Let's Dance (The Winters Family Series: Book Four 4)

by Terra Kelly

  Let’s Dance

  The Winters Family Series: Book Four

  Terra Kelly

  Contents

  Winters Family Crest

  Join “The Menu!”

  Synopsis

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Recipes made by the characters.

  “Shawna’s Kitchen Sink Muffins” Strawberry Banana Quinoa Bran Muffins

  Danny’s Chicken Tortilla Soup

  “Thank you” No-Bake Booze Berry Cheesecake

  Drunken Pineapple Cocktail

  Join “The Menu!”

  Would You Like To Leave A Review?

  About the Author

  Also by Terra Kelly

  Acknowledgement

  Curious about my newsletter, “The Menu,” where you can see what’s cooking in the writing cave.

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  The Menu is a bi-monthly newsletter with updates, exclusive contests, giveaways, and sneak peeks into my future works.

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  Want more information? Check out the back of Let’s Dance for all the details–I’ll see you on the other side!

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  Happy reading! oxox

  Synopsis

  When Shawna Daniels plowed into Danny Winters, she had no clue how much things would change. Dancing had been her life until she gave it all up years ago. Running away from the past was her MO. Juilliard turned her away, her parents pushed her away, now can Danny spin her back towards happiness?

  Danny changed his last name to Winters and fought hard to let go of the memories of his past. Working as a firefighter with his best friend was all he ever wanted. For the last two years he has tried to find a way to just hold Shawna, and never expected his past to collide with his future for this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

  When life gives them a chance to move forward, can Danny and Shawna do just that? Can each step they take together push away the past?

  Let’s Dance includes laugh out loud scenes, drool-worthy heroes and equally drool-worthy recipes!

  Dedication

  In memory of Sue (Miss Sue) Bair my dance teacher.

  Chapter 1

  “I’m sorry, hon. I can’t make the dance class with you today. Rain check?” Isabel sighed and pleaded, “You’ll still go, right?”

  Shawna pushed her phone up higher on her shoulder and tried to sound confident. “Yeah, of course. Don’t worry about it, babe.” She felt bummed her friend couldn’t go and unsure if she even planned to go herself now.

  Since she started working at Burlesque Me Tonight the dancing bug had been planted directly in the center of her heart again. The club gave her the ability to dance and sing, which she loved. A few weeks back, Shawna noticed a flyer at the coffee house about ballroom dancing classes. It had to be a sign. She’d ripped off the number and called Dance with Me Studio without hesitation. There would be just one hiccup in the plan. Who would be her partner?

  Shawna practically had to beg Isabel to be her partner. At Curvalicious Boutique the other night, Kenzie and Isabel started teasing her that she should ask Danny to team up with her. Danny worked with Isabel’s husband Drew at the local firehouse. Shawna wanted to scream, “Why Danny?” Since meeting the guy, everyone around her felt the need to give their two-cents on why she should be dating him. No one seemed interested in her feelings on the subject. Not that she had any feelings. Nope…not one.

  Danny Winters was a nice guy, handsome, and sweet Jesus, persistent. He seemed to enjoy going to Burlesque Me Tonight by himself to watch her perform. That part screamed creeper in her mind.

  Shawna had spent the better part of five years avoiding men, especially the ones at the dance clubs she worked at for several years. So how did Danny manage to find a way around the wall she had so perfectly put up? When Shawna would notice him out in the audience during her performances, a little piece of the wall started to crumble. Then while at home, she magically reset the barrier, too afraid to let it go just yet.

  “Hey, you could ask Danny. He used to dance you know?” Isabel sounded hopeful.

  Confused, Shawna stopped pacing the cheap carpet of her living room. “Danny used to dance?” She shook her head, knowing that was not important. “Never mind that, no, I will not ask him to be my partner,” she said, aggravated.

  Isabel chuckled softly. “Okay, okay, forget I even asked.”

  Shawna sighed, “Yeah, I plan on it. Hey, someone is calling on the other line. Catch you later, okay?” She had been lying like a dog; it was just her way out of continuing the Danny convo any longer. Every time his name came up, she felt like screaming. Didn’t they know there were other men out there for her? Danny was not that amazing…right?

  Setting her phone down on the little table in her tiny kitchen, Shawna sighed and then headed to the bedroom closet. She needed a dress for her dance class and not just any dress.

  The trek from the kitchen to her bedroom was about ten whole steps—no joke. Her home was similar to those tiny houses you would see on HGTV. The square footage was around six hundred, but if you included the patio then it would be one hundred teeny tiny more feet.

  When Shawna moved to Wilmington almost five years ago, her goal had been to find something cheap and by the ocean. She succeeded on both fronts. The down fall: It was also too freaking small. Sacrifices.

  She’d put special organizers in her closet so it would not take forever to find one simple item. Of course, that plan was good if you didn’t buy something new every damn week.

