Page 84 of Just Like Home

“Then why the smile?”

“Because I just figured something out about you,” she said, still smiling.

“Is that right?”

Her expression teased. “Yep. I figured out that you’re nothing but a big softy.”

He couldn’t help it—he smiled too—and he felt a slight chink in the suit of armor he wore to keep him safe. “I’m really not.”

“But you are,” she said. “Why do you pretend to be so uncaring all the time?”

He didn’t want to talk about all the reasons why. “Will you help me or not?”

Her smile skittered away, and just like that, he’d done it again. Ruined the moment.

Idiot.

She picked up a towel and wiped the counter. “Would you be standing in for her dad? I heard they usually dance at every recital.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m hoping I can talk him into it, but I’m not holding my breath.”

“You saw how far I got when I asked him,” she said.

He shrugged softly in reply.

“So, you need me to choreograph something for you and Amelia?”

“And keep me from making a complete fool of myself,” he said.

She avoided his eyes. “That’s why you came here tonight—to ask me to help you with this dance.”

“Yeah,” he said, as if it were obvious. “It just took me a little while because this is kind of embarrassing.”

“Right.” She looked away.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, of course not.” She looked around at the dishes still littering the counter. “I figured it was something like that.” She half-laughed. “I mean, why else would you come here and make dinner and spend time with me and help clean up the kitchen?” She ran a hand over her hair, which was neatly gathered at the back of her head in a high ponytail.

Why did he feel like he’d said the wrong thing?

She turned around and opened the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of water, and took a drink—a long one.

“Are you okay?”

“Mm-hmm,” she said.

“Look, I don’t know anything about dancing, but I do know I have less of a chance of looking like a complete disaster if you help me.”

“I don’t know, Cole.” She closed the refrigerator and walked into the living room.

“I’ll work really hard, and I’ll do whatever you tell me.”

One of her eyebrows quirked. “Whatever I tell you?”

He nodded.

She ran her hands over her face. “This is a terrible idea.”

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