by Kait Nolan
“He does remember you work at a doctor’s office, right?”
“That’s what I said. Let it not be said that the new father is in any way, shape, or form rational.” But there was amusement in her tone.
“You’re happy,” Tucker observed.
Piper folded her hands over her belly and gave a blissful sigh. “I am. This is not where I expected to be six months ago, but it’s so much better.”
“Even with the preggo nausea?”
“Even with.”
That eased Tucker’s mind considerably. She and Myles had had a rocky start. Tucker had been Myles’ best man in their spontaneous wedding—he hadn’t wanted to kick Myles’ ass—but Piper was his oldest friend. Womb to tomb. His allegiance would always go to her. Thankfully, she and Myles had found their groove before that had become necessary, and both were ecstatic to be starting a family—even if that had been a fairly epic surprise.
Seeing her now, married and happy, with a baby on the way, gave him an unexpected pang of envy. Tyler and Brody would likely be right behind. Norah and Cam, too, if they could ever clear their work schedules enough to set a date for the wedding. That left him.
He’d been the first of their group to walk down the aisle with his college sweetheart. Everybody had expected him and Laura to be somewhere around 1.5 kids, a picket fence, and a dog by now. Instead, he was still living the single guy’s life and feeling every hollow moment of it.
“So, have you started talking names yet?” Tucker pulled into the driveway of the Craftsman-style bungalow Tyler had rehabbed from the inside out.
“We’re waiting until we find out the sex of the baby next month. No sense in double the arguing since half the choices wouldn’t matter.” Piper slid out of the car before he could come around and get her door, then glared at him when he took her elbow at the steps.
“I promised Myles.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t fight him.
“May I submit Tucker as a good, fine Southern name?” he continued.
The door swung open. “Oooo, are we talking baby names?” Tyler asked.
“Tucker is.” Piper hugged her, then stepped inside, dropping into a crouch to love on Ollie, Tyler’s black lab, who stood wagging just inside the threshold. “Who’s a sweet boy? He’s looking great, Tyler.”
A year before, Ollie had suffered a spinal stroke, leaving him paralyzed on one side. Rather than having him put down, Tyler had waited it out, seeing how much he’d heal and spending a small fortune on physical therapy in the process.
She beamed. “Yeah, he’s turned into a poster child for the PT department at the MSU vet school. He’s not where he used to be, but he’s walking again, which is huge. I even caught him trotting after a squirrel the other day when he thought I wasn’t looking.”
Tucker ruffled Ollie’s ears. “Good for you, buddy.”
“To return to the baby name discussion, I’m just gonna throw it out there that Tyler would make an excellent, gender neutral choice,” Tyler said.
“It is not a discussion. And you’re going to have to campaign better than that. I mean, preggo girl foot rubs at least,” Piper said.
Tyler laughed. “So noted. Come on. Brody’s out back manning the grill.”
After the traditional back-thumping man hug, Tucker snagged a beer for himself and a gingerale for Piper, then settled in for the visit he’d been craving.
“So, are we gonna talk about the elephant on the patio?” Brody asked.
Tucker stilled, bottle halfway to his lips. Had they already heard the news? “And what elephant would that be?”
“We’re all competing against each other,” Tyler pointed out.
“Who’s started choreographing already?” Piper asked.
“Can’t choreograph until we draw our dance,” Tucker said.
“When’s that happening?” she wanted to know.
“Orientation meeting is tomorrow night,” Brody told her. “And I fully expect to get my ass kicked.”
Piper plucked a tortilla chip from the bowl on the table. “Who’s your partner?”
“Adele Daly.”
“But she’s graceful.”
“Behind the bar, sure. But dancing around and performing tricks with bottles of vodka and whatever is a far cry from this. I’ve danced with her before. She keeps trying to lead.”
“You’re just mad we don’t get to dance together,” Tyler teased.
He snagged her around the waist and planted a firm kiss on her lips. “Damn straight. Anyway, I figure it’s gonna come down to you and Cam.”
