey, but what she has to offer Josh that’s important. Through her he’s found a part of himself that’s bold and confident and happy. And I don’t want to see him lose it.”

  Heather crossed her arms over her chest. “You make it sound like Josh is going to remain here. I’ve only agreed to a delay of one month so he can do his TV performance. That’s it. I’m not leaving him with a wild bachelor any longer than that. If he still wants to stay at all.”

  “I do, Mom. I want to stay. I promise I won’t get into any trouble.”

  “I’m not worried about you getting into trouble.” Her eyes cut sideways to Drew.

  “I’ve changed,” Drew said. “And I would never do anything that would put Josh at risk.”

  “I just don’t like your choice of female company around my son. He needs the stability that a committed husband and wife give to a home.”

  “There are plenty of kids raised by single parents who do fine.”

  “Well, it’s a moot point, since he’ll be joining me in a month. And I want his studies kept up during that time.”

  “The Ross School had a good reputation.”

  “And did you hire a nanny?”

  Josh bristled. “I’m not a baby.”

  “It’ll be Becky, Josh. Just to make sure you’ve got meals and stuff when I’m at work.”

  “You mean that older woman who cooks for you?” Heather asked.

  D
rew nodded. “I trust her around my son more than some stranger.”

  “All right. I’ll expect regular reports.” Heather walked from the room.

  Drew turned to Josh. “Couple things I have to explain.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like the building I bought. I’ll pull strings to get it in my hands faster than usual, but even with that, the building is old and needs repairs. Casey is looking for spaces where she can teach several classes a week right now. She’s already lined up some time at the church and the Lion’s Club. It won’t be as good as having her own dance academy, but at least she’ll be able to keep working with her most promising students. Like the ultra-cool and super talented Josh Byrne.”

  Josh gave him a big grin. “You did it, Dad. You saved Miss Casey’s school.”

  Chapter 26

  By the end of September the sound of hammers, buzz saws and hissing torches echoed through the cavernous space. The musty neglected-old-building smell already began to fade. Casey stood in what would be the office—her office!—studying a diagram with Drew. She still could hardly believe this was really happening.

  He’d hired an architect to design a plan for turning this enormous ex-store and warehouse into a whole performing arts academy. With one humongo dance studio, three medium-sized for dance and theater, three small music rooms, a gym room that would have fitness equipment plus mats for acrobatic training, and a studio for painting and set design classes.

  And at each step he’d bowed to Casey’s input.

  Drew pointed to an area on the paper. “If we keep the lobby here and the bathrooms here, we could close off this small area as a private dressing room for you and the other teachers.”

  “Great idea. And when we do studio performances it will be a perfect place for dancers to wait until it’s their time to go onstage.”

  “A green room,” Drew said, giving her one of those heart-stopping grins, his teal blue eyes searching her face.

  He’d been doing that too much lately. It always made Casey want to lean forward for a taste of his wonderful mouth. She turned away. Bad enough he was playing Santa Claus making her dream of this academy come true, why did he have to look so darn delicious as well?

  And now she had Parker to contend with. He was convinced Drew had fallen in love with her. Casey finally got her brother to back off by telling him she was no longer attracted to Drew, hoping Parker wouldn’t sense her lie. She didn’t reveal her humiliating experience of seeing Drew with Amber. What good would it do to draw her brother any deeper into the melodrama of her soap opera?

  She also didn’t like the idea of demeaning Drew in Parker’s eyes. It would be like betraying a friend. Because that was what Drew had become. A true friend. In fact, Casey was discovering that he was a really great guy. Not that he didn’t have issues when it came to women. And she sure as hell would not let herself forget what a capable and blatant liar he was. Or what it felt like to see him kissing Amber.

  “I’ll call Jack about this plan tonight,” he said. “We’d better go.”

  “Lobby furniture today?” Yesterday it was bathroom fixtures. They’d already chosen paint, tiles, lighting, front door. It went on and on. Sometimes it seemed like she and Drew were a husband and wife building a home together. And it felt so good, so natural and so right that it scared her.

  “No. We’re having lunch with a photographer I know in Bridgehampton. See if you like him or not.”

  Drew’s energy and enthusiasm never slowed. But that shouldn’t have surprised her, considering he’d been the same way in bed. What did surprise Casey was how well they got along outside of the bedroom now that they spent so much time with each other every day. Drew always understood what she said. And often sensed what she hadn’t said.

  “For the brochure we talked about?”

  “Right. And promo pics for ads. Got some ideas to run by you on that.”

  They walked to his chauffeured limo that waited outside. Casey sank into the soft leather of the back seat’s air-conditioned womb. She wore a simple forest green tee shirt dress, and the skin of her bared arms and legs tingled with the nearness of Drew sitting next to her.

  “Is this photographer expensive?” Casey asked.

  “Kind of.”

