Skater's Waltz

by Peggy Jaeger

  “Not yet.” His fingers lazily trailed down her back. “I have to get back for the six-thirty feed. There’ve been some major developments this afternoon, and I need to hang around for the evening.”

  “Oh. I was hoping we could go home and relax, spend some time together.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry, Tiff. I can’t help this.”

  “I know.” She pulled back and faced him with what she hoped was a brave smile. “You’re as bad as me when it comes to your job, you know. We’re more alike than either of us wants to admit.”

  “Come back with me,” he said after a moment.

  Her eyebrows shot up. “To the UN?”

  “Yeah. We can get a bite to eat, you can watch the broadcast, hang out with me while I wait for whatever news is coming. Come on, Tiff. I’ll feel better if you’re with me.” He drew her back to rest against his chest.

  “What kind of food?”

  The slow rumbling she heard break in his chest set her smiling up at him.

  He yanked her back. “It’s the United Nations. I imagine you can get whatever you want.”

  When he tugged on her ear with his lips, she said, “How can a girl say no. Give me ten minutes to change.”

  “I’m coming with you,” he said, voice firm and banking no resistance. “I’m not leaving you alone.”

  “Everyone’s gone, Cole. There’s nothing to wor—”

  “I’m not leaving you alone.”

  She could tell by the granite in his voice his mind was set. Tiffany was smart enough to know when to argue and when to give in.

  “Come on, then.”

  Her dressing room, as usual, was a mess.

  “How do you ever find anything in here?” Cole swiped a few pairs of skates off the love seat and sat.

  “I know where everything is, so don’t rearrange anything.” She disappeared behind the screen. “Oh, shut the recorder off, will you. It’s programmed for motion. I don’t think we need this on tape.”

  “Where is it? I don’t see it.”

  “Duh! That’s the point. It’s behind the chair, mounted on the shelf with the spare wigs.”

  Cole found it and switched it off.

  “We’ll have to turn it back on before we leave,” she told him, and tossed her leotard over the screen.

  She pulled her tights off and, naked, reached for her street clothes. “Why are you so quiet?”

  “Just enjoying the view,” he said. She could hear the grin in his voice.

  Her head whipped up and caught his gaze in the mirror. She hadn’t realized she could be seen from that angle. A slow smile spread across her face. “Well, let me get you a better one.” She came around the screen.

  Cole’s eyes darkened.

  “Is that better?”

  “No. Come here.”

  Obeying, she moved closer until she was within arm’s distance of him.

  “Closer,” he commanded, his arms crossed over his chest.

  When she took another step toward him, he yanked her down on his lap, and stifled her squeal with the heat of his mouth.

  All sense of time and reason flew. His fingers danced over her exposed nipples, teasing and torturing them with his gentle caresses. Tiffany arched in his lap. His feverish lips glided down her neck to capture one swollen bud. He tasted it, wet it with his tongue and all but drove Tiffany insane bringing her right to the brink of madness when he sucked it into his mouth. She grabbed handfuls of his thick hair, pulling his face back to hers, diving into the deep cavern of his mouth.

  “God, Cole, what you do to me,” she whispered, nipping at his jaw with her teeth. “I can’t breathe when I’m around you.”

  His hands roamed up her bare sides and cupped each breast.

  When his thumbs rubbed over the swollen crests, Tiffany threw her head back and moaned, deep from within.

  “I want you breathless, Tiffany,” he said, nestling the back of her neck, forcing her to look at him. “I want you writhing under me, unable to breathe, unable to think. I want you to know what you do to me, to my insides every time I’m near you, with you. I want all of you, Tiff, every bit there is.” His lips danced across hers, his eyes refusing to free her. “And then I want more. Much more.”

  Tiffany couldn’t speak. She knew she’d be unable to keep the words she so desperately wanted to tell him from slipping out. She had to be sure he loved her as much as she did him before she could confess it. She knew the unbearable pain that would slice through her if he couldn’t echo her feelings.

  Instead, she lowered her mouth to his in the sweetest of caresses.

