Page 62 of Dance with Me
Renee had tried to teach Natasha that trick, and Tash managed it during performances, but when she wasn’t thinking about it, she still walked with her feet turned out, like the ballerina she was.
Andas como una patita,her mother used to say.You walk like a little duck.
Renee gave Natasha a one-armed hug and took the folder from her. “How’s the ankle?”
“Better. Being extra careful with it.”
“Smart move. Serious problems can crop up from sprains.” Renee gestured toward the chair. “Here, you should sit down.”
“How’s everything going at the Planet?” Natasha asked once she was seated, using the affectionate nickname for their old workplace.
Renee settled down on the floor with her legs folded under her. “Same old. They renovated the dressing room and the bathrooms.”
“Good. They needed to. How’s everything going there?”
As Renee gave a quick rundown of the workplace gossip, Natasha gazed around at the poles and her earlier nerves transformed into unease.
Once, this had been her life. She’d been desperate then, and she was desperate now. In both cases, she’d entered into situations that forced her to lie to her friends and family. Hell, she’d still be lying to everyone about living with Dimitri if she hadn’t sprained her ankle.
Both times, she’d been broke and in desperate need of paid work. Dance work. Because it didn’t count if she wasn’t making a living off being a dancer.
In light of the things she’d done to stick to that goal, that argument was starting to seem more and more ridiculous.
Renee stretched out her long legs and leaned back on her elbows. Her enormous, round breasts strained the stretchy fabric of her turquoise top. “I told Jeff I was covering these classes for you. He says hi.”
Jeff, one of the nicest bosses Natasha had ever had. “Thanks. Tell him hi for me.”
“You could tell him yourself.” Renee rummaged in her purse and pulled out a postcard. “They finally let me produce the burlesque show I’ve been wanting to do for years. You should come by tonight. It’ll be fun.”
Natasha took the card and dropped it when Dimitri strode into the room.
“Where are we going tonight?” he asked, grinning at both of them. “Hi, I’m Dimitri.”
Coño.Why hadn’t he stayed in the car?
Renee sent him a sultry smile from the floor. It wasn’t meant for him, Natasha knew. It was the only way Renee knew how to smile.
Dimitri reached down to shake the hand Renee offered, then stooped to pick up the card.
“Are we going to a show tonight, Tash?” he asked.
“Um . . .” She glanced at Renee, who wore her usual unreadable, slightly amused expression. Full lips curved, bedroom eyes cold.
Natasha bit her lip, waiting for Dimitri to react. His brow creased as he read the card. “Babe Planet?”
“It’s the name of the venue,” Renee offered. “I’m doing a burlesque show tonight. You both should come.”
He flipped the card over and glanced at the back. “What do you say, Tasha?”
He raised an eyebrow at her, but she couldn’t read his expression either. Was he curious? Judgmental? Turned on?
She looked to Renee, who still wore her cat-with-cream smile. No help from that quarter.
Natasha’s fluttering nerves picked up the pace. As much as she wanted to yell “No!” and hustle Dimitri out of the room, something else was bubbling up inside her.
The urge to tell him the truth.
Sharing with him on the drive here had left her feeling lighter. She had so many secrets. She was unburdening them on him, one by one.
