Bed Buddies

by St. Klaire, Stephanie

  The event was finally underway. As other couples were tapped on the shoulder, they left the dance floor, no longer eligible — Jace and Kinley just danced, like they were the only two in the room. It wasn’t until the crowd erupted in celebration and the evening’s MC began to speak through the mic that the couple returned to their surroundings, reminded of where they were.

  Jace and Kinley were heading into the final round along with another couple they did not know, and the champion of evil herself, Evelyn Shirley. Kinley shot Evelyn a sweet smile. It was more polite and socially acceptable than flipping the old bird off. Kinley received a turned-up nose and sound of disgust in return as Evelyn left the dance floor, waiting her turn to win the championship cup.

  Kinley was warming up her Facebook, about to drop a bomb of a post holding the trophy she was determined to win. Kinley was surprised there hadn’t been anything posted by her nemesis all night. She had heard, while talking to her group of friends, Molly and Seth, Evelyn’s other targets, had come to some sort of truce with Evelyn. Details were withheld, but in the end, Ben, owner of the Ben’s Brakes & BBQ, seemed to be Evelyn’s partner at more than just dance. That may have been something to look into. The older duo seemed a little too cozy to be nothing more. Interesting. Kinley could get Evelyn off her back with juicy gossip like that. One could hope, anyway.

  Numbers were drawn, and the order of the dance-off established. The strangers were going first, followed by Evelyn, with Jace and Kinley closing the show. Perfect. Rubbing her hands together with a sly smile on display, Kinley had a hard time holding the missing evil laugh in. If Kinley were a betting woman, she’d bet a million dollars she didn’t even have she was about to rock Evelyn’s world. Kinley could feel the win headed her way.

  A well-executed waltz started the final round. The couple dancing was flawless, moving around the dance floor with perfect timing and such grace…but it was bland, text book, and lacked pizazz. A non-threat. Kinley winked at Jace — the waltz wasn’t enough.

  Confidence soaring, Kinley could practically feel the trophy in her hand until the music started and Evelyn and Ben commanded the dance floor with an up-tempo foxtrot. Their foot work was clean, their lines crisp, and timing perfect. As hard as it was to admit, they were good. Damn good. For the first time all night, Kinley was nervous. There was a reason Evelyn was the reigning champion of this shindig, and it wasn’t because the judges feared her. It was because she could dance her mean old ass off.

  An applause erupted as the dance ended. The crowd was clearly charmed by Evelyn and Ben’s performance. Insecurities, negative self-talk, and good ol’ cold feet settled in for the first time in weeks — emotions she brought back from New York but had been absent for weeks now. Kinley hadn’t realized just how much her mood and emotional game had changed since returning to Pine Valley. Her first weeks back were full of anger, hurt, and resentment. Jace changed all that for Kinley. Interesting. She made a mental note to come back to that and sort out what it all meant — the whys, hows, and what’s next of it all.

  Right now, Kinley needed to get it together. In the back of her mind, Kinley knew the desire to dance and perform for a crowd was about more than just beating the mean old lady in a dance-off. Sure, she had taught classes at Twinkle Toes since returning, but that was different than performing…for an audience…one who knew her story. An ounce of redemption was brewing whether Kinley and Jace won or not.

  “Hey, you okay?” Jace placed his hands on Kinley’s shoulders, concern in his voice.

  “Me? Oh, yeah, just thinking and stuff,” she admitted, tossing him a forced smile.

  “No, you’re not. I can see it. What’s bothering you? Where did all that energy and excitement go?” Jace asked.

  Kinley didn’t answer, just slowly turned to the crowd in the distance, still clapping for Evelyn. Jace traced Kinley’s view, putting two and two together, quickly realizing what was plaguing her. While they stood in a quiet corner, there was a whole crowd of people she was about perform for. Perform for.