  All of a sudden, she noticed a flash of yellow and let out a squeal. Shawna reached in and grabbed the silky fabric from the black pit. Standing back and holding the dress out at arms’ length, she smiled.

  Shawna thought back to that frivolous purchase. Hell, everyone needed a yellow ballroom dress, right? She could remember what it felt like to slide the fabric down her curvy body. It hugged in all the right places and made her feel like a princess. Well, a princess without a crown—who needed to mess with those jewels anyway.

  Sliding her oversized t-shirt off and throwing it to the floor, she stood in front of her floor-length mirror in nothing but a lacy bra and panties. She slid the yellow fabric inch by inch down her body. Shawna made sure the dress fit perfectly and then lifted her head to see if it still made her feel like a princess. Yup, it did.

  Chapter 2

  “Just go,” Isabel demanded. “She doesn’t know what she’s missing out on.” Isabel slapped her hand against Danny’s chest. “Plus, I feel horrible that I can’t be there for her first class.”

  Danny rolled his eyes. “So I have to potentially piss her off by showing up to the class unannounced, because you feel bad?” His shift at the station ended about ten minutes ago, but he stuck around to shoot the shit with his buddy, Drew. Of course, he was starting to regret that decision.

  He had worked at the local firehouse for several
years now. Drew and Danny had taken the test together the moment they’d finished high school. Being a firefighter was in Danny’s blood. Dancing? Not so much. Well, it had been, but that was a long time ago.

  Those were distant memories he had tried to let go of long ago. Now, here Isabel stood, innocently begging him to pull memories from the locked vault and just dance with Shawna. Could he do it, though?

  Drew put his hand on Danny’s shoulder. “Hey, you don’t have to go. It’s okay.” His best friend—the guy whose family had taken him in—was the only one who truly understood the magnitude of the decision Isabel had placed on him.

  Danny shook his head. “No, maybe it’s time.” He grabbed Isabel’s hand to pull her into his body and kissed her forehead. In a low whisper he said, “You owe me.” He could see she seemed confused. Softly laughing, he released her and headed toward the door. “Ask me another time. I’ll fill you in on all the details.” Turning back, he quickly asked, “Do I need to dress up, or can I wear what I have on?” He was in old worn jeans and a light blue, long-sleeved henley. Comfort was his middle name.

  Isabel sighed and put her hand up in protest. “You need nicer pants, mister. You should try dressing up once in a while, it would do you good.”

  Danny just smiled and headed out to his car. Dressing up? Hey, the shirt was the nicest one he owned. Looking down, he shook his head and decided he’d better run home to change.

  Isabel mentioned the class started at 6:00 p.m. Since he believed being on time was important, he had arrived about twenty minutes ahead of schedule. Probably way too early. There were a couple of uncomfortable looking folding chairs in the corner of the room, not too far from the front door. As he waited for Shawna to arrive, his mind wandered back to when he was six years old. His eyes moved to the hardwood floors covering the dance studio, they immediately reminded him of that day so long ago.

  Danny’s mother had been a dancer, and a damn good one, too. She’d always encouraged him to stand on her feet and enjoy the way each step would feel as they moved together. Danny could clearly see her face, her smile, and the way her hair would move from side to side on her shoulders.

  The sound of a bell ringing brought Danny back to the present. He shook his head to try to clear away the distant memories. Glancing toward the door, it felt like time had suddenly stopped. Shawna glided into the studio in an amazing yellow dress that hugged her in all the right places. The woman took his breath away…and now he felt unable to think clearly.

  Danny had been sitting out of view from the door; he didn’t want her to see him and immediately run. He waited until she stood next to the dance instructors and then he stood and headed in her direction. What had Isabel gotten him into? Shawna would most definitely be furious the moment she laid eyes on him. Letting out a deep sigh, he figured it was as good a time as any to say hi.

  The dance instructors were Latin and had very deep accents. The woman, Anya, stood closest to Shawna. She suddenly had a wide grin on her face and held her arm out to Danny. “There he is. Your dance partner.” Danny took the last few steps to stand directly next to Anya. He could see the sparkle in her eyes; she was so excited. “Shawna darling, this is Danny.”

  If Danny could’ve snapped a picture of Shawna’s face at that moment, Isabel would potentially feel bad for this decision. He noticed her squeeze her eyes shut and take in a few breaths before speaking. “Isabel, right?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I hope it’s okay?” At this point, he just wanted five minutes with her wrapped in his arms.

  She rolled her eyes and let out a heavy sigh, “Yeah, I guess. We’re here, so we might as well make the most of it.”

  Anya stayed silent during the exchange but finally squealed in delight, “Oh, wonderful. You both will be so gorgeous together on the dance floor.”

