Dance Like Nobody's Watching (Summer Lake 3)

by McCoy, SJ

  Dan smiled. “You brought food?”

  “Sure did, little bro. Western omelets, home fries, and pancakes will all be ready by the time you're showered. After we've eaten, I want you to come back up to the house with me. I'm working on the plans for the Four Mile development, and I want to run a few things by you, if I can.”

  “Sure.” Dan smiled to himself as he went to get a shower. He loved getting to spend time with Jack and felt proud that these days he had valuable contributions to make to his brother's property developments.

  The smell of food drew him back to the kitchen before he bothered to get dressed. He secured his towel around his waist and sat at the table. Jack put a plate in front of him. “There you go, more fuel for all that muscle you're building. I gotta say you're looking pretty ripped.”

  Dan grinned. “Yeah, that gym thing is great, thanks. I never saw the appeal in it. Never figured out why you spent all that time pumping iron, but it's addictive, isn’t it?”

  Jack laughed. “It sure is. I'm glad you got into it. I've been trying to figure out what I can set up at Em's. I might get the same one I sent you, since you're getting such great results.”

  Dan held up his arm and flexed his biceps. “I'm liking it,” he said with a grin. “I want to get Scot interested too. It's a great way to make sure you do something other than sitting on your ass staring at a screen all day.”

  “You're getting really close to him, aren't you?”

  Dan put his fork down. “I am. I love the kid. But, Jack, what do you think she meant about hurting him? I don't understand.”

  Jack brought his own plate and two fresh coffees to the table before he sat down. “The way I see it, Missy is grateful for everything you're doing for Scot. She's probably afraid of messing that up. I'm guessing she thinks that if you two start dating and then break up, it would affect your relationship with him.”

  “How?” Dan didn't see it.

  “Well, with most guys, when they stop seeing a woman, they don't have anything more to do with her. They certainly don't keep hanging out with her kid.”

  “But that's separate.” Dan frowned. “What I do with Scot is for Scot, and for me. Not for Missy.”

  “I know that, and I think Miss does too, but maybe she sees it as too much of a risk.”

  Dan ate his omelet in silence. Once it was gone, he looked up. “So, what am I supposed to do?”

  “About Scot? I don't know. But there's not much point dwelling on it until you tell Olivia that you're over. Whatever might or might not happen with Missy, you need to finish it with Olivia, get her out of your life.”

  Dan nodded. “I'll call her. Tell her I want to see her tomorrow night when I get back.”

  “Good. Why don’t you go do that and get dressed while I clean this up? Then we can get up to North Cove.”

  “Okay.”

  Dan locked up the RV and followed Jack out to his truck. He fastened his seat belt and looked back at Missy's house, wondering what she'd be doing today. The front door opened and Michael stepped out. Dan froze in his seat, Missy was laughing in the doorway. Michael turned and hugged her and she reached up and kissed his cheek. Jack pulled away. Missy looked over at the truck. For a moment her gaze met Dan's, she looked even paler than usual, then Jack turned the corner and she was gone.

  Dan stared straight ahead. His head was full of white noise. Michael had spent the night with her? He didn't know what to do with that thought. Couldn't process it.

  “What's up?” asked Jack.

  “Did you see that?”

  “See what?”

  Dan could feel the tension around his temples. “Nothing.”

  Chapter Three

  Missy leaned against the door frame. “Blimey, are you okay, critter?” Michael looked concerned. “You just went white.”

  She took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “I'm fine.”

  “You don't look it. Let's get you back inside.” He took her arm and led her back into the kitchen. She collapsed into a chair. “Did you see them?”

  “Who?”

  “That truck that just pulled out was Dan and Jack.”

  “Oh, shit! And they saw me leaving your house first thing in the morning?”

  “Dan sure did.”

  “Oh, shit! That's not going to do you any favors, is it?”

  Missy blew out an exasperated sigh. “It doesn't make any difference. So, I have a little crush on him. So what? It's not like anything's going to happen.”

