Madame Miller stood about five-foot-three and had her curly black hair secured in a bun. She was about sixty years old, but a person would never know that based on how she moved and carried herself. Today, she wore a black leotard, red shawl, red chiffon overskirt, black leg warmers, and black ballroom shoes.
There were grumbles from the men and a few half-hearted “no” answers from the women.
“Then I see we are going to need a quick review of the steps. First is the basic step.” She walked out to the front of the room to demonstrate. “Men, remember, you always lead first. You step forward with your left foot. Your weight goes back on the right foot. Bring the left foot up to meet the right. Then the right foot goes back. Take the weight on the left foot. Then right meets the left. That’s one set. Ladies, you will reverse it. Do we all remember now?”
There was a series of blank stares. “I see.” She laughed. “Well, let’s give it the old college try and see what happens. You all mastered this step at the end of last week. I’m sure your muscle memory will return quickly once you settle in.”
She clicked a button on the remote to the sound system, and Spanish guitar music filled the room. “Don’t worry about adding any arms. Footwork only. The tempo is quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow.” She clapped her hands together again. “Ready, go.”
Madame Miller increased the music’s volume. Charlie and Frankie both stepped toward one another with their left feet. They laughed.
“Have you forgotten already?” he asked.
“My brain is in ice skate mode. When I take a set of intro steps, I normally lead with my left skate.”
“Ice would be a lot easier than this. Let’s try this again,” he said.
“Five, six, seven, eight.” She counted off as she did during their practice sessions.
Charlie and Frankie quickly got into a rhythm.
“This reminds me of a cha-cha, except there’s one less step,” she mused.
“Switch!” Madame Miller called out. “Ladies, this time you try leading. Men, you follow.”
They reset and Frankie took the lead.
“Wait, isn’t this step in a mambo?” Charlie looked amused. “Think about the ice-dance pattern Richelle was practicing all last week for her solo dance test.”
She glanced down to her feet. “You’re right.”
Madame Miller swept around the room, offering a few helpful corrections. When she reached them, she said, “Try not to look at your feet. Keep your eyes up and chin up. You have a handsome partner who should make the job all the easier.”
As she walked away, Charlie cackled with laughter.
“Not a word,” Frankie said.
He held his hands up.
“Let’s try the pivot step. Men, you’ll turn to . . .”
Frankie pivoted away from Charlie as if she was practicing while Madame Miller explained. Her hands went to her cheeks.Why did she have to bring up how attractive he is? Gah. It’s not like I haven’t noticed it before.
She turned back around. Charlie was facing away from her as he practiced. Her gaze traveled to his strong back and firm butt, which had become even more toned over the last few weeks. She’d noticed he started to increasingly favor more fitted clothing.
He was constantly on her mind. She was always wondering what he was up to when they weren’t at the rink together.
Charlie is only a friend and a skating partner. Nothing else. I can’t fall for him. I refuse to.
Her pulse began to race. She thought back to earlier in the day and some of the feelings and emotions her conversation with Charlie had sparked. A sinking feeling began to take hold.
Oh no! I’ve already started to fall for him, haven’t I?
She stumbled. As she tried to catch her balance, Charlie was right there to steady her. As his hands touched her body, butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
“You okay?”
She was certain her face was crimson by now. “Fine. It’s these heels.”
