Page 37 of Love is a Dance Step
Drew:Sounds like a plan.
He slid his phone back into his pocket as Piper called the dancers back to the front and had each line up with a professional.
Lola stood next to Nolan, her hand on his shoulder as they started slow. He turned into her arms, running a hand along her back. She stared into his eyes, but there was something missing, some intensity.
She was nervous.
She went through each step, fumbling a few, but there was no connection between the dancers. It was almost as if she’d never danced with someone else before.
Drew’s partner dances were a huge part of his concerts. They brought the heat his fans loved—except for the “safety gang” who came out against anything they thought might corrupt their kids. Drew’s solution—his concerts weren’t for kids.
Neither was his music.
There was a coldness he hadn’t seen in Lola before when she’d danced on her own. Where was the passion? The fire?
Piper’s brow creased as she made notes, but Drew didn’t want her judging Lola based on this dance. She was better than this. He was sure of it.
He wasn’t letting his mystery girl fail so easily.
The song ended, and Piper looked to the dancers. “Thank you. You may go. We’ll notify you if you’ve made the cut.” She turned to Drew. “We need to talk.”
Drew led her to the wall nearby. “Don’t say it, Piper.”
Piper gave him an apologetic smile. “She’s not bad, Drew, but…” She spread her hands. “Look, I know you want to see something in this girl. I saw it too when we were at the studio, but you saw that dance with Nolan. She doesn’t know how to move with someone else. Ultimately, this is your decision, so I’m just giving an honest assessment here.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know you are, Pipes, and I appreciate it. I haven’t exactly been present today.”
“Are you ever?”
“It’s not fair to these dancers who’ve come out. I know that. I just can’t focus. I guess I’m trying to say thank you for being here and doing this, but your snark is getting in the way.” He gave her a half-smile. “I can’t explain it. That dance of Lola’s we saw at the studio… I can’t get it out of my head. She’s rough around the edges and has obviously never danced professionally. She missed steps, and it was like she forgot Nolan was there half the time.”
Piper gave him a sad smile. “It sounds like Lola Ramirez is not the dancer for you.”
Steps sounded behind him, and he whipped around to see a dark ponytail swishing as Lola ran across the ballroom and out the door.
“Please tell me she didn’t just hear us.”
Piper put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Drew.”
Lola Ramirez is not the dancer for you.
But she was. Drew just hadn’t gotten a chance to tell Piper he didn’t care about those rough edges or missed steps. Not when something about her was so compelling, drawing him in and refusing to let go.
He had to find her. Again.
He barely heard Piper call after him as he rushed past the remaining dancers out into the lobby. His dad tried to follow him, but he picked up speed, sprinting out into the parking lot. She wasn’t here. His eyes scanned the cars, looking for the girl he couldn’t get out of his head.
The one no one else seemed to think was good enough.
A string of curses left his mouth as he ran to his car and yanked the door open. Think. Where would Lola have gone?
He didn’t know where she lived and had no desire to face his brother right now, so there was only one other place he knew to check. The clock read four PM as he sped away from the resort. He couldn’t let Lola go so easily.
There was only one girl he wanted to dance with.
He pulled up to the studio and shut off his car, giving himself a minute to get his breathing under control.
When he was ready, he stepped out and squared his shoulders. Drew Stone danced on stage in front of thousands of people. He could face a single girl.
