Kiss Me, Dancer (29 page)

But today was the Cove Corps’ final showdown. Aside from his need to test the waters with Casey, Drew wanted to be there for Josh, either to celebrate or to console. Not that Josh seemed to care about his dad’s presence. On the drive up to Manhattan the boy purposely sat far away from Drew’s parental eye so he could yock it up freely with his pal Brendan.

Drew had hired a twenty-seater to accommodate a few more parents and friends coming along with the group today. Somehow he got stuck sitting next to Krissy Wheeler’s mother, who went on with an endless narrative about how she’d recovered from her foot surgery. He nodded every so often to be polite, but let her words blend into the buzz of voices inside the limo and the whirring hum of the highway outside.

He glanced at Casey sitting near the far end, comforting fourteen-year-old Filipa whose nerves were getting the best of her. He remembered the night on his boat when Casey first told him her group had been chosen for the
Got Moves
show. He remembered her saying she hadn’t even told her mother because she didn’t think it was as important as the things her younger sister did. But to Drew everything Casey did was important. Truth was he wished he were sitting next to her right now, holding her hand, sharing this day with her.

He hated himself for the way he’d dissed Casey at the pumpkin festival. But her deception around Madame Lumina had cut him to the core. It was only last night after struggling with Keith’s advice for three days that he’d come to accept the relative innocence behind it. And when he tried to think of what harm the whole thing did he came up with just the opposite.

Madame Lumina had helped him face up to his toxic relationship with his father and taught him to look at Josh in a way that allowed Drew to grow closer to both of them. And he got a kick out of her saying the “dancer” would definitely go out with him. He thought about the sniffling head cold Madame Lumina supposedly had that day she called him in Saratoga. Now he realized it was probably Casey weeping. Over him. Because she knew he was there with Amber. And still she went ahead and picked a winning horse for him.

Not a mean bone in her body.

Keith had asked Drew how he’d feel if Casey loved somebody else, and the mere idea of that leveled him. It also made him understand what Casey must have felt seeing him acting all romantic with Amber. How selfish and blockheaded he’d been to miss that. While Casey’s stubborn refusal to forgive him irked the hell out of Drew, he could see now what she must be going through if she really loved him.

And if Drew had to put money on it — he’d bet she did.

***

After a day of shooing away parents so she could work with her group and the
Got Moves
stage manager, Casey reluctantly left her Cove Corps backstage and headed out front to join the audience.

This was it. Their final performance for the show. Their chance to win. Butterflies churned in her stomach as if she were going onstage herself.

Peering out at the audience milling around the graduated rows of seats, Casey noticed Drew immediately. How could she not? He was a standout in any crowd. Did he know about the outrageous gift his father had sent her?

Yesterday afternoon when Casey answered a knock on Parker’s door, a man handed her a lumpy envelope and left. She opened it to find a thank you card from Andrew Byrne Sr. along with a set of car keys and an owner’s registration in her name. She stepped out the door and saw a shiny, cherry red Escalade Hybrid SUV parked in the yard.

She remembered his remark about her beaten up Honda, but this was ridiculous. Casey called Josh, asked for his grandfather’s phone number and contacted him on the spot. “Mr. Byrne, I can’t accept this.”

“Yes, you can.”
Click
.

“Hello? Mr. Byrne?”

He obviously had caller ID because the rest of her calls went unanswered.

She considered talking to Drew about it, but after his discovery of her Madame Lumina faux pas, the idea of facing his scorn was just too much to bear. Bad enough she’d be near him in the block of seats Paige’s mom and dad had claimed for the Cove Corps cheering section.

Suppressing her guilt over the Madame Lumina mess and her sorrow over losing any chance of renewed romance with Drew, Casey put on a game face and ventured into the crowd. The electric atmosphere of anticipation that buzzed through the audience buoyed her spirits. As she approached her section she spotted her sister up ahead. And as usual Jenna looked stunning.

Casey had used her credit card to buy a new dress and shoes for this special day. But her fitted tuxedo dress paired with black-and-white pumps seemed dull next to Jenna’s bead sequined halter dress. No surprise. No matter what Casey did, she always came in second best next to her vibrant and beautiful sister.

