Touch Me and Tango (7 page)

A lump of emotions gathered in her throat. Shaken and
confused by her own behavior as well as his humiliating reaction, Tanya marched
out of the room.

Parker followed. “I know you prefer running off rather than
facing up to anything, but we aren’t finished here.”

She stopped, made herself pivot and look at him, forcing a mask
of pride over her mortification. “You’re still willing to work for me?”

He stepped closer and stared down at her, his deep voice
steady. So steady she knew he was livid. “I told you, I’ll work for your
mother. Not you.”

“Yeah, I know. But like it or not I come with the
territory.”

“These are my terms. You can be my assistant on this project
as long as you understand that all decisions about how this will be done are
mine. Entirely. You can either go along with that or stay home. Is that clear?”

“Sure,” she said, holding back the urge to make some nasty,
adolescent comment, reminding herself her mother would get hysterical if they
couldn’t work this out.

“Our working relationship will remain pure business. Nothing
else.”

“I totally agree. That’s the best solution for both of us.
Text me when you’re ready for the first trip to the preserve.”

With a stiff nod, she opened the door, hurried out to her
car and drove home, carrying with her the lingering scent of spring flowers.

Friday morning Tanya dressed in a fitted denim blazer and
matching pencil skirt and headed out. This wasn’t going to be easy.

But her visit back to North Cove that she’d thought would
consist mostly of sympathy for Mom’s broken leg and finding her a home health
aide had turned into a major odyssey that wasn’t going to end soon. And a
costly one at that. She’d found unpaid bills scattered throughout the house and
was depleting her own bank account in an effort to pay them.

As she walked into the dance studio, she was greeted by the
sound of a solo piano playing a Rachmaninoff Prelude in D Major. One part of
Tanya breathed a comfy sigh just to be in the familiar atmosphere of a dance
studio. But this wasn’t just any dance studio. It was the North Cove Performing
Arts Academy run by Parker’s sister Casey.

Another person she’d treated badly in the past. Whenever
seventeen-year-old Tanya would run into Casey she used to enjoy describing New
York City studios where she’d trained with the best teachers, making the local
girl who couldn’t afford dance classes eat her heart out.
What a horrible creature I was
. She wouldn’t blame Casey if she
pretended not to remember her now that the tables had turned.

A middle-aged woman with bright red lipstick sat behind the
reception desk. “Are you here for the ten o’clock jazz class?”

“No, I, uh, my name is Tanya Gentilliano. Any chance I can
speak with Casey Richardson Byrne?”

“One sec.” The receptionist walked halfway down the hall to
an open doorway and poked her head inside. After some brief mumbling, she
gestured for Tanya, who strolled to what turned out to be an elegant office
with potted palms and white leather chairs in a sitting area a few feet from a
sleek white metallic desk.

“What a surprise,” said a pregnant woman in mauve tunic and leggings,
chestnut curls framing her face.

“Talk about surprises.” She nodded at Casey’s rounded out
tummy. “How far along?”

“Seven months.”

“Congratulations to you both. And kudos on creating this
amazing school.”

She smiled. “Have a seat. Coffee? Tea?”

“Nothing, thanks.” She perched next to a round coffee table
piled with dance magazines and catalogs, trying to gage the vibes toward her.

Casey sat facing Tanya, but slung one leg over the side arm.
Typical dancer move, and it probably gave her big belly more room. When she
spoke next, a slight frost tinged her words. “I’d heard you were back in town.”

“Really?” She didn’t dare ask if she’d heard it from her
brother. Not a good subject to bring up, since Casey knew all about their
secret affair and how badly it ended. In fact, she was the only one who knew.
“I’ll be here for a while and I wondered if you could use an instructor. I’ve
been a ballroom pro for the last several years.”

“I know. Saw you on the Net. You’re good. But we’ve already
got a ballroom teacher.”

Tanya hated moments like this. Here she was offering her
services as a seasoned world class professional, a top caliber competitor with
a slew of trophies and awards to prove it. She wanted to start naming all the
international competitions she’d aced and places she’d performed that some
local yokel would never even—

“He comes in from New York City three times a week,” Casey
said, as if reading her mind. “We’re close enough to pull in some good teachers
from Manhattan, yet we’re far enough away to also function as a family friendly
community center. Next week my baby sister, who dances with American Ballet
Theater, will teach a series of ballet classes.”