  “First performance since your injury.” A statement, not a question. Jace read her like a book. “You know, you don’t have to do this, right? If the ankle is bothering you from all the practicing lately—”

  “No,” Kinley cut him off, “it’s not that. It’s just…I don’t know. I couldn’t even make it in New York and now…”

  “And now you are going to wow this crowd of family, friends, and neighbors. You’re going to show them exactly what New York is missing. You’re fantastic, Kinley — beautiful to watch. They are lucky to witness such a performance.”

  Kinley’s eyes flooded with emotion at his words as she nodded her head in agreement. Jace was a wonderful man — how had she been so lucky? His confidence in her and need to comfort her was more than she had experienced from any man. How had she missed just how much he cared for her and appreciated her until now? Her fling and scarred heart had clouded her judgement and veiled what had been in front of her for weeks: a man who cared deeply for her and would do anything to make her happy.

  Jace placed a sweet kiss on her forehead as he pulled her into a hug. “You got this, twinkle toes. You’ve already won my heart, darlin’, the rest is just a bonus…for me anyway. You ready to dance your ass off for these people?”

  And the tears finally spilled over, streaking her cheeks with a sense of joy she couldn’t recall feeling before. Jace managed to sneak in a sweet sentiment without elaborating or defining it — something else she would need to revisit and reconcile later. All the feelings were coming to a head. They were forcing her to see things for what they were, pushing her to be who she was supposed to be…and let people in who deserved to be part of her life.

  “Born in a tutu, Doc. Let’s do this!” she joked, wiping the tears from her face, ready to take the stage with an entirely new outlook.

  “If you’re worried about the ankle, we can cut the lift, but I promise, I will never let you go…”

  Was he still talking about the lift, or was there more to his statement? Jace was certainly leaving her with a list of feelings and emotions she needed to consider…eventually. It was like she finally arrived in Pine Valley for the first time tonight, her outlook no longer bleak and full of woe.

  “That lift is magic, Doc. It’s our secret weapon…it’s our big wow. Let’s go win this!” Kinley smacked his ass, then grabbed his hand to drag him out to the center of the dance floor. She was ready to make her mark in Pine Valley.

  Tossing his head back in laughter, Jace spun Kinley around once they made it to the center of their spotlight and pulled her close.

  Holding her in a tight embrace, he leaned in, and whispered, “You’re the big wow, twinkle toes.”

  He kissed Kinley hard in front of the whole town. The music began, and they broke out into a steamy rumba. Based on the cheers and high-pitched whistles surrounding them, they were executing perfectly. Old Evelyn sat at her table, nose in the air, pretending not to watch, though Jace and Kinley didn’t notice. All they could see was each other.

  The music cued them to their approaching big moment, their eyes locked, and their smiles so bold, it hurt. Jace’s timing perfect, he lifted her mid-step, spinning as they went, maneuvering across the dance floor. Both eloquent and sexy, they did what they did best and that was work in perfect sync. It was like they had been doing this together forever.

  Ending on the final note of the song, holding their pose, Kinley wrapped partially around his waist, Jace slowly and ever so gently slid her down his body to her feet, mindful of her weak ankle, and kissed her again. A perfect ending to a perfect dance that drove the crowd wild.

  “I hope that made it on Facebook,” Jace whispered in Kinley’s ear.

  She giggled. “Which part?”

  “All of it.” He winked.

  Chapter 12

  Pictures of the new reigning champions of the Pine Valley Fall Fling were flooding Facebook. Evelyn and #RumorHasIt were tagged in every single one. Kinl
ey was beside herself with excitement over their win. The real excitement was over the realization that she may have found the person she was meant to be with, not the large, gaudy, gold-toned Championship Dance Cup.

  Standing among their group of friends and family, receiving her congratulations, the chatter around Kinley faded, as did the people while she pinned her stare on Jace Detweiler. He stood several feet away, taking a call from the babysitter, smiling at her while he spoke to the teen charged with JT’s care. Jace looked different to her in that moment. She even felt different. There were a hundred fluttering butterflies dancing in her belly.

  His smile didn’t fade when he made his way back to her. If anything, it grew. “You okay?”

  “Ye-ye—yes,” she stuttered. “Why? Everything okay with JT?”