  “Michael looked at her. “Then how come you're still white and shaking, critter?”

  “Because I wish it could. But now, on top of the fact that he has a girlfriend and the fact that I would never risk jeopardizing his friendship with Scotty, now he thinks I'm screwing my old buddy, too!”

  Michael waggled his eyebrows. “If he thinks it anyway, want to prove him right?”

  She looked up at him. “You are the world's biggest flirt, you know.”

  He grinned. “I know. It usually works pretty well for me too. You always were a tough nut to crack.”

  “Michael, honey. You are adorable. I'm sure I'm the only woman around here who doesn't adore you, at least not like that.”

  “So you do adore me in some way then?”

  “Of course I do, and you know it. You're still one of my dearest friends, and I'm so glad you're back. I hope you're back for good, but you and me? We're never going to get together, it would never work.”

  Michael laughed. “Who said anything about getting together? I was just talking about screwing your old buddy.”

  Missy laughed with him. “You are such a whore!”

  “Am not. Just wanted to make you laugh. See you've got some color back in your cheeks.”

  “Thanks, but I need to get going. I've squeezed a couple of extra jobs in today while Scot's gone.”

  “Shouldn't you be getting some rest? Ben said you've been working your ass off all season.”

  “I have, but I have to.” She checked her watch. “And I really need to move. How about I call you when I know what time Scotty will be back and we'll see about getting him and Ethan together?”

  “Sounds good.”

  She closed the door behind them and locked it. She looked around, wondering who else might see them and make assumptions about Michael leaving her house on a Saturday morning.

  “Don't worry about it, critter,” said Michael. “There's no-one around. It might do your man some good to think I did more than spend the night here. The way he left last night, I'd say he's got it bad. This might make him wake up and give the girlfriend the flick.” He walked her to the minivan. “Call me later then?”

  “Will do, and good luck today. I hope you get some good news.”

  “Thanks, me too.”

  Missy got in the van and started it up. She watched Michael walk back towards town and shook her head. So much for her night home alone!

  She'd managed to keep a lid on her attraction to Dan for the last few months. At first she'd been so excited at such a sweet and handsome guy becoming a part of her life. Then as she'd watched how close he and Scot were becoming, she'd become apprehensive about getting involved with him herself. She was scared that an ending between the two of them would mean an ending between Scot and Dan too. When they'd been paired together in Emma and Jack's wedding, they got along so well she'd started to think that he was a risk worth taking. Then he'd dropped the bombshell about his girlfriend, Olivia. She had no idea what kind of relationship they had, he'd been up here every weekend for months. She did know though that Olivia was involved in his business, his software development company in San Jose.

  Once the van had stopped making its morning noises, she pulled out and set off for the East Shore. She had two huge rental houses to clean out there today. It would be good money. Hopefully she'd get back in time to put her feet up for a while before Scot returned. This time, if she got chance, she really would just stay home and hide. Last night's events had proven that wa
s her wisest move. Thinking of Dan, bare-chested in her kitchen, remembering the feel of his arms around her, made her want what she couldn't have. And then Michael showing up like that. He had a whole mess on his plate. She was glad to have been there for him to talk to, but damn! The timing couldn't have been worse—last night, or this morning.

  ***

  Dan's phone buzzed in his pocket. He smiled when he pulled it out and checked the display. “Hey, champ! How’s it going?”

  “Awesome! We got through the second round and we're in the semis tonight.”

  “Tonight? I thought you were coming back tonight.”

  “We were, but they had to delay some of the rounds, so now it's semis tonight and finals tomorrow. Hold on....”

  Dan smiled to himself as he heard Scot talking to someone, sounded like he was telling them how to reprogram a circuit. It was good to hear him sound so animated and confident when he spoke. “Dan, you still there?”

  “Sure am.”

  “I gotta go. Will you tell mom for me?”