  “Tiffany? Are you in there?”

  She would have fallen off Cole’s lap if his hands hadn’t restrained her when the knock and call came at her door.

  “Tiffany?”

  “Sean, I’m changing,” she called out, mortified at how breathlessly her voice resounded in the room.

  “Are you alone?”

  “No, Sean, I’m here,” Cole said, while Tiffany leaped up and back behind the screen.

  “You can come in,” she said, wrapping her arms into the sleeves of her shirt, as she tried to quell her shaking hands enough to do up the buttons.

  “I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said, as he entered the room.

  “We were going to tell you when we were leaving,” Cole said.

  “Aye, I know. But I wanted you to know I’m calling it a day m’self. Wanted to make sure your weren’t left alone in the building.”

  “Security’s on duty,” she said coming around the screen. She was upset her hands still shook visibly when she pulled the combs from her hair. As it came tumbling down she caught Cole’s eyes in the mirror and froze.

  Desire. Want. Lust. Yearning. Craving.

  She read every emotion in the glimmer of those gorgeous blue eyes. Every emotion but the one she wanted to see above all else. Struggling for a calm she didn’t possess, Tiffany began finger brushing her hair.

  “The recorder okay?” Sean asked, moving to it.

  “I made Cole turn it off. I didn’t think we needed film of me changing.”

  “Okay if I turn it back on now since you’re both leaving?”

  Rising, she nodded.

  “I’m ready,” she told Cole, finding her coat on the floor under a pair of skates.

  “Are you locking the dressing room?” Cole asked.

  “No. If whoever wants to get to Tiffany has access, it’ll be easier to catch him.”

  Cole nodded.

  “Remember, lass, bright and early tomorrow. I want a full day of dress rehearsal before we open.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  “Can we give you a lift?” Cole asked.

  “No. I think I’ll walk for a while. It’s not too cold, and I need to clear me head.”

  He bid them goodbye, pulling the collar of his bomber jacket up around his neck.

  In the cab, Tiffany leaned back against Cole’s chest and sighed. A heartbeat later giggles bubbled up from the back of her throat, and before she could stop them they turned into a full belly laugh. Cole joined right in.

  “Well, it looks like our little secret’s out.” He drew her close. “First Mike, now Sean.”

  “Don’t forget Mom. Mike told me this morning she was the one who clued him in about us.”

  Cole sighed theatrically. “She already told me she knew about us when you were in the emergency room. It just about covers everyone, Brat. All the people who matter know about you and me. It’s not a secret anymore.”

  “Are you upset?” She stared up at him, trying to keep her voice light.

  He gazed down at her, cupped her chin and planted a chaste kiss on her nose. “Not a bit. I don’t care who knows.”

  Tiffany snuggled closer, content. That statement was as equivalent to a decree of love as she knew he’d ever make.

  They spent the evening in the UN pressroom, surrounded by reporters from around the world. Tiffany’s head spun at all the diverse la
nguages being spoken, doing live feeds across every time zone.

  Cole, ever the media master, hobnobbed with the other journalists he knew and tried to wheedle information out of them. He charmed some of the women, traded light banter with the men.

  He did two live broadcast updates, and broke into a network sitcom once to tell the world the latest news. One or two journalists who recognized her tried to get her to do an impromptu interview. Cole had always known how much she hated being pestered, and was quick to rescue her and drive them away.

  When midnight rolled around, the council adjourned without a settlement. Cole did one more feed for the early morning news, and then huddled them both into a cab.

  She was dead on her feet when he carried her from the elevator all the way to his room. Gently, he helped pull the clothes from her body.

  When he slipped in beside her, naked, she devoured his warmth and snuggled into his arms.

  Sleep, when it overcame her, had never felt so sweet.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Perfect!” Sean clapped. “That’s it, gang. We’re done.”

  The entire company cheered.

  “Thank God,” Jane said to Tiffany. “My feet are about ready to fall off.”

