by Anya Nowlan
“You all did wonderfully, and I couldn’t have hoped for a better group for my first day,” she smiled. “Thank you, and have a nice day.”
With that, everyone started to disperse. Jason and Cindy were looking awfully cozy as they made their way to the hallway. Gage and Tina exchanged polite smiles before going their separate ways.
Pierce, though, was waiting for a moment alone with Tory. But, as he hung back watching everyone leave, his plan was foiled by Will and Joanne. Arm in arm, they cornered Tory, welcoming her to Black Oak and offering their thanks.
Slowly strolling closer, Pierce waited for his opening, only to earn a glare from Joanne. And Tory was pointedly avoiding looking his way altogether.
Sighing to himself, Pierce had to admit that perhaps this wasn’t the best time to try and win Tory over. Not only did he not want to interrupt the bride and groom, he guessed that Tory had another class coming in, and since she was already not his biggest fan, the last thing he wanted to do was inconvenience her at work.
So he slunk past the three of them, catching a part of their conversation as he went.
“…they’ll do fine,” Tory was saying.
“Yes, but I think we could use a private lesson,” Joanne replied. “I want our first dance to be perfect.”
“Of course,” Tory said, her voice echoing out into the hallway.
Pierce couldn’t help but grin.
Now that gives me an idea…
Five
Tory
With a warm cup full of caramel macchiato between her hands, Tory sat behind a small table in the corner of a coffee shop called The Roast, looking out onto the streets of her new home. Outside, everyone was rushing to get where they were going, coats and jackets dappled with raindrops as the clouds rolled in.
The humidity in the air not only made her hair frizz, but her knee ache. It was a manageable pain, nothing that would stop her from going into work. But it was still a reminder of something she would rather forget.
This was a new life for her, and she had resolved to put the past behind her. It wasn’t really going as well as she’d hoped, but settling into Black Oaks and having a new job were pretty good distractions.
Now, though, she could add a certain student to that list of diversions.
Pierce was a hard man to forget, especially thanks to his audacious advances. A smile tugged at the edges of Tory’s mouth. There had been something about him that left a lasting impression, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
And damn if he hadn’t been as handsome as a movie star with the body of an action hero.
Still, it hardly mattered what he looked like. Tory had her plate full as it was, and the last thing she needed was to get involved with someone, whoever that someone was. She had never been that good at dating, and the past year had only served to make her more jaded.
Safe to say, a romantic she was not.
Tory was pulled out of her thoughts when someone came barreling through the door, huge black umbrella in hand. Fluffing out her damp, blonde hair, the woman closed her umbrella, smiling at the barista behind the counter.
Tory recognized her immediately. It was Joanne, the bride from yesterday. Joanne noticed her, too, giving Tory a small wave as she placed her order. Tory waved back, forcing a smile on her face.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like Joanne. The woman was perfectly nice, pleasant and polite, but with all the new faces she had had to acquaint herself with at the dance studio, the last thing Tory wanted to do was have more small talk with someone.
Where are you from? Why did you leave? How long have you danced?
The questions were all the same, predictable yet also uncomfortable every time she had to answer. Only her new boss knew about her injuries, and Tory was determined to keep it that way.
She didn’t need special treatment. All she yearned for was some semblance of normality again. Now was that too much to ask?
As she sipped her drink, Tory made herself as small as possible in her little corner, as if that would somehow turn her invisible to Joanne. Running away wasn’t really an option, unless she wanted to not only be the new girl in town, but the crazy new girl in town.
Just as she had feared, as soon as Joanne had her own cup in hand, the woman made her way over to her table, a smile on her perfectly painted coral lips.
“Tory, hey,” Joanne said, propping her umbrella against the wall. “Mind if I join you?”
“Of course not,” Tory replied, even as her shoulders tensed.
“I see you’ve already found the best coffee shop in Black Oak,” Joanne smiled, sipping her drink.
“It was just the closest one to the apartment I’m renting,” Tory shrugged. “But this macchiato is pretty great,” she added, holding up her cup.
“Would it be terribly obvious if I said something like, ‘I bet you had a favorite spot back in…’” Joanne grinned, tucking a blonde curl behind her ear.
Leaning back in her chair, Tory took a moment to appreciate the new approach to the old, familiar questions she kept getting pelted with. Joanne seemed to be genuinely interested in her response, not just making chit-chat.
“New York,” Tory offered. “And yeah, it was pretty obvious.”
Joanne laughed, folding her hands in her lap. An elegant engagement ring glinted on her ring finger, and it was the only piece of jewelry Tory could see the woman wear.
“You must be pretty tired of the third degree, huh?” Joanne asked. “Forgive us small-town folk. You’re what passes as news right now,” she added with a chuckle.
“Huh,” was all Tory could think to say.
What else could she say? Not only wasn’t she nearly interesting enough for that kind of attention, the thought of her moving to Black Oak being something that got the locals talking only made the town feel even smaller.
“It’s okay if you wanted to say it must be real boring here,” Joanne offered, making Tory nearly choke on her coffee.
