Page 15 of In Step

“Pfft.” I waved aside his protest. “Don’t forget, I’ve seen you in clubs. I know you’re better than you’re saying. But I can help you sharpen the ballroom stuff if you want. I thought it would be a great way to bring in more than just the families of the kids attending, plus, it would add to your income options.”

Judah nodded and I could see him warming to the idea. “Okay, let me talk to Morgan. I want his opinion on the workload. I don’t always take that into account.” He rolled his eyes, reaching for his water bottle. “Have I mentioned he’s a nana?”

I nodded. “Once or twice. And, ah, what would you think about a demonstration? Maybe a tango? I thought you could partner Morgan, and if we could get Leroy and Fox up on the floor, it would be good advertising for more classes.”

Judah choked on a mouthful of water, spraying it down the front of his jersey. “Leroy?” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Never. Gonna. Happen. But I’ll pay good money to watch you try.”

I narrowed my gaze. “You know I love a good challenge, but maybe it might be best if we tackled it together.”

“Mmm.” Judah’s jaw worked. “Let me think about it. I could also ask Jon and his wife Connie, see if they’re game. Seems like the kind of thing the local cop should be involved with, don’t you think?” He gave a wicked grin. “And I’ll see if I can come up with some others. In the meantime, I’m off to rest. Enjoy your afternoon and we’ll see you for dinner in the boathouse at six.”

“I’ll be there.”

I watched Judah head back along the path to the boathouse, the wharf parking lot jammed with cars and boat trailers as families made the most of the calm seas and beautiful Saturday weather. I closed my eyes and turned my face up to the sun. Then I drew a long breath, edged with the tang of ocean salt, and sighed happily.

“Want a lift up the hill?” Leroy’s voice startled my eyes open, and I turned to find him leaning out his driver’s window with Fox in the passenger seat.

“Thanks, but I’m gonna tidy the studio and then enjoy the sunshine. Are you guys done for the day?” I wandered over, scanning the wharf for Kane but not seeing him.

He nodded. “We’ve got a rugby game at two.”

“Good luck. See you tonight.”

I waved them off just as Kane emerged from the wharf office and made for the road. With his head down as he walked, he cast a lonely figure in the crowd of day-tripping boaters, looking anything but the bully homophobe he’d been described as. And I was still staring when, a few steps later, he glanced up and caught me. Of course he did.

Fuck it. I lifted my hand in a friendly wave.

He hesitated, then raised his in reply, but the all-too-brief accompanying smile was a surprising bonus.

I wasn’t quite ready to tackle an apology, and I didn’t want him to feel obligated to stop and talk as he passed, so I disappeared back inside the studio and let him make his way home.

CHAPTERSIX

Kane

The farmhouse looked quiet enough,but with my uncle’s car out front of the garage and the Blues playing the Chiefs in an afternoon game, I knew the brothers would be parked in front of the television, yelling at the ref, and more than a few beers in already. I checked my phone. The second half had just started, which gave me forty minutes or so to be done and gone.

I grabbed the bag of supplies I’d picked up from the vet and slipped from my car, which I’d stowed up a paved access road in the thick bush that bordered our property. If my father came out the front door and looked this way, I was done for. But the living areas faced the other way, and no one ever visited except Dad’s brother and a few cronies, and they always used the back door.

It was a risk, but I hadn’t been back since the day I’d left, and I needed to check on the animals, especially after my father’s visit. Arsehole. He must’ve been desperate to pull that stunt, which didn’t bode well, and that was why I’d come.

I crossed quickly to the carport, shaking my head at how neglected the place appeared after just a few months. He’d at least managed to find the ride-on lawnmower, but I figured that was about all he’d done in the way of maintenance. He’d never considered the house his domain. That job had been my mum’s, and then Jacklyn’s, and then mine when I returned. I hoped to hell he’d done better with the rest of the farm, because if it looked anything like this, that precious organic certification would be gone before the year was up.

A fresh wash was pegged on the clothesline, hanging motionless in the breathless day. I used it for cover and then half-crouched below the level of the windows as I made my way around back of the carport and across toward the tractor and hay shed. A mountain of empty bottles sat by the overflowing rubbish bin, and I wrinkled my nose at the sour odour as I passed. He’d obviously missed the rubbish collection... again, and I wondered for the millionth time why I’d bothered staying as long as I had.

You know why.

Once I was safely out of sight, I straightened and took a slow breath to calm my thundering heart. Aware of eyes on me, I turned and smiled at the line-up of curious chickens staring from their coop as they clucked disapprovingly—no doubt at my prolonged absence. But they looked healthy enough, so at least my father was looking after them.

“Shh, girls,” I whispered. “Don’t give me away.”

I hurried into the hay shed just in time to catch a dark, slinky shape disappear between two rows of round bales. She was alive. Tears pricked my eyes and I sucked in a breath and fired a thank you to whoever was listening.

“Possum,” I called gently, peering down the narrow gap between the two rows of bales.

A pair of light-green eyes stared back at me from a few metres away.

“Hey there. How you doing, baby?” I cooed, and a soft answering mewl tore at my heart. I crouched on the hay-strewn floor and held out my hand. “You gonna come for a cuddle?” I wiggled my fingers, but Possum kept her distance, eyes wary.

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