Page 36 of Slow Burn
"Yeah."
"Mhm," she murmured. "Interesting."
It was my turn to frown. "Why exactly is that interesting?"
Maddie's shoulders rose and fell in a small shrug. "I just figured with your level of tact, you had to be an only child." The most wonderful thing happened then. Her lips twitched before curving into the most brilliant smile that made my heart hiccup. "I'm sorry." She maneuvered around me, bumping her shoulder against my arm as she did. "I couldn't resist."
"Funny."
The sweetest sound filled the room when a small laugh escaped her. "I try." Looking over her shoulder, she winked before continuing on into the kitchen. Because the space was open-plan, I had a clear view of her from my spot in the living room.
I also took the opportunity to shamelessly study her. Along with the black t-shirt, she was wearing orange camouflage tights that stopped just below her knee. The skintight material did nothing to hide her finely toned legs. For a quick second, I imagined what it might feel like to have them wrapped around my waist as I mercilessly—
Biting the inside of my cheek, I stopped that thought dead in its tracks and placed my folded hands in front ofthe bulge inside my pants before I embarrassed myself. "How's the ankle?"
Maddie faced me and held on to the counter where she'd set down the wine and chocolates. Bending her knee, she lifted her leg and flexed her foot. Gifting me with another grin, she said, "Much better." She dropped her leg. "I'll be back to dancing soon."
Even from where I was standing, I could see her face light up. I understood that kind of passion that bubbled out of your pores because it was so big, you couldn't contain it. An image of her tear-stained face flashed before me. My brows dipped low. "Why were you so sad earlier?" The question was out before I could stop it. Regret shortly on its heels.
Her face fell. "It's nothing." Shuffling away, she opened the fridge and stared at the contents for a long while. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
My first instinct was to say yes. I wanted nothing more than to share a drink with her—even it was just a glass of water. This woman intrigued me. I wanted to get to know her and oddly I wanted to let her in.
Which was why I said, "No, thank you." Maddie's gaze snapped to mine. The expression on her face one I couldn't decipher. But something about it tightened the knots in my stomach. "I have to get back."
"Right. Of course."
Why did I feel like I'd just kicked a puppy? And why in the name of all things holy did I want to stomp to where she was standing and taste her mouth? I took two steps backward. "Take care, Maddie."
Making a one-eighty, I prepared to flee to the safety of my house. To a place where she wasn't. I'd made it all the way to her door when her voice halted my steps.
"Hey, Adam." Our eyes met over my shoulder. "Thanks for checking up on me."
Because I didn't trust myself to speak, I gave her a quick nod and got the hell out of there. I should have known better than to think that Maddie's beautiful face wouldn't follow me.
18
MADDIE
I couldn't recall another time in my life where going to work had a smile spreading across my face. Even when I'd been in New York, furiously chasing my dreams, I hadn't experienced the zing of excitement that coursed through my veins as I pushed through the doors of Soulbeat.
Taking in the mirrored walls and wide-open space felt a hell of a lot like coming home. Something behind my breastbone shifted, clicked into place and a lightness touched my soul.
"Maddie. Hi." Lucetta came rushing forward and threw her arms around my shoulders when she reached me. "Thank you so much for doing this," she breathed.
I hugged her back with everything I had in me. In her mind, I might've been doing her a favor, but it was the other way around. Dancing was such a core part of my DNA, and she'd given me an opportunity to surround myself with people like me.
"It's me who should be thanking you," I told her honestly.
She pulled back and gave me the biggest encouraging smile before leading me over to her office. My eyes wenta little wide at the scattered papers covering the table. I wasn't OCD at all, but this was a mess, even for me.
As if reading my mind, Lucetta gently patted me on the shoulder. "I'll show you where all these go in a minute, but I need you to look at this first." Handing over one of the pages, she continued, "It's a list of all the classes; their days and times as well as the students in each."
"Okay." My eyes furiously tracked over the page. I had no idea Lucetta's little studio was so busy. There were easily between five to six hours' worth of classes every other day during the week along with the two exercise classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
My stomach twisted violently, nerves suddenly pushing bile into my throat. Lucetta had been doing this for years. There was no way I could come even close to reaching her standards. The absolute last thing I wanted was to cause her dancers to move backward.
"Hey." I blinked and her hands were on my shoulders, gently guiding me to face her. "You've got this, Maddie. I believe in you." I swallowed down the big fat lump in my throat because besides her and Frankie no one else had said them to me. "You have a gift. It's not something anyone can teach. It's an intricate part of who you are."