Tucker took another pull on his beer. “My partner and I should give them a run for their money.”
Brody quirked a brow. “No offense, bro, but Mama Pearl isn’t exactly light on her feet.”
“No, she’s not. Which is how she ended up falling today and spraining her ankle.”
“Oh no! Is she okay?” Piper asked.
“She’s fine. Or will be.” Tucker still wasn’t a hundred percent sure whether she’d actually sprained anything or not. “But she’s not dancing, so she assigned a sub.”
“Who?” Brody asked.
“Corinne Dawson.”
There was a beat of silence. Then another. And another.
Tucker waited for one of them to call him on the deception. After all, he’d faked breaking his own leg in the name of raising Brody from understudy to main man. But nobody went there. Because the idea that he’d do such a thing in the name of partnering with Corinne never even entered their minds.
“You’re dancing with Tyler’s arch enemy?” Piper demanded.
Here we go. This was exactly why he hadn’t wanted to tell them.
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” Tyler said. “I don’t have arch enemies.”
“Seriously?” Brody asked her. “You’re really okay with being around her after all those years she chased me?”
“It hardly matters since I’m the one who caught you, now does it?” Tyler waggled the ring finger on her left hand, showing off the diamond winking in the late afternoon sun. “Besides, I think she’s had a rough go of things.”
“Karma’s a bitch,” Piper sang.
“That’s not fair,” Tucker chided.
“So what? She was awful in high school. Classic mean girl.”
That was all you ever saw. All you wanted to see. But he’d seen more. He’d seen that beneath the sharp tongue and bad behavior was a wounded animal, lashing out at everyone around her. Tucker wanted to argue, but that would open up a can of worms he wasn’t ready to deal with. There was a reason he’d never made his interest in Corinne known to his friends. Or to anyone, for that matter.
“Well, it’s not who she is now,” he said. “She grew up. And life has kicked her ass but good. I’d appreciate it if you’d play nice, if only for my sake. If she’s stressed out from being around all of you, she won’t loosen up enough to dance well. And regardless of past issues, this competition is for a good cause, and we all ought to want to put on a good show. The better the individual performances, the more viewers, the more votes, the more donations.”
“Tucker’s right,” Tyler said. “Norah asked all of us to do this because we’re the best dancers in town. We owe her, and the cause, our best efforts, no matter who our partners are.”
Shooting Tyler a smile, Tucker raised his drink in a toast. Solidarity. If Tyler could get past her issues with Corinne, maybe the rest of them would come around eventually. And maybe by the time they did, he’d have a reason for them to.
~*~
Corinne turned down Tucker’s offer to pick her up for the orientation meeting. After her mother’s reaction to hearing he was her partner, she figured it was best to keep them far apart, lest he get the wrong idea. Or run screaming. But as she stepped into the community center and saw all the people from high school milling about in the lobby, she began to question her decision. At least with him by her side, her presence would’ve been given some kind of legitimacy. On he
r own like this, she felt like all eyes were on her, and none of them were friendly.
Near the doors to the gym, she spotted Tyler and Brody. Piper Stewart was with them. Of course the three of them would be here. Tyler and Brody would be dancing, and where they went, Piper was guaranteed to follow. Shame from old humiliation heated her cheeks. She’d wanted so badly to be a part of their group back then. They were tight-knit. Real. She’d wanted everything Tyler had, including Brody. She’d made an utter fool of herself. So. Many. Times. It had all turned out for them in the end. Tyler and Brody were back together, as they should be. And from the looks of things, they were happy. Corinne was glad for them, and if a trace of envy nipped at her heels, she figured that made her human. That kind of happiness didn’t exist for people like her. Seeing it in others only highlighted how far off track her life had gone.