However, that wasn’t Jenna’s fault. Casey rushed forward and wrapped her in a warm hug. “I’m so glad you made it. I thought you said you were busy.”

“I do have to leave right after the show. But I know Parker and Mom both hate coming into the city, so I figured you should at least have one Richardson here.”

“Thanks, Jen.” Casey inclined her head toward her group’s gathering place. Three more carloads of parents and friends had arrived during the afternoon. “My people have a bunch of seats over here.”

They walked arm-in-arm along the stepped aisle. From the corner of her eye Casey saw Drew watching them.

And so did Jenna, who murmured, “Don’t tell me that glorious example of the male species is with your group.”

Casey’s throat tightened. What could she say? She and Jenna weren’t close enough these days for her to reveal her secrets. Besides, her little fling with Drew was totally finished. “He’s the divorced father of a boy in my Cove Corps.”

“Hmm. Then he’s available?”

“He sure is,” Casey said, thinking of the redhead he’d zoomed in on with no problem at the pumpkin festival. She couldn’t help wondering if he’d hooked up with the woman already. And how long it would last.

Drew stepped toward them. Casey saw his eyes scanning Jenna, who gave him a coy smile. Suddenly the noise and lights seemed too loud, too bright, the air stifling. Before Casey could make her dry mouth form words to introduce them, Drew reached out his hand. “Drew Byrne.”

Her sister did the same. “Jenna Richardson.”

Drew broke into that dazzling grin of his. “The little sister. Only not so little. You’re taller than Casey.”

“Well, it’s mostly my legs,” Jenna said.

Drew glanced down. “Yeah, they are pretty long.”

Casey just smiled.
Yep, Jenna’s the deluxe version on every count. I’m the almost-but-not-quite girl.

Luckily Aaron’s mother waved Casey over. “How’s my boy doing? This morning he was fit to be tied.”

Grateful to be called away from Drew, Casey walked back a few rows to assure some of the parents that the prep went well and that no one was throwing up or crying.

When she checked on her sister she saw Drew guiding Jenna to a seat. He settled in beside her. There was one seat on the other side of him on the aisle, which he probably left open for Casey. But there was no way she was going to sit next to Drew and listen to him flirt with Jenna.

For a moment the big sister in Casey considered trying to warn her sibling against him, except, ironically, Jenna was much more experienced at handling men like Drew than Casey was. She’d never be stupid enough to fall in love with him.

The lights dimmed, camera crews went into gear. The show was about to begin. Casey took a seat next to Paige’s mother three rows behind Jenna and Drew.

Because there were only two groups competing in tonight’s show, each performed three dances including their final challenge. Casey wasn’t sure if it was her own bias, but to her mind the Cove Corps aced the competition on both the first and second dance. Warmth and affection for her students filled her. Plus a proud mother hen glow.

For the third round the Cove Corps danced their newest, a complicated piece Casey choreographed to a Black Eyed Peas mix. She’d upped the ante for all of the kids, but Josh was the acrobat of the group. For him she created a spectacular solo with difficult moves that he’d had to work hard to master. She’d almost taken one out of the dance, fearing he might hurt himself. But Josh insisted on doing it, staying after the main rehearsals to practice with Casey until he had it down.

Still, she knew what it was like to perform live. Nothing was ever certain. When Josh’s solo came she held her breath and prayed.

Josh came through with verve and skill, completing his solo to roaring cheers, a smile on his face the likes of which she’d never seen before. With no sign of apology or shyness. Just sheer delight and pride in himself.

Unfortunately, Casey’s joy in her students couldn’t override the pain in her heart. Throughout the program Casey tried to keep her focus only on the stage, but she couldn’t help noticing every time Drew and Jenna tilted their heads close together to whisper or laugh with each other.

Would Drew actually be so cruel as to date her sister? Why hadn’t she steered Jenna away from him? Was there some sneaky old part of Casey that wanted to see if she’d be chosen over Jenna by the man she loved? Well, if so, she already had her answer.

The dance section of the program ended. Before the winners would be announced the emcee went into an entertaining monologue.

Jenna turned around and gave her a thumbs up.

