Page 8 of In Step

“So, I’ll see you around, maybe?” His smile was almost shy, and it tugged at a question taking shape in my head. Was Kane gay, or maybe bi? I wasn’t even sure why the thought even occurred to me, other than his reticence had the faint whiff of attraction to it. Not that it mattered, except no one had made mention, which in a bunch of gay and bisexual guys was kind of odd.

“I’m sure we’ll run into each other.” I glanced at the darkening sky and tried for my warmest smile. “I don’t envy you going out in this today.”

Kane’s gaze dipped to my lips, then out to the bay where the whitecaps were just beginning to show in the dull-grey light of dawn. “Nah, this is nothing.” He turned back, and this time I didn’t imagine the way his gaze faltered once again over my bare shoulders. “We’ll soon warm up. Have a nice one, Abe. You should really get inside.”

“I will.” I locked eyes, looking for confirmation of my suspicions, but there was nothing other than a cool wariness in his gaze. The man was an enigma.

I watched as he shoved his arms into his heavy rain jacket and then shouldered a bulky pack. “See you around, Abe.” He held my gaze for a second too long, and then was gone down the driveway without another word.

Shivering, I stood in the open doorway like an idiot and watched Kane leave—a lonely figure disappearing into the lingering gloom and taking a healthy dose of my lust with him.Jesus Christ.I needed my fucking head read. I pulled the blanket around my shoulders, kicked the door shut on the winter weather, and headed for the shower before my icy balls crawled so far inside my body, not even Kane would be able to coax them down.

Although I wouldn’t take that bet.

CHAPTERFOUR

Abe

As the morning passed,it took the worst of the weather with it, leaving the wharf splashed with weak winter sunlight, the few remaining clouds passing swiftly on an icy wind. And by the time Judah’s class was done at five and evening shadows lurked on the horizon, the breeze had stilled enough to flatten the chop of the bay to a mirror calm.

I hoisted the collapsed wheelchair into the hatchback of the small SUV and rapped on its roof to let Joseph’s mum know they were good to go. She tooted goodbye and headed up the wharf hill with Joseph waving madly from the passenger seat. Ruby and her dad quickly followed in his Mercedes, which left only Hannah waiting on her dad, Terry.

“Here he comes.” Hannah pointed to a black Mazda making its way slowly down the hill. “He drives like an old woman.”

I barked out a laugh. “That’s sexistandageist,” I reminded her, trying to keep a straight face. I hadn’t met ten-year-old Hannah’s dad as yet, but judging by the cool little girl he was raising, I was pretty sure I’d like him.

“It’s still true,” she grumbled as Terry pulled in alongside the old converted barn slash studio, and we wandered across.

“Hi, I’m Abe.” I offered my hand through the open driver’s window, and he shook it.

“Terry. So, you’re the famous choreographer.” He looked me up and down with a smirk. “Or as we like to say, fish food for the sharks.”

“Hey, don’t scare the guy off.” Judah appeared from the studio wearing a huge grin. “In case you’ve forgotten, I can’t afford to actually pay anyone for this gig.”

I laughed. “Nice to meet you, Terry. Your daughter’s a blast. I can see where she gets it from.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Judah mocked. “It’ll take me months to knock his head back down to size.” He wavered slightly on his feet, and I reached a steadying hand to his elbow, which he accepted with a quick smile.

Terry caught the gesture and frowned. “Bad day, Judah?”

Judah shrugged. “Bad night. Getting better. Abe was kind of thrown in at the deep end today.”

I shrugged. “It’s the best way. Anyway, it serves me right for arriving a couple of weeks later than planned,” I apologised for the millionth time.

“Stop it.” Judah shot me a warning glance. “It forced me to make a choice I should’ve made ages ago. I don’t know what I was thinking, trying to pull off both a springanda Christmas recital. Ditching the Christmas one was a good move. Not to mention, this way you get to be here for the recital itself.”

“True.” I nodded.

Judah’s smile slipped. “You know I’d pay you if I could.”

“Not another word.” I shot him a look. “You’re giving me room and board. That’s all I need. And the kids are great. They only rolled their eyes like a million times today at this old guy’s mistakes.”

Judah snorted. “What mistakes? You did fine, considering you had no lead-in whatsoever. And it takes a while to get your head around all their differing abilities.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Well, it’s a good thing the kids aren’t shy about correcting me when I get it wrong.”

Judah grinned. “Yeah, shy is one thing these kids aren’t. They’ll remind you. And over the next week, I’ll get you some sit-down time with every kid, and with Danielle, the physio, and Sophie, the occupational therapist as well. That’ll give you a better handle on things. Plus, all the parents want to meet you.”

I groaned. “You sure we couldn’t skip that part?”

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