Tanya had forgotten Parker had another sister. She noted the
brag and was duly impressed. “Wow. Only the absolute best make it into that
company.”

Casey smiled. “You’re welcome to take her classes or any you
like as my guest if you want to keep in shape while you’re here.”

They talked a bit about the dance world, comparing notes on
the New York and London scene.

“Are you injured?” Casey asked.

“Injured? No.”

“Then how come you’re hanging around North Cove? You never
used to like it here.”

Tanya gathered herself. “Aside from her broken leg, my
mother’s having financial troubles and may very well lose the house. Until I
can get her squared away I don’t want to leave.” She didn’t dare reveal that
she also needed to stay and search for diamonds with Parker. Or that before
their search was over some part of her desperately needed to convince him that
she’d changed.

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I wish there was something I had
to offer you.”

Tanya noted the sincerity that entered her tone and said,
“That’s okay. I thought it was worth a shot.” She stood up. “You should be very
proud of yourself. This is quite a place you’ve got here.”

“My husband’s the one who made it happen. And several other
people. I just kind of—”

“Same old noble Casey. Giving credit to everyone else, even
when you’re shouldering the heavy lifting. We’ve always been such opposites.”

Her eyes went wide.

Tanya shrugged. “Yeah, I know what a bitch I was ten years
ago. I’ve grown up. Or at least I’m trying to. Not easy for a selfish
manipulator like me.”

Casey laughed outright. Tanya joined her, hardly believing
she’d just blurted that spontaneous confession. She’d spent so many years
controlling people to get her way that dropping it all seemed like such an
incredible relief.

They walked out together, Casey giving her a tour of the
center, which had drama, music, tumbling and stagecraft classes as well as all
the various dance forms. Down a hallway in one of the smaller studios, a tall,
buff dancer with olive skin and black hair caught Tanya’s eye.

“There’s our ballroom instructor now,” Casey said. “Hey,
Julio. I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine.”

He’d obviously been warming up alone. Sweat pooled on his
skin-tight tank and made the smooth arcs of his muscular shoulders and arms
gleam. Guy had a definite Mmmm factor. He glided toward them, a sleek panther
in black jazz pants. Tanya liked the sexy combination of dimpled cheeks and
devilish eyes.

“Un momento,” he said, before walking straight up to the
full-length wall mirror and cutting an exaggerated pose. “Yes, still as
handsome as ever,” he said staring at himself. “No wonder all the women adore
me.”

Casey rolled her eyes and said to Tanya, “Julio’s one of a
kind.”

He made a fast pivot and flashed a wink at Casey and her new
arrival on the scene. Suddenly his cool expression changed to a boyish grin.
“Tanya Gentilliano? I can’t believe it.”

“Guess I can skip the intro.” Casey sounded pleased and
impressed.

He reached out and shook her hand. “I’ve been a fan of yours
since I first saw you bring down the house at the Dance Festival in Blackpool.”
He turned to Casey. “Perfect technique. Awesome performer.”

Casey nodded. “No doubt.”

Tanya felt a grade school blush taking over. “Thank you. I’m
flattered. I really am.”

He stepped closer, his voice deepening. “And that sexy,
explosive samba you did had every man in the audience wishing he was your partner.
Scott Temple, wasn’t it? But you’d switched partners last time I saw you dance.
Who are you with now?”

Partners
. That was
one of the things Tanya loved best—and hated most—about ballroom dancing.
Always being paired with a man.

She adored men’s bodies, loved their animal strength and
drive, loved moving with them, touching them, bedding them. But she hated the
domineering, possessive minds they all seemed to have. Just because she and a
man spent hours and hours together rehearsing, performing, traveling, even
making love, didn’t mean he owned her.

“I’m kind of in between partners right now,” she said,
grateful he hadn’t gotten wind of her reputation for going through partners
like water. “My mother broke her leg, so I’ll be here in the North Fork a while
helping out.”