Paige’s mother touched Casey’s arm. “Isn’t that your famous sister? The one who’s a
real
dancer? With a New York company?”

She nodded in reply, a stiff smile plastered on her face.

Casey, the also-ran who would never be enough.

Chapter Thirty

Casey tossed most of the night, finally falling out near dawn and sleeping until noon. She woke to find a phone message from Drew asking her to call him. She ignored it. As she dressed, her phone rang two more times. She saw Drew’s number both times, but refused to listen to the messages or return his calls. To avoid being tempted, she stuffed her phone under her cot’s mattress and left the room.

Since Parker was out pruning trees for one of his clients she went to putter in the greenhouse, surrounding herself with the moist fragrance of soil, mint leaves, roses and sweet peas and sunlight shining through the glass ceiling. Anybody who wanted to reach her could wait. She needed a day to herself. She had a decision to make.

Casey knew she ought to be on top of the world with the triumph of her Cove Corps in front of a live television audience. They’d actually won!

After the show Jenna had hurried out with a quick good-bye and congratulatory kisses on Casey’s cheek. To her relief. Casey had been dreading a post performance chat where she might have to hear her sister say she’d accepted a date with Drew.

The backstage scene with the kids had turned into a melee of hugs and shrieking and laughter. She announced that the one hundred thousand dollar prize belonged to the performers and would be divided among the eight of them. But her students and their parents all insisted Casey not only take a share, but be the one to keep the trophy.

The sincerity of their appreciation and gratitude almost made up for her confused and painful regrets over Drew. She loved these kids so much. She loved all her students. That was why she had to think long and hard about whether to give them up or not.

At last night’s final group dinner Casey had purposely wedged herself in between a couple parents at the opposite end of the table from Drew. On the way home he had taken a seat next to Casey in the limo, but she’d managed to make an excuse to get up and reseat herself elsewhere.

Yet she could think of nothing but him today. Spending her afternoon in the greenhouse going over and over what might have been.

The November dusk came early, the dark and cold settling in fast. Casey walked back into the main living area. Roses that arrived yesterday sat in a vase on the table. From her old friends Russ and his wife Amanda, who’d once been her mentor.

Just as she put on some tea Parker’s phone rang. Casey glanced at the caller ID. It was Jenna.

She picked up. Partly because she loved her sister too much to stiff her and knew Jenna would not have flirted with Drew if she’d known the truth. But also because at this point the suspense around Drew and Jenna was killing Casey. “Hi, baby sister.”

“Hey, why aren’t you answering your cell?”

“I was working in the greenhouse and kind of left it somewhere,” she lied.

“Uh-oh. Parker’s weirdness is rubbing off on you. How’re you feeling after your big win last night?”

“Oh, pretty good, I guess. So, are you going to be seeing Drew Byrne?” Not exactly subtle, but Casey had to know. Except now she held her breath waiting for Jenna’s reply as if it were an executioner’s axe.

“Nope. He didn’t even ask for my phone number.”

Casey let out a thankful sigh and sank into a wooden chair at the garden table that filled the center of the room. “Did he say anything about…his son’s dance teacher?”

“Yeah. He thinks you’re great.”

“Really?” Casey tried to damp down the hope rising in her. But she didn’t have to try too hard because Jenna’s next words did it for her.

“Too bad he’s already involved with somebody, because he’s definitely hot.”

“Involved? How do you know?”

Jenna giggled. “I did a little probing. When I invited him to come see the ballet tonight and meet me for a bite afterwards, he said he already had a date lined up. I came out and asked if he was involved with someone. Well, he got this look and said, ‘Yeah. And she’s real special.’ So I backed off.”

Casey forced out a short laugh, fighting back tears. Luckily she heard Parker’s truck pulling in. “Big bro’s home from work. I’ll run and get him.”

“No need. Just give him a hug for me. I only called to see how you were doing. Even though you weren’t performing yourself, I know the awful slump that happens after the excitement dies down.”

“I’ll say.” Too bad Jenna’s news about Drew having a woman who was special to him made it worse. Was the woman someone he’d met after Casey insisted they just be friends? Or someone he’d been seeing all along? Maybe even Amber?