Page 24 of The Comeback

“That’s too predictable.” She laughs, and my heart lodges in my throat. Her hips sway with the notes as she returns to the middle of the floor. As always, her movements are graceful and self-assured.

My mouth dries, and a sharp stabbing pain shoots through my chest. Is this the big one? I scrub my hands on my shorts.

I don’t mean a heart attack. That would be easier to recover from.

Suddenly, I don’t want to wait one hour, let alone however long it’s going to take to secure my financial situation. Did I bring Piper here as a pawn to get Charlotte to fall for me? That makes me look pathetic.

Charlotte’s eyes twinkle as she saunters closer. “It’s time to dance like no one’s watching.”

“Magic Mike?” I smirk to block out the thoughts invading my brain, telling me things I won’t want to hear.

“I….” Her eyes widen as her breath hitches, and for a split second, her gaze travels up and down my body.

“Maybe later.” I wink as one corner of my mouth raises upward. Son of a bitch. Bad timing or not, I’m not waiting. I can’t afford to.

“God, you two are gross.” Piper groans from her seated position. “I told you none of that kissy face in front of me.”

Charlotte clutches her chest and stops in mid-step. “I’m sorry. We’re just friends. I don’t want you to think anything like that is going on between us.”

Her face is white, like she saw a ghost. Or someone gave her a ketchup-filled hard-boiled egg and shoved it in her face, demanding she eats it.

There’s my answer. I might be ready to jump in headfirst to convince her that we’re worth a shot, but she’s putting on the brakes–brakes the size of those on a Mack truck.

She gnaws on her bottom lip, and my knees buckle.

Shit. When did I ever listen to reason? I didn’t become a pro football player by giving up. When the going gets tough, you go harder.

“No kissing,” I say. In front of my sister.

“That’s better.” Piper nods as if she’s pleased with my decision.

For several minutes, Charlotte takes me through the routine she’s specifically developed to increase my ankle strength. I can hold the positions four times as long as I did yesterday.

Piper shifts upright in her chair and watches with rapt attention. Her fingertips tap on the knees of her black leggings. A bead of sweat trails down my forehead. That was only the warmup. I might die right here.

Charlotte runs her fingertip up my spine. “You need to be straighter. Envision strings above your head. Holding you upright.”

I follow her directions, and she marches around me in a circle. “Chin up.”

“You’re getting a little bossy. Don’t you think you could say please?”

She steps closer and puts her index finger under my chin. “Please, raise your chin.”

“Yes, sir. Drill sergeant, sir.”

She laughs and smacks my chest with the back of her hand. I grab her fingers and tug her closer. “I think I was wrong.”

Her eyes widen, and I’m rewarded with a flicker of awareness. “About what?”

“My timing is off.” My gaze lowers to her lips. Her pink, plump lips that are begging to be kissed.

“Your timing is fine.” Her tongue flicks out and swipes along the seam of her lips. “And you’re getting faster.”

“I’m not talking about that.” I trail my finger along her jawline. “I’m talking about this.”

She gasps and jumps back. “We can’t.”

My jaw tightens as I drop my hand to my side. “You’re right.”

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