Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues (26 page)

Okay, pep talk over, I spray on a hint of White Shoulders, fluff my extended hair, apply a bit of nude lip gloss, and head out the door. Rio’s room is in the other wing of the lodge, much bigger suites where the counselors used to stay when I was a kid. I’m halfway there when, as I pass one of the doors to the outside, I spot the red-tipped glow of a cigarette. Curious, I peek out the window and I see that it’s Julia sitting on a fieldstone wall puffing away. Even though I’m in a hurry to get to Rio I can’t help but stop to see if she is okay. Pushing open the heavy wooden door I say, “Julia?”

She jumps as if she’s deep in thought and I guess I startled her. “Oh . . . Abby.” Her voice is husky either from the smoke or because she’s been crying. I suspect a bit of both.

I step out into the cool night air. “You okay?”

“Sure,” she says but not convincingly.

“I didn’t know you smoked.”

“I don’t,” she says and takes another long drag. “Well, okay, I don’t anymore. Gave it up five years ago but I suddenly felt the need.”

I know this is kind of nervy of me but I pluck the cigarette from her fingers and grind it beneath my shoe. To my surprise she doesn’t protest. “Does this sudden need for a smoke have anything to do with Danny?”

She snorts. “Am I pathetic or what?” She juts out her chin and says, “Smack some sense into me, please.”

The whoosh of the door opening has us both turning our heads.

“Julia!” Danny growls. “Damn it, I’ve been looking all over for you. Why’d you run off like that?”

“Because you were with Ange
-li
-na. Sure looked damned cozy sittin’ by the fire in the dining room.”

“She’s my dance partner, Julia. We were discussing our dance.”

“Sure you were.”

His eyes narrow. “Have you been smoking?”

“What’s it to ya?” she says hotly but ruins the effect when her voice cracks.

“
Everything
, damn you.”

“Wh-what?”

“You heard me. You mean everything to me. Always have and always will,
damn it all to hell.
”

I’m thinking Danny needs to soften his word choice as I watch the exchange like a tennis match. And maybe not growl.

Julia pushes away from the stone wall. “What are you sayin’?”

Taking a step closer to her, Danny says, “I’m saying that I’ve been working overtime with Angelina to win this competition so I can add a body shop to my business.” He takes another step closer to Julia.

“What’s that got to do with me? My car’s in fine shape,” she says in a sassy tone and gives him a lift of her chin but her lips tremble.

“Well then, let me spell it out for you.”

“You do that.”

“I love you, Julia. I’ve loved you since I was fifteen and I’m never gonna stop even though I’ve tried. I want the body shop to make more money to give you a better life than I can now.”

Julia closes the gap between them and grabs a fistful of flannel shirt. “Why have you tried to stop loving me, Danny? If it’s because of that bullshit that you think you’re not good enough for me, then just give it up, darn it. I don’t need fancy things. Can’t you get it into your thick skull that all I need is you?”

I watch her pull his head down for a kiss and although I feel like applauding and cheering I decide to give them their privacy. Plus, they’ve totally forgotten about me anyway. As I walk away I have to brush away a stray tear. Although it wasn’t a flowery speech, what Danny said was heartfelt and honest and has me all choked up and ready to laugh at the same time. I do hate the idea, though, that if I win, Danny won’t have the money for his body shop. Not that I’m going to throw the dance competition or anything but God, I hate competing against friends.

It occurs to me again how this whole thing has changed us in ways we never suspected. This really hits home when I reach Rio’s door. I stand there for a good minute or two with my heart beating wildly. My poor old regular-beating heart must be wondering what in the world is up with all this excitement. Finally, I take a deep breath, blow it out in a soft whoosh, and then lightly rap on the door. When there’s no answer I get a little panicky thinking that I’ve got this all wrong or he’s changed his mind. I start to pivot on my heel to save myself some extreme embarrassment but then something tells me to try the door handle. Sure enough, it’s open.

My heart of course does the beating-hard thing again as I push the door open slowly, because this is like something out of a movie and what if something creepy happens? I mean, life has been a bit off-kilter lately. I swallow hard, which is really silly because what could I possibly find on the other side of the door? To make matters worse, the door actually creeks as I push it open. I shiver, push the door open wider, and
oh my God
. . .

