He hadn’t realized things had gotten so bad. He had a sudden urge to buy a house in Winslow, move her and his niece in with him, and take care of them. But before he could even express his thoughts, she pressed a finger to his lips and said, “You’re not going to rescue us so don’t even say it.”
“You’d go home to them before you’d let me help you?”
“Even if I think about it sometimes, I’d never go back. Way too many strings attached.”
Ropes, Chris corrected in his mind. The hanging kind.
“But you don’t need to be saddled with a sister and a niece. You have your own life and a career that takes you all over the world. The last thing you need is to be tied down to a little town like Winslow. I don’t even know why you’re still here.”
He laughed. She really was tired if she’d missed all the signs. Okay, a minute ago she had no clue, but his laugh had just handed her one on a platter.
“Ahh, it’s not because of Sara and me. It’s a girl!”
“A woman,” he corrected.
“Okay, a woman.”
“An incredible, gorgeous—” his hand covered his heart—“breathtakingly vibrant woman.”
“Oh, my God! You’re in love. My big brother is finally in love!”
He cocked his head to the side and didn’t bother denying it.
“Wow! Who is she? Tell me everything! Is that why you rented that little apartment in Canden Valley? I thought you were working on a series of photographs of the river.”
“That too.” Liar. Well, he had taken a few shots of the river and he would take more. And he had taken several photographs of Winslow and its beaches and cliffs and the Pacific Ocean for his other book. But recently all he could manage to point his camera at was a beautiful dancer who lived in the tiny village of Canden Valley . . . and per her request, her students.
Shelly took his hand and led him over to the couch where they sat side by side. He told her the least amount he could get away with about Anne.
“She sounds amazing.”
“She is. So, you see, I have an ulterior motive for being here. But I do think it would make sense for me to rent a bigger place and for you and Sara to move in.” As much as he wanted to stay in Canden Valley so he could be close to Anne, he knew he needed to do whatever he could to help his sister.
“No way! We aren’t going to mooch—”
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it hard. “When did you ever mooch anything, Shelly?” He chuckled. “Except that time you conned Lizzy Andrews out of her chocolate chip brownie in second grade?”
“Be serious. I’m not going to become your charity project.”
“How about this? I need a decent place to live locally. And someone to cook me a decent meal now and then so I don’t kill myself with TV dinners.”
“When you put it that way—”
“So, you’ll do it?”
“No. But it’s a kind offer,” Shelly said.
He groaned. She wouldn’t take anything from him. But the truth was, it wasn’t just for her. Recently he’d had the urge to settle down. Of course, that urge had come on the heels of having just seen Anne Jameson for the first time, but still—It was a valid desire. He could continue to travel for his work, and he would have a home to return to.
“Wow, you’re really into this girl, aren’t you?”
“Woman. What makes you say that?”
“The dreamy look in your eyes.”
Great. Now all he had to do was think of her and he looked pathetic. He’d have to perfect that nonchalant look of indifference he’d been working on. “What will it take for you to consider moving in with me?”
She laughed and nudged him in the arm with her elbow. “What will it take? It will take you getting married and settling down with your new family.”
“And then you and Sara will move in?”
“Only if there’s a guest house on the property.”
“Done.”
“Yeah right. Have you asked her to marry you already or something? Oh, my God! Have you?”
Now he was laughing.
“What?”
“I haven’t asked her on a date yet.”
“Seriously?” Her brother the heart throb was reluctant to ask a girl out?
“Seriously.”
Shelly stood up and stared at him as if that would give her a better angle to express her scorn. “Christopher Newell, what are you waiting for?”
“An opportunity for her to get to know me better without her thinking I’m a stalker.”
“Which clearly you are.”
He cringed.
“What happened to my creative brother? You can’t even come up with a way to get her to go out with you?”
“I’m working on it. Don’t worry. Caution and patience are called for in this situation.”
“Mom?”
They both turned at the sound of Sara’s voice. The eight-year-old was standing in the hallway.
“Hi, Uncle Chris. Can I show you guys something?”
“Of course, honey. What is it?”
Sara ran across the room and stood in front of them. “A new dance move I made up.”
Shelly sat back down on the couch to watch her daughter who twirled and leaped into the air, then rolled onto the floor, extending her legs then drawing them back to her chest and out again before she returned to a standing position to take a proper bow.
The brother and sister applauded, and Shelly turned and looked at her brother, whispering, “She deserves to take more classes.”
Chris tapped his foot as he considered that statement. “I think I have an idea.”
“No, you’re not paying for them.”
“What if it’s more for my benefit than yours? Or even hers?” It was only fair that Sara benefit from his plan. After all, watching his niece dance with so much passion and wonder had been the inspiration for his attending Anne’s performance several months ago.
“I’ll consider it,” Shelly said. The light went on and she smiled. “Would this involve using my daughter to get to your dream woman?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, in that case, you’re on.”