With no sign of Tucker, and not yet ready to face the rest of them, Corinne quietly slipped through the crowd and headed for the bathroom. She just...needed a minute to gather herself. In the past year and a half, she’d taken a lot of those minutes. She hadn’t expected any kind of fanfare on her return, but neither had she counted on how much hostility and backbiting gossip she’d face. How could she make up for past mistakes if no one would let her? The simple fact was, she couldn’t. So she’d learned to keep her head down, take the blows, and not fight back. It was how she’d survived her marriage, after all.
The bathroom door swung open as Corinne reached it. She stepped back. “Oh, excuse me.”
The blonde who stepped out was perfectly made up, from the tips of her French manicured nails down to the toes of her designer pumps. Surprise flickered in her dark eyes before a satisfied sneer settled on her pretty face. “Why Corinne Dawson.”
Corinne promptly wanted to sink through the floor. Why her? Why now? Of all the people she’d crossed paths with since she came home, she’d managed to avoid this one and regularly thanked God for it. But it seemed her stay of execution was up. It was time to face her worst mistake from Wishful.
“Hello Whitney.”
Whitney Edmonds looked her up and down, her smile broadening as she took in Corinne’s ripped and faded jeans and the Walmart tennis shoes. “I’d heard you were back in town.”
“For a while now.” Everything in her urged her to run, but Corinne didn’t move. “I heard you got married.”
“I did. To Garrett Harrington.” Her hand flexed on the strap of her Gucci bag, flashing the huge rock on her left hand.
“Congratulations. Seems like life has been good to you. I’m glad of it.” And that was the absolute truth. There was nothing Corinne regretted more than what she’d done to her former best friend when they’d started high school. After the hell Whitney had endured during those years, she deserved something good.
Whitney looked her over again, faux sincerity pasted firmly in place. “Not so good to you, has it?”
I owe her the cheap shot, Corinne reminded herself. She said nothing.
Whitney’s smile turned sharper, her words sugar-coated poison. “How does that feel? That no matter what you did in high school, no matter how hard you tried, it’s me who has the life you wanted?”
Like justice. But Corinne didn’t say that either.
“What’s the matter? Cat got that sharp tongue of yours?”
“Look, I’m not here to cause any kind of trouble. We’re both here in the name of raising money for a good cause, and I think the meeting is about to start.”
Whitney sniffed. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“There you are.”
They both turned at the sound of Tucker’s voice. He strode down the short hall, an easy smile on his face. But something in his body language telegraphed anger. Corinne tensed as he approached.
“Hey Whitney. I’ve gotta steal my partner away. We’re about to get started.” He laid a hand at the small of her back, a gentle touch, at odds with the fury she sensed pumping off him.
Not directed at me. Her limbs went rubbery as relief flooded her system.
“Your partner?” Whitney asked, surprise cracking the mask.
“Corinne’s dancing on behalf of the diner. C’mon. I want to get good seats.” When he nudged, Corinne moved automatically.
Tucker didn’t drop his arm, instead keeping contact with her back to steer her through the thinning crowd. “You okay?” he murmured.
She jolted. He was still pissed...but on her behalf. How long had he been standing there? And why did he even care?
“Fine,” she muttered.
They took seats on the second row of bleachers as Norah called everybody to attention.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming out tonight and for volunteering to make Dancing With Wishful a success. I’d like to introduce you to our dancers. We have Tyler Edison and Cam Crawford as Team Wishful Nursery and Garden Center. Brody Jensen and Adele Daly as Team Mudcat Tavern. Tucker McGee and Corinne Dawson as Team Dinner Belles. Tara Honeycutt and Daniel Palmer as Team Daily Grind, and Charlotte Ballard and Chad Phillips as Team Wilton Memorial Hospital.”
Corinne turned her head to peer into the stands. Chad Phillips was the hottie ER doc everyone at the hospital had been buzzing over this year. She wondered if he had an in with the hospital board.
“Now, as we have five couples, we’ll have four nights of competition, eliminating one couple each week, until we are left with the grand champions. Winners will be determined by a combination of a judges’ panel and popular vote, both by the live audience and online through the competition website. The Babylon is hosting the event and costumes are being provided by Brides and Belles—thanks Babette.”