“Tanya came to see me asking to teach a ballroom class,”
Casey said. “But I explained to her that a certain person already has the job.”

“Really?” He tilted his head, his expression curious.
“Excuse us a moment.” He tugged Casey inside the studio doorway for a quiet
huddle.

About thirty seconds later she returned to Tanya. “How would
you like to teach alongside Julio?”

“I need a partner,” he chimed in. “A skilled dancer to
assist me in demonstrating. I know you haven’t seen me dance, but I can
guarantee that you’ll fall hopelessly in love with me when you do.”

Tanya glanced at Casey who shrugged and said, “You’ll get
used to him. We all have.”

“I’d love to do it.”

“Fantastico.” Julio beamed. “Can you start Sunday?”

Casey explained. “I hold a Family Day open house one Sunday
each month. Free workshops and classes, games for the kids. Julio usually gives
a short demo and class.”

“For beginners,” he said. “Just showing basic steps. So we
won’t need any real rehearsal. Maybe an hour before the open house.” His eyes
got that devilish glint. “I know we’ll dance beautifully together. You might
even beg me to be your next partner.”

Tanya laughed. “Sunday it is.”

“Come with me,” Casey said. “I’ll need to get the usual
information from you.”

Tanya followed her back to the office. “Do you know of a
diner called the Coffee Cove? I’ve got to pick up some apple turnovers for my
mom.”

“Sure do. That’s my best friend’s place.” After she gathered
all Tanya’s specs for the job, she gave her directions.

“I really appreciate this,” Tanya said.

She was halfway out the door when Casey stopped her. “One
more thing.”

Tanya paused and turned. “Yes?”

“If you ever hurt my brother again… you’re dead meat.”

Another overcast April day. Parker spent his morning
wrestling with a stubborn tree stump for a client. And picturing Tanya.

The sensual way she moved. Like a cat. Soft and fluid, but
strong and ready to spring. Those huge eyes. And lips so full they begged to be
kissed. He couldn’t stop thinking about the way they used to feel on his mouth.
And other places.

He murmured an obscenity and sank his teeth into a chicken
cheesesteak sandwich smothered in onions and doused generously with some of
Natalie’s Secret Savory Dressing.

“You alright, bro?” Miles Harnett sat across from him in one
of the booths that lined the wall of Natalie’s Coffee Cove where you could get
some of the best low-cost lunches on the East End. And since Parker’s day
usually began at five a.m., by lunchtime his appetite reached the max.

“I’m fine.”

“Bit into that sandwich like you were trying to kill
something. Hate to tell ya, I think the farmer beat you to it.”

Parker laughed for the first time today. Leave it to Miles.
The two compadres always had each other’s back. Even when it came to their
moods.

“Hear about that double waterspout they spotted off Orient
Point yesterday? Couple of monsters.” Miles dug into his spaghetti and
meatballs.

“Bizarre weather we’re getting. That’s for sure.”

“Strange thing was this morning Lakisha went out back to put
the dog in his pen before taking Robby to school, and she saw two stripers fall
from the sky, I kid you not.”

“Whoa. I’ve heard about water spouts raining fish. But a day
later?”

Miles had deep brown skin and a smooth-shaven head. And he
waved his hands in the air when he spoke. “They get stuck in clouds and
carried. Good sized bass, too.”

“Did you cook’em up and serve to the family?”

“Nah, they smelled too much like jet fuel.”

“No doubt.” Parker chuckled, but then the smile melted on
his face as he caught Tanya entering the diner. His eyes followed her as she
made a beeline for the takeout counter. She wore a denim jacket that cinched at
her small waist, her hips a womanly curve beneath it in a short, straight
skirt. After all this time it stunned him how readily his body reacted to her.
Like some drug or spell or something. Damn her.

“There’s that same look again. Man on fire.”

“No way.”

“Then why are you gripping the edge of this table like you’re
gonna tear it from the wall?” Mile’s followed Parker’s gaze. A wide grin lit
his face. “Exhibit A. Hel-looo testosterone.”

Parker shrugged. “Let’s not go there.”

“Never seen her before. Doesn’t strike me as a NoFo girl.”