“You’re a traitor, Skye McCullough, that’s what you are.”
“Sorry, cuz, I couldn’t help it. I fell hard for the guy. It doesn’t hurt that he has the sexiest ass this side of the Mason-Dixon Line.”
“True.” Although Anne had to admit that she’d been admiring another great ass recently.
“Hey, watch it!”
“Just saying.”
“Saying’s okay. Looking’s okay. Touching is another matter. Unless I’m the one doing the touching.” Skye gazed lustily across the room at the subject of their conversation.
Anne laughed at her smitten cousin. “Don’t I recall your going on about how disgusting Sophie and Sean are with their public displays of affection? You and Nick have them beat hands down.”
Skye appeared only slightly embarrassed. “Like I said, I can’t help it, especially when that fine ass is on the back of a horse, unsteady as it may be.”
Kelly McCullough Burnett smiled as she pulled out a chair to join her two cousins who were obviously deep in conversation about one of their favorite subjects. Horses. Or was it men?
“Hey, little cuz, what are you doing over in this neck of the woods? Sit,” Skye said.
Kelly sat down between the two women. “I was feeling antsy so I went riding out at the ranch for a bit. Stopped in to say hi to my folks before heading back to Winslow. Are they around?”
“Your dad’s in his office. Not sure where your mom is. Want something to drink?”
“I have to drive home so I’d better stick with root beer.”
Skye held up her own bottle of Thomas Kemper’s finest and pointed to Kelly. Nick nodded and brought another bottle over to the table, giving Kelly a quick kiss on the cheek before returning to his post behind the bar.
“So, what am I interrupting? You two look
ed like you were deep in conversation.”
“Skye was just lusting after her fiancé, as usual.”
Skye leaned back in her chair and gazed across the room. “Well worth lusting after.”
“Definitely,” Kelly agreed.
“Hands off. He’s mine.”
Anne and Kelly laughed. “It’s good she knows it,” Anne said.
“We’re just jealous. How’s your love life, cuz?” Kelly directed her question at Anne.
“Nonexistent. Yours?”
“Same.”
“Sorry,” Skye said. “I’ll try harder not to gloat.”
“Does that include not talking wedding?”
“Of course not, especially since you two will be in it.”
“We will?” Kelly had assumed Anne would be in it since the two cousins had been best friends and next door neighbors since birth.
“Yep. If you’ll do it.”
“Of course I will.”
“Good, then that’s settled. The two of you and Sophie. I asked Cassie too, but she’s afraid she’ll be as big as a house by then so she declined. And maybe Megan, but she’s so busy—”
“Who’s standing up for Nick?”
“So far, Sean, Matt, and Nick’s best friend, Trent, from the Bay Area.”
“Attached?”
“Don’t think so, why?”
“Just wondering.”
Anne and Skye exchanged glances. Kelly was the one they called the sweet cousin. She was, after all, a kindergarten teacher. She was also the one who never complained and always seemed content with her life. And never swore. Obviously they had failed to corrupt her.
“Horny?” Skye asked, causing Kelly to choke on her soda.
“Skye!”
“Sorry. So are you?”
“None of your business.”
“You’re my bridesmaid. That makes it my business.”
“Well, then, I’m perfectly fine.”
“Just antsy.”
“Right. Antsy doesn’t mean horny.”
Anne took a sip of her tea. In Skye’s book it did.
“So, have you picked out our dresses?” Kelly attempted to change the subject.
“Not yet. I’m open to input. We just need to come up with a pattern or even a picture so Mom can make them.”
“Aunt Ivy is amazing.”
“Canden Valley’s own Martha Stewart,” Skye said. “She’s definitely amazing. But I do think with all these weddings suddenly, she’s a bit overwhelmed. Thank goodness Cassie and Alex’s wedding is going to be casual and small.”
“Because yours isn’t?” Anne asked.
“Hey, you know my mom would kill me if I didn’t let her do it up the way she loves to do things. But it’s good timing because Arielle’s parents will have moved here by then. Her mom is going to work with mine.”
“At the B&B?”
“That and they’re considering starting a wedding planning business.”
“Great idea,” Kelly said. “But there aren’t that many weddings in the valley.”
“They’d probably advertise in Winslow as well. But you do realize that to date only two of the McCullough cousins are married. That leaves twelve weddings to plan.” Skye grinned. “Including mine.”
“There’s no guarantee we’ll all get married.” Anne held her chin high as if to make a statement.
Skye caught herself before she could roll her eyes at her stubborn cousin. After all, hadn’t she been equally stubborn only a few months ago? “Well, I’m sure some of you will. So, on to my wedding. Do you guys wanna have a brainstorming session? Maybe next weekend? I thought the four of us—you two and Sophie and I—could stay at the B&B for the night. Scan the wedding websites, look at magazines, roast marshmallows.”
“It’s December. The B&B isn’t booked?” Kelly asked.