Norah continued to lay out the specifics, but Corinne was only half paying attention. She was too aware of Tucker sitting close enough beside her that she could feel the heat of his thigh alongside hers. There was more than enough room in the stands, so his actions made it seem like he was staking a claim of some kind. Did he even realize what he was doing? He didn’t need his reputation tarnished by people believing he was involved with her.
But she didn’t edge away. Her nerves were too raw from her encounter with Whitney, and having him sit there, all big and strong and between her and everyone else made her feel...safe for the first time in a long time. Even if it was purely an illusion, she wanted to revel in it. For just a few minutes.
“Okay, now that everybody knows how this is going to work, let’s have our dancers come draw their dance out of a hat. Each couple will be performing something different, to the music of their choice.”
Norah called them up, one at a time. When Tucker rose to go take his turn, Corinne felt exposed without his body as a shield. He plunged his hand into the top hat and came up with a slip of paper. A broad smile lit up his face as he read what was on it.
“Jive!” He did some kind of step ball change with a hip wiggle that had the crowd hooting. He looked up at her, his expression clearly inviting her to join in his fun.
God, had she ever noticed what an amazing smile he had?
Her own lips curved a little in response because she found she didn’t want to disappoint him.
Tucker came back to his seat, rubbing his hands together in nothing less than pure glee. “Now comes the fun part.”
“What’s that?”
“Practice.”
Oh boy.
Chapter 6
“You are completely insane if you think I can do that.” Corinne pointed from herself to the screen of his laptop, where they’d just watched a YouTube video of a jive performance from Dancing With The Stars.
“I promise, I’m not certifiable,” Tucker told her, shoving back his coffee table to make a bit more floor space in the living room of his apartment. It’d be too small for most of their rehearsals, but for tonight, it would do.
“I’m sorry, Tucker. We’re going to get cut right off because there’s no way I can do that.”
He wondered if he could get a glass of wine into her, loose
n her up some. “You were a cheerleader in high school. Y’all did all kinds of complicated choreography for those routines.”
“That’s different. And a long time ago to boot.”
“When was the last time you danced?”
“Like that? Never. At all?” She shoved a hand through her glossy dark hair. “I don’t know. Maybe freshman year at college?” Her shoulders slumped. “Mama Pearl made a mistake. I’m not cut out for this. I’m going to disappoint everyone.”
“Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it, sugar.” Tucker wanted to thoroughly beat whoever had put those thoughts into her head. He suspected it’d be a long list of people. Instead, he opened his music and queued up a half dozen songs. As the opening brass sounded for the first number, he held out his hand for hers. “You aren’t going to disappoint anybody. You’ve got me as a partner, and I’m damned good.”
With a look of skepticism, she took it. “Were you this cocky in high school?”
“It’s not cocky if you’re stating the facts.” With a quick tug, he had her stumbling against him.
Her breath wooshed out and her breasts pressed against his chest. Half the blood in his head rushed south, and he had to resist the urge to skim his hands up her spine. Instead, he slid one arm around her back, adjusting her posture. “You just need to loosen up a bit, have fun with it.”
“Fun,” she repeated.
The blank expression on her face absolutely broke his heart. But if he’d learned anything from watching her these past months, it was that Corinne Dawson didn’t want pity in any form.
“For the next little while, you need to forget about work, forget about school, forget about your test, forget about being a mom, forget about life. You need to get used to moving with me.”
Oh hell, did that actually sound as suggestive as it did in my head?
A flash of something—Awareness? Wariness?—in her eyes told him it probably did.
Slow your roll, McGee. Right now, this is just business.
As Sinatra crooned that he wouldn’t dance, Tucker stepped into her, enjoying the press of her body against his before she stepped haltingly back. Even stiff as a board, she felt amazing. She tried to look down at her feet.