Page 66 of Love is a Dance Step
She pursed her lips, studying him before issuing one short nod. “We’ll be back. You guys can find a movie without me, but don’t eat all the Milk Duds.” She jerked her head toward the door, and Drew followed her out into the quiet hall.
A strand of wet hair fell free from Lola’s bun, and she twisted it around her finger as she leaned against the wall, her eyes looking anywhere but at him. He tried to see the little kid he’d known ages ago, but she was nowhere to be found, replaced with this woman before him, a woman he couldn’t get out of his head.
She was only nineteen, but there was nothing young about her. Each word she spoke was measured with wisdom, her movements that of someone who’d been dancing for decades. And yet… she wasn’t ready to take the position he’d hired her for.
“I saw the blog.” She leaned her head back on the wall and pushed out a breath. “And I feel like the conversation you want to have is one we’ve had before.”
It was. He’d told her he wouldn’t try to kiss her, that it wasn’t the reason he’d chosen her. “I know.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Lola, I know I haven’t exactly been welcoming.”
She snorted. “Understatement.”
“But I want you to succeed here on your own merits. I know you will.”
“Have you wondered if you chose the wrong girl?”
Where was that coming from? “Not once.”
“I know Nolan has probably reported to you that I can’t connect—whatever that means.” He had, but Drew didn’t believe it. He’d felt a connection with Lola when they danced. She could do it, she just had to dig deeper.
“You just need more practice.”
“Practice? Drew, I can do your dance moves in my sleep.”
He liked to think they weren’t as simple as that, but he let her continue.
“I have been studying your dancing for years, spending hours learning every move.” Her face flushed as if she hadn’t meant to reveal any of that.
“That’s how you picked everything up so easily.” It all made sense now. Lola knew his dances before he ever came back into her life.
She nodded. “Don’t go getting a big head on me. I never planned to pursue dancing professionally, but there was an honesty and an excitement in the way you moved.” She placed a hand over her heart. “I felt it. And now, I spend my days practicing when it won’t get me anywhere because I’m dancing with the wrong people.” Her chest heaved as her voice grew louder.
“Lola—”
“No, let me speak. Please. I know you’re my boss and all that jazz, but you need to hear me. I willneverget it right with Nolan. You know it, and I know it. He certainly knows it. And Noah, dancing with him was weird and awkward. Neither of us could stop laughing until Piper finally got fed up and let us quit.”
Noah had helped her? Danced with her?
She went on. “I have only felt that connection once.” She pushed away from the wall and approached him. “With you. Back in my studio, we danced. Truly, completely danced.”
“We did.” He couldn’t take his eyes from hers.
The corners of her mouth tipped up. “Dance with me, Drew. You. Not Nolan. Not Noah. You and me. Then tell me I’m not ready.”
“Lola—”
“One dance.” She dropped her voice. “Dance with me.”
Less than a foot separated them, but they didn’t touch. Their eyes locked, her desperation matching his.
Dance with me.
It didn’t matter how tired he was or that he knew this was a bad idea.
Because when she said those three words, he knew there was no denying her.
Dance with me.
“Yes.”