  “I think you should call her, bud.” Dan thought it best for Scot to call Missy himself, for many reasons.”

  “I will. But later. I forgot last night. If you call her first, she might not chew my ass...me out so bad.”

  Dan chuckled. For a kid who was supposed to struggle socially, he had a pretty good handle on how people worked—and how to manage them to his own advantage.

  “Say you will? I really gotta go.”

  “Okay, but only if you promise you'll call her later. She misses you.”

  “I know. I will. Thanks, Dan. Bye.”

  Dan's smile faded as he hung up. With Scot gone another night, would Missy spend it with Michael again? When he'd finally admitted what was bothering him this morning, Jack had tried to convince him that Michael was just her friend. But why had he needed to stay at her house?

  Jack came out onto the front deck where he was sitting. “That was Em on the phone. They got done with their meetings early, I'm sending Smoke to fly her up, so she'll be back later.”

  “That's good.” He liked Emma. “It'll be good to see her.”

  “Yeah, you sound thrilled. What's wrong?”

  “Scot just called. They made semis and he's staying another night.”

  “That's great, isn't it?”

  “It is, but he asked me to let his mom know.”

  Jack smiled. “I told you about the time Em spent the night at Ben's?”

  Dan nodded.

  “I know how easy it is to think the worst, but that doesn't make it true.”

  Dan hoped so.

  “Why don't you call her now? Get it over with and ask her to come out tonight. Em wants to go listen to the band when she gets back.”

  Dan dialed Missy's number from memory. He had it stored in his phone, but he liked to tap out the numbers each time, so he wouldn't forget it.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi. It's me.”

  “Hi.”

  His mind froze as the silence lengthened.

  “Can you hear me, Dan?”

  “Yes. Sorry.”

  “Do you want me?”

  He bit his lip so he wouldn't tell her just how much he wanted her. “Yes. Sorry. Scot called.”

  “Great! How's he doing?”

  The eagerness in her voice made him smile, despite his nervousness. At least they shared one simple and straightforward thing, they both loved the kid. “He's great, they made semis and he's supervising repairs on the ’bot.”

  “I'm so proud of him.”

  “Me too. Thing is though, semis aren't ’til tonight now, so they're staying. If they make finals I doubt they'll be back ’til tomorrow night.”

  “Oh, it's running over then?”

  “Yeah. He asked me to let you know. He said he'll call you later.”

  She laughed. “Just like last night?”

  “Hopefully tonight will work out better than last night.”

  She didn't say anything.

  “Emma's getting back tonight and we're all going to the Boathouse. Please will you come, Miss?”

  “Dan, honey. I'm exhausted. I need a rest.”

  “Please come?”

  “Just for an hour. And, Dan?”

  “Yes?”

  “That wasn't what it looked like this morning.”

  “Good. I'm glad.”

  “Okay. Well. I'll see you tonight then. And thanks for letting me know about Scotty.”

  “You're welcome. I'll see you later.”

  ***

  Missy put her phone back in her pocket. What had happened to her resolve to stay home and get some rest? Dan's voice. That's what had happened. Please come? How could she say no? She folded her cloths and started lugging the vacuum towards the door. One house down, one to go. Maybe she'd have time for a quick nap when she got home.

  ***

  “Can you drop me off at the RV?”

  They were on their way to collect Emma from the airport. Jack grinned, “You mean, at Missy's?”

  Dan nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. “I do.”

  “Sure thing. We'll see you guys in the bar.”

  “Thanks.”

  A few minutes later, Jack pulled up in front of the little cottage in town. “Later, bro.”

  “Yeah, later.”

  Dan walked up the path and knocked on the front door. Perhaps he should have called first? Missy opened the door and smiled.

  “Well, hello! I thought I was meeting you all there.”

  “Yes. Sorry. I wanted to come see you first.”

  “Don't be sorry. I'm not. Come on in.”

