Page 63 of Dance with Me
What was one more?
Besides, she didn’t want to hurt Renee’s feelings. And Renee was an excellent dancer.
“Sure, let’s go,” she said.
Dimitri turned to Renee. “Starts at nine?”
“Yes.” Renee took the hand Dimitri gave her and rose to her feet. After he helped Natasha up and she was balanced on the crutches, Renee leaned in and kissed Natasha on the cheek, leaving behind the scent of rosewater.
“See you later.” Another wink.
Dimitri led the way out of the room, winding around the poles, and making sure the door was open wide enough for Natasha to get through easily. Once they were in the hallway, she shot him a dark look.
“You were supposed to stay in the car.”
“I found a parking spot.” He lowered his voice. “What, I’m not allowed to take a piss?”
She huffed. “How did you even get in?”
“The lovely woman at the front desk is a fan.”
Sure enough, on the way out, the lady behind the desk grinned and waved. “Bye, Mr. Kovalenko!” she called out.
Dimitri sent her a charming smile, waved back, and opened the door for Natasha to exit the gym.
Natasha kept her mouth shut as they got in the car and back on the freeway. By some miracle, he hadn’t peppered her with questions yet, but he had to have figured it out. After meeting Renee, seeing that card, and . . . shit, had she ever said Renee was a former coworker?
As her mind searched for ways to lie or get out of telling him the whole story, her heart settled into a decision.
She would tell him. The truth. It was a secret she’d kept for years, but she wanted to talk about it with someone. No, more than that, she wanted to talk about it withhim.Maybe he would understand. Maybe he wouldn’t judge her.
He wasn’t her mother.
When she’d first met him, she equated Esmeralda and Dimitri in her head, with her need for validation. If she couldn’t get it from her mother, maybe she could get it from him, the guy who expected the best and was notorious for withholding praise. Even when they started sleeping together, it was with that same kind of longing. If the guy who withheld commitment could give her a sign that this was more than just a fling . . .
He’d given her a sign. He’d said helovedher.
What if he meant it?
Her mother never said it. But Dimitri wasn’t her mother. Nothing like her, in fact. He was a natural caretaker, concerned about everyone around him. His family, his restaurant,her.
What if he did love her? What did that even mean? She had so little experience with it, she didn’t even know. Did he love having sex with her? Having her in his home? Her cooking? What were all the little things that added up the bigger emotion of love?
Her heart pointed the way to the people who loved her, and showed their love. It was a short list. Abuela. Gina. Maybe Kevin and Lori, in their own, friend-love way.
Abuela had been there for her until the day she died. She took care of her, made sure she was clean and fed, but more than that, shelistened.She valued Natasha’s feelings, and gave her space to vent and explore them.
Dimitri did that. The night she’d broken down in his bathroom, he’d held her and listened.
And Gina. Gina had been taking care of her every step of the way since they’d met at fourteen years old. When Gina had applied for colleges and scholarships, she’d gotten extra copies and made sure Natasha filled them out, too. When they were in Los Angeles, Gina lined up auditions for both of them. It had never been a competition between them. Everything they did, they did together. Gina had never left her behind.
Even now, Gina had offered to pay her half of the rent until the lease was up. She hadn’t left Natasha in the lurch. But at the time, Natasha had stubbornly wanted to prove she could do it herself.
Who was she proving this to? Her mother? Gina? Herself?
If Gina had been here, she would have done everything Dimitri had done at the hospital. Badgered the doctors, taken notes on healing and recovery, and made a schedule for Natasha’s meds, ice packs, and physical therapy.
Dimitri had done all of that. He’d called her friends so she wouldn’t be alone. Picked up her glasses so she wouldn’t be stuck in contacts all day. Carried and drove her around.
