I laugh and wave it off. It doesn’t bother me one iota if he knows about the team or who I am at all. “And I appreciate Jade’s confidence in me, but playing hockey is a damned sight different from whatever you’ve got planned for us this afternoon.”
He recovers from his momentary lapse hearing I’m an NHL player and appraises Jade. “And you’re a yoga teacher, I hear?”
“Yes. I’ve been out filming today for my new app, so I should be nice and limber.”
I try my best not to balk at that, nor think about it too closely.
“Perfect.” He claps his hands together like it was just the confirmation he was needing. “I’m thinking we go in solid with some upbeat partner moves, it’s kind of like a lighthearted swing meets cheeky salsa and a touch of fun in a two-step. A little mash-up if you will.”
“Sounds promising.” I nod. “As long as we cancha-cha-cha.” I sway my hips to my own stupid beat again as Jade’s hand collides with my shoulder in a bid to keep me from dancing before we’re supposed to.
“You!” She shakes her head. “You’re obsessed with that crazy move.”
Markus doesn’t seem phased by my outburst or our slight bickering. “If you want to add in somecha-cha-cha.” He even copies my poor rendition of what I think it entails, but he has way more flair and hip swing than I do. “Then your wish is my command.”
“Excellent.” I beam, then lean toward Markus, mumbling around the back of my hand. “Don’t be fooled, it’s Jade thatwants us tocha-cha-chato the Merengue. Like most girls, she’s obsessed with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.”
Jade gives me an exasperated, withering look as Markus gives us an all too knowing smirk, like he’s heard that one a million times before.
“Don’t deny it,” I mutter.
She pulls out her tongue and I laugh. Fuck, she’s cute. “They didn’t dance to the Merengue, actually. If you remember, that was Neil, the nephew’s idea, and Patrick Swayze’s characterJohnnygot pissed at him because he had his own ideas for the final dance.”
Hmm. Reminds me of someone. I’ve got no comeback whatsoever, so I give her a lopsided smile for good measure.
“While all that may be true.” Markus claps his hands together again. “We better get started. Now, the first thing I usually teach my students is connection and basic footwork. But you two already have the connection thing down pat already.”
I eye Jade and cast her a wink. There’s no way I could imagine doing this with anyone else. I might be kinda making a joke out of things right now, no disrespect to Markus, but that’s generally what I do when I’m not sure about something.
“Are you ready to show your moves?” A chin lift toward Jade is my only vice of either about to make a total fool of myself, or actually come out the other end with some kind of dancing knowledge and dignity. I’m quickly learning that groping in a dimly lit sports bar toRed, Red Wineis not going to cut it here. And no one wants to see that, except maybe me. A self-assured grin pulls from the side of my mouth as we take our positions face to face, my eyes skating over Jade’s pretty features, noting the cute freckles dancing across her nose.
Markus gives us a good old run down on posture and what sets people apart when it comes to dancing. Not that we’re in some kind of competition or anything, but it’s making Jadehappy. I can see it in the luminous sparkle to her sapphire eyes, accented even more by the matching eyeliner she wore this morning.
“Ready to havefun?” I tilt my head and grace her with another wink.
She smiles back and claps her hands together excitedly. “I’m ready.”
Turns out dancing is fucking hard work and my two-step shuffle leaves little to be desired. But fuck, we have fun. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun in my life.
The guys are not going to believe it when I tell them. Throughout practice, they were jibing at me for even entertaining the idea. Though, now Taylor and Em have set their wedding date for June next year, I figure they’re going to be next. And we can definitely recommend this place to learn all about it.
Markus is patient, and while he’s serious about the moves – his love of dancing and form – he’s light-hearted too and at least joins in a bit of the fun with us.
“I will pay you to stop sayingcha-cha-cha,” Jade giggles when I successfully step back on my heel with my right foot, then with a twist of my hips I step it in front, while Jade does the same, but in reverse with her left. Then I take her hand as I spin her in a double circle, her bun has loosened off to a ponytail now and is flying with the whirling motion. I pull her back to my chest. She’s a fucking natural, of course.
As she faces me again, she steadies herself with a hand on my heart. The warm heat of her palm searing through my shirt, at least, it feels like it. Her eyes are looking down for a second, soI use my finger to lift her chin, her eyes having no choice but to find mine and I like what I see there.
I like the softness. The way she calms me and the way her eyes smile when her mouth does.
“No way I’m gonna stop saying that. I’m having way too much fun doing it,” I say.
Before she can respond, Markus claps his hands together, indicating our lesson has come to an end, and I have to admit, I’m beat. This has been an hour and a half of pure cardio and adrenaline. I’m starving.
“Jade mentioned she’s heading back to Cali next week, so we need to get a few more lessons in before you go,” Markus says, looking from me to Jade. “What do you guys think?”
“I’m up for it,” Jade agrees, her intense blue irises finding mine to check if I’m up for it.
“Sounds perfect.” I nod. Anything to spend some more time with her like this before she leaves and I’m in.