  She stepped back to let him pass. He'd wanted to talk to her about Scot, and Michael, and Olivia, all the complicated stuff, but his mind was freezing up again. She was so pretty. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, with wispy bits hanging around her neck. She wore a white tank top which, from his height, gave him a great view of her impressive cleavage. The top was tucked into a pair of yoga pants that showed off a lusciously round backside and very shapely legs. Little feet with shiny pink toenails peeked out the bottom.

  He brought his hand to his face. His fingers met stubble. Damn! He'd forgotten again. “Sorry, I should have shaved.”

  She smiled up at him. “I like it.”

  “You do?” Olivia always harassed him when she saw him with anything more than five o'clock shadow. It didn't look professional, apparently. He realized he was blocking Missy's way in the hall, but he didn't move. “Miss, I need to talk to you.”

  “How about we take this in the kitchen and get a glass of wine? I promise to try not to throw it on you this time.”

  He smiled and went through to the kitchen. “I threw it over myself.”

  “Yes, but it was my fault.”

  “No, Miss, it was my fault, but I would like to finish what we started.”

  She spun around to face him, corkscrew in her hand.

  “I mean finish the conversation, not the part where I....” He gave her a shy smile. “Though I would like to finish that too, someday soon.”

  To his relief, she smiled back at him. “I was about to lay into you and you want to finish the conversation?”

  He shrugged and took the corkscrew from her hand. He opened the bottle and poured two glasses of wine while he spoke. “I'm happy to skip that part and fast forward to the part where I explain myself?”

  “Okay. Let's try that. I think I'm too tired to lay into you right now, anyway.”

  She did look tired. As she had for weeks.

  “You said you'd like it if I misbehaved.”

  She sat down heavily in one of the chairs. “I also said that we both know you won't.”

  “Right, because of Olivia and Scot. You need to know that I rarely see Olivia outside of work these days. You already know I never see her on the weekends. I've asked her to meet me tomorrow night when I go back so we can talk, and end it. We should have done it months ago.”

  “I don't w
ant you to finish it with her because of me, Dan.”

  “I'm not.” Now she looked confused. “Well, I am and I'm not. I'm doing it now because of you. But even if you say no, I needed to end it anyway.”

  “Say no to what?”

  “To going out on a date with me, and if you like it, to keep doing it?”

  She rested her chin on her hand and looked at him across the table. “But I have to think of Scot.” She was wrinkling her nose at him. He thought that was a good sign. Maybe? Good or bad, it was so damned cute!

  “I have to think of Scot too, you know. I didn’t understand what you meant last night. I didn't understand, because it never occurred to me that anything that happened between you and me could affect him and me. I wouldn't let it. Miss, you have to know how important he's become to me? Even if you ended up hating me, and throwing things at me, and never wanting to see me again, I need you to understand that I'd sneak around behind your back to keep my friendship with him going.”

  She looked shocked. Oops! “You'd sneak around behind my back?”

  He smiled. “I said that to make a point. Even if you hated me, I don't think I'd have to sneak around. We both know I'm good for him.”

  Her face relaxed. “You are. You'd have to make me a solemn promise, though, that no matter what happened, you wouldn't let anything change what you and Scot have.”

  “And you'd have to make me the same promise. That you wouldn't keep him away from me, or me from him.”

  She looked even more shocked. “I would never do that! Whatever is best for him is all that matters to me.”

  “Can you understand that's how I feel too? That's why I couldn't understand what you meant last night.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. I'm sure we'd work it out. Divorced people manage it all the time, even when they hate each other.”

  She laughed. “I suppose so.”

  “The way I see it, we need to make each other that promise. We both need to talk to Scot, and I need to talk to Olivia.” He felt better now. It was starting to look logical. There were steps to be followed. A sequence of events. It made sense. He looked across the table at her. Her eyes were light gray, happy. She was smiling. She moistened her plump lips with her tongue and everything started to spin again. He needed to hold her face between his hands, kiss those lips.