“Uhh,” she stammered.
Joanne laughed, but not in a way that made Tory uncomfortable, or embarrassed. No, she found herself giggling along, instead. There was a frankness and an easygoing spirit to Joanne that she couldn’t help but like.
“I’m still getting used to everything, I guess,” Tory admitted, after she got her giggles under control. “It’s a far cry from New York.”
“I bet,” Joanne scoffed. “But I think you’ll find Black Oak has its charms. The men aren’t bad to look at, for example,” she grinned, giving her a knowing look.
“I hadn’t noticed,” Tory said lightly.
“Hmm,” Joanne mused. “I think they’ve noticed you, though. At least one of them.”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out who Joanne was talking about.
“You mean Pierce,” Tory said.
“You had someone else in mind?” Joanne quirked a brow at her.
Despite herself, Tory felt a blush creep up her cheeks. What the hell was going on with her? She didn’t blush. Nor did she get flustered by being asked about some guy she barely knew.
Still, the memory of being pressed against him filled her mind, and she found herself gripping her paper cup so tightly, it nearly crumpled in the middle.
“I didn’t come here to date,” Tory finally said. “And Pierce isn’t my type.”
Life was not permanent. Things could flip on a dime, circumstances and feelings changed, and the odds were never in your favor. These were all truths Tory knew. The last thing she wanted was another disappointment in her life.
No, her heart was not something she was willing to play fast and loose with. The risk was not worth it. Tory was going to focus on her new job, maybe even work on making a couple of friends, and that was that.
I need someone to share a bottle of wine with me from time to time. At a point, drinking alone just gets sad.
“Types,” Joanne scoffed. “There’s no such thing. You might think you’re into blond, blue-eyed pretty boys, but then you
meet a hunk of a man with eyes as dark as the night, and suddenly, you’re done for,” she sighed, lost in thought for a moment.
“Is that what happened to you?” Tory asked, smiling to herself.
“You betcha,” Joanne replied. “When you know, you know.”
Tory tried to fight her curiosity, but now that Joanne had brought the subject up, she was itching to know more about Pierce. Just to confirm her suspicions about him, that was all. So she could put him out of her mind for good.
“Pierce doesn’t strike me as a one-woman man, though,” she carefully prodded.
“He hasn’t been serious about someone, that’s true,” Joanne admitted. “And lord knows he has no trouble with the ladies. He’s easy on the eyes and can talk his way out of a paper bag. But recently, he’s been… different,” Joanne said, hesitating for a moment. “Either way, you can’t make a decision about a man based on hearsay. You’ve got to listen to your gut.”
“I’m not good at that,” Tory replied.
As brash as she could be, she never made any decisions without carefully weighing the pros and cons. Feelings were fickle, facts were not. Maybe that was why none of her boyfriends lasted more than a few months? Love wasn’t logical, after all.
But Tory was. And her gut was just going to have to shut up and deal with it.
Six
Pierce
Standing in front of his crew, Pierce stood tall, intent on projecting the same confidence his father used to be known for. These were men whose livelihoods depended on him, who trusted Pierce to keep things going.
To fill his father’s shoes.
He could feel the weight of it on his shoulders, but he couldn’t let it show. Dalton Construction was his responsibility now, and he had no intention of buckling under the pressure.
Having just come from a meeting with the foremen, discussing upcoming projects, Pierce had felt the need to address his workers directly, to make sure everyone was on the same page.
So there he was, standing in front of the main office with a small crowd in front of him, clad in jeans and holding their hardhats. He knew most of them, especially the old-timers, but there were some guys that were new hires.
The ground was still damp from the morning rain, the air humid yet fresh. Pierce’s bear growled inside him, the primal urge to lead raising its head.
“We have never made empty promises, never broken our schedule, never left a customer unsatisfied,” Pierce said, letting his gaze wander over the faces looking at him. “And we’re not about to start now. I know you all had the utmost trust in my father. We all miss him. But the old man taught me everything he knew.
“He might have thought I wasn’t listening,” he grinned, earning a couple of smiles, “but I was. Nothing is going to change. And I encourage everyone to come and talk to me personally if there’s something you feel I should be aware of.”
There were some murmurs, grunts of agreement and approval, some nods. These guys weren’t a talkative bunch on the best of days, so Pierce considered it a win.
“All right, now get out of here. We have a big day tomorrow,” he said.
And it was true. They were set to break ground on a hotel complex, a project Pierce’s father had fought long and hard to get in on. Pierce only wished the man had lived long enough to see it all come to fruition.
Many of the men came over to shake his hand and share a few words before they left, and Pierce appreciated the gesture of support. After everyone cleared out, he continued to stand there for a good while, letting everything sink in.
The town of Black Oak had always seen him as someone who didn’t take life too seriously, that much he knew. There had been truth to that. But now, he was determined to prove himself. Not only so he wouldn’t let those who worked for him down, but also to honor his father.