  He chuckled at her response. “Just the way you’re looking at me. Are you staring at me…or through me…or…?”

  “I’m just watching you.” Kinley’s eyes scanned him from head to toe, taking in every inch of her handsome man before meeting his eyes again.

  His eyebrows raised, his voice dropped to a low, sultry tone. “Like what you see, twinkle toes?”

  A long, steamy pause stood between them. Neither had eyes for anything but each other until the sound of awkward throat clearing and giggles reminded them they weren’t alone.

  Giving her head a quick shake to clear her thoughts, Kinley asked, “So, everything okay at home? With JT?”

  “Oh, uh…no,” he said with a cringe. “JT seems to have some sort of stomach bug and I’ve been called home to…uh…clean it up. Apparently, the teen can’t…poor kid was gagging just telling me about it.”

  A sense of urgency sparked in her at the idea JT wasn’t feeling well. She grabbed her purse, and said, “Oh, geez, let’s go.”

  “Are you sure? I would completely understand if you want to stay,” Jace said.

  “Nope, I’m with you. My car is at your house anyway, and the sitter needs to be driven home. You can’t do that with a sick boy.” Her matter-of-fact declaration, and how natural the choice seemed with genuine concern for JT, surprised not only her, but Jace as well.

  He tilted his head as he sized her up, giving her an endearing look of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on before he smiled, and said, “Let’s go.”

  “Becky, I’ll take you home, hon. Doc’s going to…clean up and tend to JT. Car’s unlocked. I’ll be there in a minute.” Without hesitation, the teen bolted out the door without collecting her wage, her t-shirt still covering her nose.

  “Well, she’s ready to go.” Jace handed Kinley a few bills folded in half. “Would you mind giving her this?”

  “Got it. Want me to come back, help you out? I’ve cleaned up my fair share of…this over at the dance studio,” she offered.

  Leaning in, he kissed her forehead. “As much as I would love that — and finish up where we left off on that dance floor — I would hate for you to catch whatever he has. There’s a twenty-four-hour flu going around and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s JT’s turn with it.”

  “Oh no! His birthday party is tomorrow!” she cried, disappointment in her words.

  “Oh geez. Yep. I think I’m going to have to cancel,” Jace said, running his hands through his hair. “I am supposed to pick up the cake in the morning too. May not need that now.”

  “Well, it’s too late to call everyone and cancel tonight. I’ll pick up the cake in the morning, bring it by, and check on you guys. Maybe it’s not a bug and just a long day of rich food and fun catching up with him.” Kinley’s arms crossed over her chest while she tried to find a hopeful resolution that didn’t include canceling JT’s birthday party the next evening. “Maybe this can be salvaged? We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Give him a kiss from me.”

  “Sounds like a plan, twinkle toes.”

  Feelings. That’s what she was having. Deep, warm, fuzzy feelings she never thought she would, or could, have. Kinley woke the next morning before the sun, chirps of nature, and half the town. She hadn’t slept well, spending half the night going over the whirlwind of emotions she had experienced the past several weeks — the previous night, most specifically.

  Something had changed, a shift in the wind, planets aligning, the universe cooperating…she didn’t know. It was complicated as much as it was simple. Jace was easy, caring, devoted…and that’s what made it complicated. She didn’t know what to do with that. She loved how it felt in the moment, but feared how it could feel should it all fall apart. Her plan to move back to Pine Valley and avoid men until she was an old maid with a dozen or more cats so no one would want her had failed her.

  Ready for her day — it was finally a decent hour and Savory Sweets would be open — Kinley had a cake to pick up and her guys to check on. The size of Pine Valley had bothered Kinley when she originally returned, but having everything in town within a five to ten minute radius was making small town USA a lot more appealing. Everything was becoming more appealing.

  Cake in hand, among a few other things she picked up from Savory Sweets, like soup, crusty bread, and a few different pasta salads, Kinley made an awkward attempt at knocking on the door, avoiding the doorbell in the event JT was still sleeping. To her surprise, the jingling sound from the door unlocking led to a three-year-old on the other end.