The door on the far side of the room opens, letting out a wave of fragrant steam. Rio emerges through the mist while drying his hair with a small towel that covers the top half of his face. Another towel is knotted and slung low on his hips. I follow the path of water that’s beaded up on his chest and running south in little rivers until being soaked up by the towel that I imagine yanking away with one small tug. His biceps bunch and flex and ab muscles ripple as he vigorously rubs his head.

I know I should announce my presence but my throat has suddenly gone dry. Finally I clear my throat. Rio immediately stops drying his hair and our eyes meet.

I don’t know what he said but I sure hope he’s talking dirty to me.

“Wh-what?”
Oh, that was smooth.
I feel a blush heat my cheeks.

Rio gives me that slow, sexy smile that got me from day one. “I said, come here.”

Okay, close enough, I think as I move in his direction on my wobbly legs. Needless to say my heart is slamming in my chest and I’m wondering if it would be too forward of me to just yank the towel away in one fluid motion and then sort of circle around him like we’re dancing the paso doble.

Of course I don’t because I’ve already used up all my nerve just coming here but I do manage to place one hand on his damp chest wishing I could dip my head and lick away a bead of water.

“Whatever you are thinking about doing, Abby . . .
do it.
”

I swallow, torn between the yanking and the licking. Perhaps I should do both?

Rio chuckles, low in his throat. “I love the play of emotion on your face.” He reaches over and runs a fingertip down my cheek and then over my bottom lip, making me shiver. Then with a tender smile he takes my hand in his. “Come over here and have a glass of wine. I took the liberty of pouring one for you.”

I recall my strawberry wine incident and hesitate.

“It will . . . how do you say? . . . take the edge off.” He picks up the goblet from the nightstand and hands it to me. “I could only find one glass, so will you share?”

I want to say something sexy or flirty but the best I can do is nod. Tilting the glass to my lips, I take a small sip. The red wine is tart and rich with a dark cherry, slightly smoky flavor.

“You like it?”

I nod again like a complete ninny and take a bigger swallow.

“May I?”

My head bobs again. When I hand him the glass our fingers brush and I know this sounds silly as all get out but I feel a jolt of heat that starts at my fingers and slowly sinks lower like sweet, thick sorghum on a warm slice of corn bread. I watch him take a swallow and then he hands the glass back to me. I sit down on the bed since my legs are trembling a bit and he joins me. The tart wine tastes better with each sip and I slowly feel mellow and a bit more relaxed.

Rio drains the last bit and places the glass back onto the nightstand. “I hope you don’t mind leaving the light on, because I love looking at you.”

“Not at all,” I assure him but then think of my Hanes For Her and wish for something more seductive.

“Good. I’ve been thinking about this all day long and I want it to be right. I want to go slow,” he tells me while cupping my chin, “and easy . . . savoring each kiss.” His mouth is so very close to mine . . . almost touching but not quite. He hesitates a fraction longer, heightening my senses until just when I think I can’t stand not kissing any longer his soft lips capture mine.

My eyes flutter shut when Rio’s mouth melts into my own, tasting of fine wine and hot male. His freshly showered scent invades my senses and I cling to his smooth shoulders while he lowers me to the soft mound of pillows at my back. His damp hair feels cool against my cheek and I thread my fingers through the damp tresses while I open my mouth for the kiss to go deeper, hotter.

Passion takes over and I frantically begin to shed my sweater and jeans. Rio makes quick work of my Hanes Her Way and then tosses his towel to the floor. I moan into his mouth when his warm skin slides against mine and he kisses me again while caressing my skin. His smooth, long fingers cup my breast, gently kneading while circling my sensitive nipple with his thumb until I arch up with the pleasure of it all.

“Mi Dios, que yo le quiere tan,”
he whispers hotly into my ear and then begins a moist trail of kisses down my neck that makes me sigh. Then his mouth plays and teases my breasts, going from one to the other, driving me wild. When he sucks my nipple into his mouth, laving in a circular motion, I feel like I’m sinking into the pillows drowning in sensation and desperate to have him buried deep inside me.