There was a sense of pride in making sure Dalton Construction continued to thrive. He was willing to put in the time and effort, to do whatever it took. But now that his mate had come barreling into his life, his thoughts were racing, filled with Tory.
Even if he wanted to stay away from her, focus on his business, he knew he couldn’t. The moment he met her, his life had been irreversibly altered. There was no way to get Tory out of his head, so he gave up on that altogether.
He didn’t want to forget her, nor could he. So that left only one option – he had to see her again. And he knew exactly how to make that happen.
Pierce walked into Black Oak Dance Studio a little after four, excited, a grin plastered onto his face. Sally greeted him from behind the counter, her dark hair braided to fall down her back, and her almond eyes studying him curiously.
“Ah, so you’re the mystery appointment,” she said. “I thought your voice sounded familiar on the phone.”
“You got me,” he replied. “I wanted it to be a surprise. For the wedding,” he quickly added. “I plan to blow everyone away with my new skills. But in case I’m a lost cause…”
“Got it,” Sally nodded.
A familiar scent hit his nose even before Tory appeared in the reception area. Sweet and warm, it was like a siren’s call, making his bear stand up and pay attention. She was wearing heels, but still only barely reached his shoulder.
Clad in a pleated skirt, thick tights and a loose t-shirt, her emerald gaze landed on him in an instant. Her eyes narrowed, but her heart started beating faster, and her lips quirked up.
“You,” she stated plainly. “You’re my last lesson of the day?”
“I knew you’d be happy to see me,” Pierce grinned, earning an eye-roll.
“Follow me,” Tory sighed, and he followed her to a room marked Studio Two.
The space was smaller than the one the group class had taken place in, but otherwise looked the same. Tory left the door open, and rounded on him as soon as he was inside.
“What are you up to?” she asked.
“Is the third degree part of the lesson?” Pierce countered.
“Is that why you’re here? To actually learn to dance?” Tory asked.
“Are we going to communicate solely in questions going forward?” he arched a brow at her.
Huffing, she crossed her arms in front of her.
“No,” she said, making Pierce grin at the petulant look on her face.
“I’m not going to lie. I wanted to see you again, and since I didn’t get your number…” he admitted. “But that doesn’t negate the fact I’m still a terrible dancer. Still, if having me as your student makes you uncomfortable for any reason…” he trailed off.
He could see the hesitation on Tory’s face. Pierce didn’t have any doubts about her being his mate, so he also didn’t doubt the attraction went both ways. That didn’t mean he wanted to corner her or force her into anything, though.
“I’m not uncomfortable,” she insisted, sounding a bit defensive. “And I can’t in good conscience let you ruin Joanne’s wedding by stepping on everyone’s toes.”
“Very magnanimous of you,” Pierce grinned.
“All right, then,” Tory said, nodding. “Let’s get started.
Seven
Tory
It had taken most of the hour, but Pierce had finally gotten the hang of the basic steps of the classic waltz. His posture still needed work, and he kept looking at his feet, but it was progress, nonetheless.
He had even kept a careful distance between them, and kept their topics of discussion on either the upcoming nuptials or the town of Black Oak. A part of Tory appreciated that, yet a part of her wanted him to pull her into that tight embrace again, so she could feel that powerful body move against hers.
Grinding her teeth, she worked to put those kinds of thoughts out of her head, but that was hard to do when the man she was drooling over was at that very moment holding her hand.
“Okay, now remember to count the beats,” she instructed, letting Pierce lead her across the floor. “Rise to your toes, lower onto the heel at the end of the third beat.”
Mutte
ring something under his breath, Pierce did was he was told, squaring his shoulders as he went along.
“Good,” Tory encouraged him as he got the hang of it. “Very good.”
He smiled at her as they ran through the steps once more, but as the music came to an end, he spun her around, his hand sliding down as he dipped her back. The move was unexpected enough that Tory couldn’t adjust her stance quickly enough, and she could feel her knee lock up on the turn.
She winced, grimacing for just a moment before she could hide her pain under a neutral expression. But Pierce noticed it, the smile immediately leaving his face. Pulling her back up, he held her to his side, eyes darting down to her legs.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, no, it’s fine,” she replied, shaking her head.
“I guess I’d better leave the fancier moves to the professionals,” he said, chagrined.
With his arm weaved around her waist, his eyes locked onto her, Tory had to admit she had already forgotten about the pain. Being so close to Pierce was like a drug, but it was best not to get addicted.
Clearing her throat, she stepped away from him, feeling cold as soon as she did.
“It’s all right, really,” she said, smoothing a hand down her skirt.
He nodded, seeming to pick up on her not wanting to discuss it any more.
“So, what are you liking most about Black Oak so far?” he asked. “Feel free to say me.”
“Here we go,” Tory laughed.
“No, but really,” he smiled at her. “It’s not often I get to hear an outside perspective on this place.”
“Well…” Tory started, thinking it over. “I like how quiet it is at night. And the sky is always so clear. I had a thing for astronomy as a kid, so I like to look at the stars.”