Her fingers stilled at the joke. “It was clearly a cha-cha. That’s how out of practice you are.”
“I’m sure you can whip me into shape.”
Her mouth went dry. Did she imagine the sultry huskiness of his voice when he had said that? He couldn’t possibly have meant it that way. This was all way too confusing. Things had been so much easier when she knew exactly how to define their relationship.
Before she had much more time to ruminate, they arrived at the studio. “Can I come in?” he asked quietly, his eyes on her. “I still don’t really like the idea of you being alone with the stalker out there. And we need to figure out costumes, maybe work on the suspect list.”
Anita barked a nervous laugh. Could she be more of a spaz right now? He was so calm, and that samba and those kids…She had forgotten how much fun dancing could be when it wasn’t all work. “Suspect list? Is this the Lewis Detective Agency now?”
“Hey, I’d make a damn fine Sam Spade.” He smushed his face into his best impression of Humphrey Bogart. “‘I don’t mind a reasonable amount of trouble.’”
Anita could not help herself from giggling.
“That’s okay, I don’t need a knight in shining armor to protect me.”
“I know you don’t. But I like being there for you.”
Anita sat in the passenger seat, gazing out at the new studio door, the brand-new, very expensive glass covered in brown paper tape.
“Thank you.” The sound of shattering glass thrummed through her once again. “I’ll be all right. I have to finish Lucy’s costume and hem a pair of pants for Shawn. It will be a quiet night, just me and my sewing machine.”
He paused, then took her hand gently in his and brought it to his lips. “You know I’m only a phone call away.”
It took her an age to pull away from him, but at last she opened the door, straightened her spine, and went up to her apartment alone.
****
She watched from the safety of her car across the street. Good, that bitch was going in alone. Not trying to seduce him today. She frowned at the new studio door. It had gotten fixed sooner than she had anticipated.
Her phone buzzed insistently, but she refused to look at it. That damned deputy would not leave her alone. She wouldn’t be surprised if he were following her, the dick. She had been so careful to this point. Just another few days and everything would work out. She just needed to avoid the deputy and any trouble.
She fought the urge to leave the blonde bitch another message, but the thoughts of him, of PATRICK, would not leave her. Even now, slouched in her car so he could not see her, her fingers itched to message him. She had to talk to him, had to make him see her. He was the only one who would understand that everything she had done had been for him.
That bitch would not do ANYthing for him.
She glanced at the phone. Four missed calls. Four voicemails.
Maybe just one quick look. She had a new account that he hadn’t blocked yet. She could see what he had posted that day, what he had eaten, any inspirational quotes or sly jokes. Just one. A little taste to whet her appetite.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Wednesday passed in a blur of rescheduled lessons, last-minute costume fittings, and practice with Patrick. Anita ended up canceling dinner with her parents because of the time crunch. By the end of the day, her feet and low back were killing her.
Her bathtub and foam roller called to her.
Anita ran the tub and poured in a handful of peppermint-scented bath salts. She pulled her long hair up into a bun, even the slight motion causing her to wince.
Just as she was sliding into the tub, her cell phone pinged with a text message.
Great. The first chance all week to unwind and release some tension, and of course her cell phone would ring.
She couldn’t ignore it, though. The days leading up to a competition were hellish for her students. They needed reassurance, hand-holding, costume and cosmetic advice. She raised herself halfway up to grab her phone from the bathroom sink. Anything could happen this close to comp.
Patrick.
—call me—
Cute. Simple. Warmth flooded through her, from the bath, of course. The thrill of excitement was definitely not that she had gotten a message from him.