  Danny had no doubt they would look perfect together. Unfortunately, he still felt concerned with his decision, or more like, Isabel's persistence toward him coming to the studio. He needed to say something to clear the air. He glanced around the studio and raised his eyebrows. “You have to admit, it looks like the perfect space to blow off some steam?”

  He watched as Shawna’s expression changed from frustrated to possibly curious. She let out a soft laugh. “Fine. Okay. I didn't put this dress on for nothing. What are we waiting for?”

  Gabriel, the other instructor and probably Anya’s husband with how he held onto her, finally spoke. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let's dance!”

  Chapter 3

  When Shawna had the chance to go see Izzy, she planned to give her a piece of her mind. What had her friend been thinking? Didn't she make it clear on the phone that the Danny card was off the table?

  On the other hand, damn, he smelled amazing. There were hints of smoke, something she always noticed with Drew. Plus, she noticed a cedar and lemon scent that seemed to be quickly changing her mind. Shit.

  Shawna shrugged her shoulders and spoke. “You heard the man, let's dance.” She started a silent mantra that played over and over: Keep the wall up, Shawna. Don't let him in. It was a challenging mantra, especially with how good he smelled.

  Danny stepped into her personal space, and she sucked in a breath. He reached his hands out, gesturing for her to take them. “When's the last time you enjoyed some ballroom dancing?”

  She thought about the answer as she grabbed hold of his outstretched hands. “Um…it's been awhile.”

  He let out a small laugh. “Yeah, you and me both.”

  Shawna remembered Isabel telling her how Danny had danced before. With his pensive demeanor, she grew curious of his past as she moved her hips back and forth to the music, trying to keep up with Anya and Gabriel—it wasn’t easy. In a low whisper for only Danny’s ears, she said, “You sure you’re okay with being here today? You seem a bit uncomfortable.”

  Danny looked at his feet, probably making sure he would not step on her feet. Then his eyes settled on hers. They seemed distant. “Of course, it’s just been awhile since I let myself take some steps.” In a pleading tone, he added, “Please don’t be upset at Isabel, her heart’s in the right place.” Danny chuckled softly. “And I’m sure she had an ulterior motive.”

  Shawna, for the first time in God knew how long, actually felt comfortable in a man’s embrace. She let herself not feel for so long. It was just easier that way. Her parents and friends at the dance studio had been a big part of her life; then she made the choice to spread her wings and see the world. She even had dreams of dancing at Juilliard in New York City. When she left at the age of nineteen, everything in her life seemed perfect. Shawna had danced all her life, she actually competed in several competitions. Yet, her parents never took the dancing seriously. They looked at it as a hobby. Her father and grandfather had been lawyers, so her parents just assumed she would follow in their footsteps. Of course, Shawna couldn’t think of anything more boring than being a lawyer. Dancing…that made her happy. Well, it did for a while anyway. Then it happened.

  While in Danny’s arms, she let her mind wander back. Then, she must’ve stopped moving, because Danny cleared his throat, grabbing her attention. “Shawna, you okay?” She didn’t realize she’d actually stopped dancing for real.

  She shook her head to let go of it all and smiled. “What? Of course. Yeah.” She held out her arms for him to take again. Excitedly, she said, “Let’s do this.”

  Something seemed to be happening when in his arms. What could it be about him that caused her to want to finally feel again?

  Just then, Anya bellowed out over the music, “Come on you two, you can move faster than that.”

  Shawna glanced up at Danny, and shrugged her shoulders. “You heard the woman.” She groaned, “I have a feeling I’ll be sore tomorrow.”

  Danny stayed in the lead, offering a bemused smile. “You can join us tomorrow at the firehouse for a morning workout to keep the muscles happy.”

  Shawna had a twinkle of mischief in her eye when she spoke. “Wouldn�
��t you just love that?”

  What was happening? They were having fun, friendly banter. Shawna never allowed friendly banter with men. Especially men that looked and smelled like Danny. What was that mantra again? Oh yeah, keep the wall up, Shawna…somehow the rest slipped her mind.

  Gabriel suddenly stood directly behind her and grabbed onto her spaghetti arms. “Darling, you need to hold onto him like you mean it. This,” he moved her limp arms up and down, “won’t cut it if you plan to be in the competition.”

  Shawna stopped moving, and glanced at Gabriel. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  Gabriel shrugged his shoulder. “Competition. That’s why you’re both are here, right?”

  She stepped back away from Danny and Gabriel, trying to get some space between them. “No. This,” she circled her hand around the studio, “was just to help me brush up on some of my dancing for Burlesque Me Tonight. A competition? And with Danny…no.”

  Danny started to back away from Shawna. “Yeah, I was just asked to fill in for my friend Izzy.” He looked toward Shawna and shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry, maybe this was a bad decision.” Then he turned and headed toward the door, never looking back.