  “JT, where’s your dad, du…” she didn’t have to finish. Dad was found standing behind him, pale, disheveled, wearing the look of death. “Oh no. You got it too?”

  “It appears so. Hit early this morning. Seems it doesn’t last in the three-year-olds nearly as long, though,” Jace said, nodding toward JT.

  “I can see that.” Kinley winked. “Feeling better, buddy?”

  JT nodded his head. “I just feel a little yucky tired, but my tummy isn’t mad at me anymore.”

  “Good to know,” she said, looking between an exhausted Jace and JT. One was looking greener by the minute, and the happy little boy had his eyes on the cake and box of cupcakes Kinley was holding. “How about I keep this little guy company and you go back to bed?”

  “Kinley, I can’t ask you to do that,” Jace mumbled. “The house needs to be burned to the ground and de-germed before we have company.”

  “You aren’t asking, I’m offering. Move over and let me in. My arms are getting tired.” Kinley pushed her way past the door and went straight for the kitchen despite Jace’s protest.

  Big, strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, a gentle kiss landing on her neck. “How did I get so lucky?”

  “I don’t know, but don’t forget it. Now, get to bed before you breathe on all the food.” She turned in his arms to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Party?”

  “Ugh, I need to cancel.” Jace dropped his head. “He is doing better, but not great, and there’s no way I’m up to that many three to six-year-olds full of cake.”

  “Got it. Get to bed, Doc. I’ll take care of it,” Kinley said as she moved on to unloading the groceries she brought. “I’ll be in to check on you in a while.”

  Jace didn’t need to be told twice. He was gone in a flash with his hand over his mouth, headed straight to the bathroom. Kinley went back to unloading the food into the refrigerator, and then went about calling all the parents to cancel JT’s birthday party. The look on JT’s face broke her heart in two. They’d have to find a way to make it up to him.

  The next several hours were spent snuggling on the couch with soft, cozy blankets, watching every single one of JT’s favorite movies and shows. Kinley tried coloring, Play-Doh, and games, but JT was content snuggling, so snuggles he received. Kinley didn’t mind — she kind of liked it.

  Each time Kinley had checked on Jace, he had been asleep. She hadn’t heard him rustling around, rushing to the bathroom for a few hours, and had to assume that was a good sign. It must have been passing.

  It was getting late. The sun had since retired for the day a few hours before when she heard a rumble in JT’s tummy. “Hungry, budd
y?”

  He nodded his little head, placing his hand on his tummy. “Can we have cake? Pretty, pretty please?”

  Laughing at his innocent plea for the good stuff, she briefly contemplated just how bad of an idea it was before giving in. “You know what? How about we start with a tiny bit of soup? Then we can try a tiny bite of cake and see if your tummy likes it.”

  “Okay!” Before she could get to her feet, JT was long gone, pulling containers from the refrigerator.

  While Kinley went to warm the soup, JT was working on something else behind her. Over her shoulder, she said to him, “I’m not sure cake this soon after a yucky tummy is the best idea, but…”

  A crashing sound behind her interrupted the thought quickly, grabbing her attention. Cake and cupcakes were all over the floor, a teary-eyed JT standing in the middle of it all.

  “I broke the cake,” he whimpered.

  “Oh, buddy.” Kinley’s heart broke at the sadness he wore. First his party was canceled, now his cake was ruined. “We can get you another cake tomorrow. Okay?”

  With his arms and legs crossed, he sat on the floor to continue his pout. Kinley joined him, the cake and cupcake mess between them. Unsure what possessed her to do so, she grabbed a handful of cake from the top of the pile and took a bite.

  JT watched her in awe, grabbing his own handful, and giggled. A couple bites each, Kinley took the next handful and launched it at the little boy. Eyes wide, he smiled brightly and returned the favor with a handful of cake aimed for her. The exchange carried on, along with their deep belly laughs. That was…until a scolding, throaty sound interrupted them, drawing their attention to the entry of the kitchen. Jace stood, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed with an amused expression.