“Rio . . .” I plead but he continues his sensual assault with his hot, hungry mouth. As if that isn’t enough, he slides his hand up my thigh, caressing,
teasing
so very close to where I want him to touch. While I arch my hips in open invitation his teeth graze sharply over my nipple, sending a white-hot stab of desire to my groin just as he slips a long finger deep inside me. “God . . .” I drench his finger with wet need and he eases it out to circle my clit, bringing me to near orgasm. “Rio!” My eyes open when the weight and the heat of his body are suddenly gone but I’m relieved to see that he is rolling on protection.

“Abby,” he moans as he threads his fingers with mine and takes me with a long, deep stroke that fills me and streals my breath. He moves slowly, easing in and back out, making my pleasure climb even higher. When I want
more
he holds back until I’m aching for release. He rocks gently while kissing me deeply until I wrap my legs around him and arch up, driving him deeper. He quickens the pace . . . harder while his kiss becomes wild. My breasts slide against his chest, teasing my nipples while sending tingles of pleasure higher and higher that seem to spread and finger out until a sharp climax bursts upon me with such intensity that I cling to Rio’s shoulders. He thrusts hard and deep, joining me for sweet release. I feel the pulsing power of him buried deep and he cries out hoarsely while arching his back for a long muscle-straining moment before dipping his head for a tender kiss.

Our fingers are entwined while our bodies remain as one and I
swear
I never knew that lovemaking could be so beautiful.

“Stay with me tonight, Abby,” he says with a warm smile that goes straight to my heart.

Not trusting my voice I can only nod.

“I want to wake up with you in my arms.”

I look into his brown eyes and see sincerity and I know that no matter what happens from this day forward I will always have this . . .

Walking on Sunshine

I just know I have this goofy smile on my face but I can’t make it go away. Not wanting to look silly, especially since those doggone cameras are everywhere, I try to put on my Saturday evening game face but the smile keeps popping right back in place. Julia, of course, immediately has me all figured out.

“Somebody got lucky,” she says as we’re walking back to our rooms after a huge buffet lunch. Very soon we have to head into town for the competition but we have a little downtime to rest.

“Talkin’ about yourself?” I ask, wishing I could crook my eyebrow.

“I’m talkin’ about you, girlfriend. Spill.”

“I don’t kiss and tell,” I say primly.

“Oh, so you admit that you did at least
kiss.
Come on, Abby, give me some juicy details. I promise I won’t tell. Plus, I would love to have something to think about other than the doggone competition tonight. I’m a nervous wreck. The Viennese waltz is just too slow and I’m wondering if the Mary Poppins and Bert costumes are way over the top. What if everybody laughs their asses off?”

“They
won’t
and if they do it will likely get you votes. Julia, you’re talking to the person who did a wild break-dancing move in an effort not to take out the judges’ table.”

“I can only do what I can do, right?” she says with a sigh. “So I guess details of you and Rio are not forthcoming?”

I shake my head but then give her a hug. “I’m so happy that you and Danny are back together. He’s a nice guy and you’re a nice girl even though you were prom queen and all that.”

She gives me a playful shove. “Yeah, and to think I was worried about Angelina sinking her claws into him. Truth is, Danny thinks she’s a bitch even though she
is
an amazing dancer. Abby, watch yourself. Danny hinted that Angelina is out to get Rio one way or the other and you mark my words, she will try to mess things up for you if you let her.”

“I’m not worried.” Not much anyway.

“Well, I got yer back. You remember that, ’kay?”

“Thanks, Julia. And good luck tonight.”

“You too even though you and Rio are the favorites.” She wrinkles her nose good-naturedly at me.

“I can’t really believe that a klutz like me could learn to dance but Rio is a good teacher, I guess.”

“I’ll just bet he is.”

“Oh, stop!”

“What fun would that be?” she tosses over her shoulder as she walks away.

I have to chuckle as I continue down the hallway to my room. I push the threat of Angelina to the far corner of my brain and refuse to let this walking-on-sunshine feeling disappear because it just feels so doggone good.