  This was their only bone of contention. Drew’s refusal to put any of the expenses on a tab she could pay back. Even those related specifically to the running of the business. “Drew, we absolutely have to sit down and write up terms for what I will owe you.”

  He shifted in his seat, a look of caution on his face. “Casey, I’m thinking the solution might be for me to be your partner in this. Both in the non-profit arts programs we talked about and the school itself. I know you might not want to—”

  “I agree.”

  He stared at her, his mouth slightly open. “You agree? I had this whole ‘convince Casey’ speech planned.”

  She smiled. “It might have taken me a couple years to save enough money to start up again, and that would have been for a simple dance studio. Not the dynamic arts center being created, thanks to you. Without you this wouldn’t be happening at all. But it’s not just about your generosity with your resources. I’m astounded by your business skills, your drive, and most of all your vision.”

  For the first time since she’d met Drew she saw a truly modest expression on his face. He muttered, “But it was your idea.”

  “Nothing more. A flimsy dream I never expected to become a reality. You’re the one shaping it into life.” Casey took his hand, knowing it was a mistake, but she couldn’t help herself. “I’ve been thinking about this, and every time I come down to the same thing. This arts center is rightly yours, not mine. Maybe we can work out a business plan that allows me to run it for a salary or commission or some version of compensation.”

  “No, Casey. I want this place to be yours. I just want to be your partner in it.”

  “You already are.”

  He squeezed her hand and kept hold of it for the rest of the ride to Bridgehampton.

  The whole venture would have been wonderful if she hadn’t gone and fallen in love with Drew. It made it all the more treacherous for Casey. She could never fully drop her guard, but having him at her side right now made her feel so complete that she allowed herself a brief indulgence in the fantasy of what it would be like to have Drew as her partner in more than just the studio.

  The photographer in Bridgehampton ran his portfolio on a laptop while they lunched on salade Nicoise at a French bistro. (A girl could definitely get used to this)

  Before taking Casey back to the North Fork, they needed to pick up Josh. With only two days left before the Got Moves performance Casey now had the Cove Corps rehearsing daily. As they drove to Southampton, she realized she’d never seen Drew’s home and wondered if it would match the images she tended to conjure about him in the night while she lay on her cot-bed at Parker’s.

  They drove through a wrought iron gate and into a paved circular drive. Seeing the impeccable lawn and designer shrubs she could not name, Casey smiled, knowing they were Parker’s work. The house was an imposing Tudor with latticed windows, a brick front and several wings.

  Drew got out of the car and turned to Casey. “Come in and meet my dad.”

  She swallowed, remembering Drew telling her what a judgmental man he was. What would he think of her? But did it matter? She was only a business partner in a sideline project of Drew’s. Still, she said, “We’re already running late. And the church could only give me an hour today.”

  “Okay,” Drew said. “But Josh has no sense of time, so there’s no telling where he is. I might have to run down to my wing and get him moving.”

  In a few minutes an overweight man—with very blue eyes—walked toward the car. He studied Casey with what appeared to be a mix of annoyance and curiosity. “You must be the dancer both my boys are so wrapped up with.”

  Was that a compliment or a complaint? She got out of the car and held out her hand.
“Casey Richardson.”

  “Andrew Byrne.”

  He was polite enough, but she could clearly sense a slight condescension, an underlying arrogance and an unspoken message that this man was not to be challenged. She let him lead the conversation, and they proceeded into a discussion about golf, of all things, with Mr. Byrne doing most of the talking. It occurred to Casey this was a sport where Drew could whip her butt, since she’d never played it. Except she doubted they’d ever have another one of their strange competitions.

  Not after the way the last one ended.

  All in all she was relieved when Drew and Josh returned. But Drew arrived tense and fuming because of an angry message from Heather. Apparently no one had told Josh’s mother that the dance group was committed to continue on the TV show until they got eliminated from the contest. Which could mean anywhere from two to six more weeks.

  But Drew calmed down as they drove away, and Josh began talking excitedly to Casey about the show and his costume and which kinds of music other groups might use.

  When Josh gazed out the window Drew glanced at her and mouthed, “I’ve never seen him talk this much.”

  “Look. Horses,” Josh said, pointing to pair grazing in a field.

  “I love horses,” Casey sighed. “They move like dancers, don’t you think, Josh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Epitome of grace and power,” Drew said. “Like the one that came in for me up in Saratoga. You wouldn’t believe the way that horse took off after laying back for the first part of the race. Nobody was betting on…. uh, uh…oh, man, long day and not enough sleep. I can’t remember the name of the damn horse.”

  “Magician’s Trick?” Casey said.

  “That’s it. How’d you know that?”

  Oh no. What have I done? Maybe it was time she confessed to him about Madame Lumina. She’d have to eventually, wouldn’t she? Except the readings were over. So, why make Drew hate her for nothing?

  Casey went into panic mode, thinking fast. She rushed out her words. “Um, your father told me.” She just hoped his father knew about this race.