Page 56 of Love is a Dance Step
Why was she here?
What had Drew seen in her?
And how long would it be until he realized he’d made the wrong choice?
She followed Nolan back to the practice room they’d used that morning. “Drew has this room rented today and tomorrow, so we should be good.” He toed off his shoes, and she followed suit. “We don’t have long, and… can I be completely honest with you?”
“Yes.” She stopped in the center of the room and turned to face him.
“You’re too stiff.”
“What?” She shook out her arms. “I’m not stiff.”
“When I danced with you in auditions, that was your problem. You weren’t comfortable with me. I’m guessing you hadn’t ever danced with anyone else before.”
She hugged her arms across her body. “I—”
“We’re going to work on that.” He offered her a reassuring smile.
It was true. In that audition, she’d been uncomfortable, not knowing how to handle dancing so close to a stranger. But in the studio with Drew… how was that different? Why was she more comfortable with him?
Nolan stepped in front of Lola and put a hand on each of her shoulders. She flinched away from him. “We’re going to do an exercise, okay? You don’t like to be touched, but you’ll need to push that fear away if you want to make this work.”
She nodded, willing to do whatever it took.
“Close your eyes.”
Her eyes fluttered closed.
“Okay, now focus on my touch. Trust that I won’t take it too far. Get used to the idea of being close to me.” One of his hands traveled over her shoulder, trailing down her right arm as she remained impossibly still. His fingers intertwined with hers for just a moment, and it took everything in her to remain in place and not shy away.
His other hand slid over the curve of her neck and cupped her cheek.
When his touch flitted over her hip and down her thigh, she couldn’t handle it anymore. Her eyes sprang open, and she jumped back.
“That’s a start.” Nolan’s face flushed. “Let’s, uh, dance now.” He played a song on his phone and set it aside before reaching for her hand. “How well do you know the dances we do?”
“Pretty well.” Her cheeks heated at the admission. “I’ve been studying Drew’s dances for years.”
“Good, then we can focus less on the steps and more on the connection. Drew and Leah were a special pair. They have a force that draws them together, and it makes every eye turn their way. Don’t try to match that. Drew chose you for a reason none of us know, but I trust him. Form your own connection with him. But first, learn how to get comfortable with me. If you get lost on any of the steps, just follow me.”
Lola nodded. She’d always been a fast learner, picking up dances easily.
Nolan started first, and then Lola joined him, going through every step, laughing when she bumped into Nolan. He was a good teacher, but each time she had to get close to him, she backed off, breaking the trance of the dance.
After a while, his frustration was evident on his face.
And Lola started wondering if she could do this after all.
17
Drew
Drew’s fans were the best. He stood on the sidewalk near the back entrance of the arena with Jo and Noah flanking him. After pushing this concert back, they owed it to the fans to at least acknowledge them.
Girls, boys, young and old screamed their names, a sound Drew would never get used to. Some days he wondered what any of it meant. But most days, he loved the fame. It never got old.
He bent to sign an autograph for a little girl and flashed her a wink before straightening and signing his name to the various items thrust at him.
