Page 49 of Love is a Dance Step
She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I do love you, Ash.” Just in a healthy way now. She smiled as she grabbed her keys and raced out of the building.
The drive to the high school took way too long with lunch traffic. She tapped her hands on the steering wheel, unable to sit still. Had Drew already offered the job to the other dancer? Was she too late?
The almost-kiss no longer mattered. This wasn’t about them, it was about the dancing. She wouldn’t fall for the smooth rock star, and he certainly wouldn’t fall for her. She wouldn’t ruin the opportunity. As she pulled into the parking lot and the row of buses came into view, Lola locked down her heart.
Activity surrounded the buses as roadies loaded bags onto them.
Penny and Lizzy saw Lola first and sprinted her way shouting a million questions.
“What are you doing here?”
“Is Asher coming?”
“Are you going to dance?”
That was the only one she could answer. Yes, she most definitely was going to dance.
If Drew still wanted her.
She looked to Penny. “Where’s Drew?”
Another voice answered. “In his bus.”
Lola turned to Piper, facing her for the first time since hearing how Piper didn’t think she was good enough for this job. The assistant hadn’t been mean, only honest. And it was true, in those auditions, Lola hadn’t been good enough. The two women stared at each other, neither wanting to make the first move.
Sighing, Lola stepped forward and extended a hand. “We haven’t met. I’m—”
“Lola.” The sound of Drew’s voice had her every nerve ending on fire. She turned, gathering her courage. His lips parted, but no other words came out.
“Well,” Piper said. “I’m sufficiently invisible now, so I’ll let you two continue this weird staring thing you’ve got going on.” She put an arm around Lizzy and gestured to Penny. “Come on, girls. You can say goodbye to your brother once he tells Lola he can’t dance with anyone but her, and then she says something equally dramatic like she’s been waiting to dance with someone like him her entire life.”
Penny and Lizzy’s giggling faded away, and Lola realized she was still staring. She cleared her throat. “I...”
“You what?” He stepped toward her.
“I need to set some ground rules.”
He smiled. “I’d agree if I knew what the ground rules were for. You need to say it, Lola.”
“I want the job.”
“Is it just a job?”
No. He was right. Dancing was her life, or, at least, it could be now. “I want to dance with you.” The words lifted a weight off her shoulders, relief rushing through her.
His smile widened. “Thank heaven.”
She put a hand up to stop his celebration. “Ground rules.” She ticked them off on her fingers. “One, I don’t have to wear anything I’m uncomfortable in.” Nothing skimpy. He nodded. “Two, I don’t want to join the tour only to be kicked off if Leah comes back soon. My spot is guaranteed.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. She’s decided to sit out the rest of the tour.”
She nodded. “And three.” She sucked in a breath. “You can’t try to kiss me again.”
His smile fell, but he nodded again. “Lola, I need to apologize if I gave you the impression I expected anything. I don’t know what came over me, but it won’t happen again. I have a rule for myself. I don’t get involved with anyone on tour. I promise, you won’t have to worry.”
She pushed out a breath. She hadn’t really been worried about him and what he might do. It never crossed her mind that Drew was anything but a good guy. He was a Stone after all. Her own heart was another matter. If he kissed her, she feared she’d never want him to stop.
Holding out a hand, she waited. When his fingers closed around hers, the meaning rushed in at her. She was going on tour with Drew Stone. Soon, she’d dance in front of thousands of people every night.