“Not next weekend, but starting right after that, it’s slammed. Or we could wait until after the holidays.”
“And Cassie and Alex’s wedding which is in January?” Anne said.
“To say nothing of Christmas,” Kelly said.
“And my production of The Nutcracker.”
“And isn’t Sean whisking Sophie off on their delayed honeymoon any minute?”
“Good point. Okay, we’ll wait until late January. But not a minute longer.” This was better, Skye decided. After all, with a little nudge in the right direction, Anne’s weekend would be occupied by a man who might actually be able to convince her that marriage was a possibility in her future too.
Kelly smiled and finished her root beer. “I’m gonna go say hi to Dad. Then I need to get back to Winslow. I have a lesson on shapes and colors to plan for tomorrow.”
As soon as Kelly had left the table, Skye said, “That girl seriously needs to get laid.”
“Antsy isn’t the same thing as horny,” Anne said.
“Isn’t it?”
Okay, maybe it was, Anne thought, her mind drifting to a gorgeous photographer who had her so perplexed and bemused that she could hardly even dance.
Chapter 7
Anne smiled down at the young girl who eerily resembled her uncle with her light brown hair with flecks of gold and her chocolate brown eyes. “Why would you want to come all the way over here for lessons? I mean I’d love to have you, but there’s a very good dance studio in Winslow.”
“My uncle told me I’d like it here.” She grinned, revealing two empty spaces where new teeth were beginning to appear. “And that I’d like you. And since he’s paying for my classes—”
Anne looked up at Chris. “You’re paying?”
“I’m paying.”
For some bizarre reason, her heart was suddenly doing cartwheels. She had to force her eyes away from him and focus on his niece. Clearing her throat she said, “Welcome to our dance school, Sara. I hope you’ll like it here.” She was bewildered, to say the least. Why was Chris doing this? Why wouldn’t he just pay for her lessons in Winslow? Why would he bring her all the way to Canden Valley for classes? He certainly didn’t seem that impressed with her. Although he had selected her for the photo shoot. Maybe he knew more about dance than she realized. And maybe he liked the way she taught and wanted his niece to benefit from that. Still, something had her completely mystified. Especially since once he left town and went back to wherever he came from, how would Sara get to class?
“I think I’ll like it a lot,” the little girl assured her as she gazed at the large dance floor. “I know it’s too close to your Nutcracker performance for me to have a part, but maybe I could help backstage or something?”
Anne shook her head, hoping that would help her focus on this conversation. She replayed the child’s words in her mind. “There’s always a part for a good dancer. How fast are you at learning new steps?”
“Pretty fast I think.”
“Very fast,” Chris confirmed.
“Then I’ll find you a part.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. It’s a contemporary dance version, and the parts are quite different from the ballet version. My advanced dancers have more extensive parts, of course, but I like to make sure all the dancers have at least a moment of glory.”
“Cool.” Sara grabbed her uncle’s hand and yanked on it. Chris bent down so she could put her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Uncle Chris. Thank you, so much.”
“You’re very welcome, squirt.” He kissed her on the forehead before straightening.
Anne looked over at Chris and wondered why he was grinning as if he’d just won the lottery.
“Why are you doing this?” Anne asked after Sara had gone off to the dressing room to get ready for her first class at her new dance studio.
“Because she deserves it. She has the spirit of a dancer and she deserves to dance.”
“Yes, but why here?”
“Because I want her to have the best.”
“The dance studio in Winslow is excellent.”
“But not the best. You transcend th
e ordinary, Anne. You don’t just teach technique. You help your students find the dancer inside them, the artist.”
Startled by the man’s words, Anne blinked hard. He knew this about her. He knew that above all, she valued what was deep inside her students, not just their physical capabilities. Was that why he’d selected her as the subject of his photo shoot? She looked into his rich brown puppy dog eyes. He was still smiling. Why was he still smiling?
“Does this mean I get to help out backstage?” he asked her.
“Help out backstage?” Her entire body tensed at the thought of him standing beside her through rehearsals and performances, pulling curtains and pushing around props and cueing performers. “Uh, why would you even want to do that?”
Chris took a step toward her, relishing the obvious apprehension that he had apparently caused. “I enjoy it,” he said softly.
Now all he had to do was murmur three words and she was shivering and going weak in the knees at the same time. This was bad. “Uh, a big successful photographer like you enjoys helping out with amateur dance studio performances?”
“Brings back good memories,” he said as he took yet another step closer. That wasn’t entirely untrue. He did enjoy working backstage. Despite his father’s encouraging him to go out for football or basketball, he had preferred the arts. He’d played soccer in both high school and college, but that wasn’t glamorous enough for his father. And as far as his father was concerned, the arts were a waste of time—other than the social and business opportunities that offered to make him and his family look good. But as far as his children indulging in them? That was out of the question.
December Dance Page 5