  Tiffany smiled. It had been a good rehearsal; everything had gone smoothly and right on time. Sean had worked the group mercilessly, not even breaking for lunch, just to get every last detail correct. They’d sweated, he’d cursed and they’d all jumped, spun and danced until they had nothing left to give.

  And then Sean had pulled more from them.

  But it had been worth it. Tiffany studied the happy, excited, and tired faces around her. This show would be a major success. The music, the choreography, and the wide array of talent would see to it.

  “All right, listen up,” Sean shouted. “Tomorrow I want you all to sleep in, have great lunches, and be here by four-thirty at the latest for makeup and costume. Understood?”

  A rousing assent went up around him.

  “You’ve all worked hard and done a great job. Now it’s time to show it to the world. Are there any questions?”

  Numerous heads shook.

  “Fine then. Be off with the lot of you. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

  Skate guards in place, the majority of skaters walked back to their dressing rooms to change. Tiffany left her skates in place and glided out to meet Sean at center ice.

  “It went well,” she told him.

  One of his rare smiles, broad and charming, winked back at her. “Aye. Not without trying, though.”

  “It’ll be okay, Sean. You know it will.” She put a hand on his arm, and he reached down to cover it with one of his own.

  “Aye, and it’ll be m’last one, lass. I’m getting too old to be doing this anymore. I’ve been thinking lately about a nice little farm somewhere. Not too much, just some veggies, some flowers, maybe a cow or two.”

  “You sound like Addie.”

  “I guess I do,” he said with a chuckle. “Come on. I’ll walk you back.”

  “Have the new skates arrived yet?” she asked him when they were in her dressing room.

  “Came last night. I hid them in my office. No use putting them in here. Oh, by the way, I played back the tape from yesterday.”

  “Anything on it?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary, so don’t worry. I’m sure our friend will surface before tomorrow night. It’s one of the reasons I wanted everyone out of here during the day. If whoever’s done these things knows no one will be around, he just may strike again.”

  A shiver ran down Tiffany’s spine. For the past two days she’d been able to forget the idea she was being watched. Nothing untoward had happened, the rehearsals had gone perfectly, and she’d felt safe. Now, with Sean’s words back to worry her, that feeling of safety was fleeting.

  “Come on, lass. Change. I’ll get you a cab.”

  When Tiffany disappeared behind the screen, he said, “I didn’t see Cole today. Must be busy at the UN.”

  “He got a phone call early this morning. The General Council was back in session again. That might mean the talks are almost over.”

  “Well, whatever happens, I know you’ve been happy having him home. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have to go away again anytime soon.”

  Her heart told her much the same thing. She’d been dreading the peace talks’ outcome for purely selfish reasons. If a treaty were ratified, Cole would be compelled to go back to Africa to finish up the story.

  When he’d woken her with a blood-boiling kiss before sunrise, and told her he had to leave, she knew from the look in his eyes he would see this story through to the end. It was how he was made, part of the reason she loved him so much. Cole could always be depended upon to do the correct thing, the honorable thing, and going back to report on the peace was the right thing for him to do career-wise.

  Tiffany tried to ignore how he hadn’t mentioned the outcome of his most recent meeting with the network. Nothing would have pleased her more than to see him in the anchor chair. It meant he would have a home base. But he had to make the decision, and she couldn’t influence him. If she did she’d always worry he’d done it just for her and not because he really wanted to. She couldn’t live with the knowledge that he’d changed his life so drastically just to accommodate her, no matter how much she wanted him to. Cole had to decide based on what he felt, what he needed, what he wanted. Even though her heart broke at the realization, Tiffany knew it was the right thing to do.

  She only wished doing the right thing didn’t hurt so much.

  Sean walked her out to the curb, hailed her a cab, and saw her safely in it.

  “Where to?” the cabbie asked.

  Without even thinking, Tiffany said, “The United Nations.”

  ****

  “Ratification of this treaty means economic sanctions will be lifted and both sides will have the opportunity to get back on track,” Cole reported into the handheld microphone. “Secretary of State Macman has just announced immediately after the treaty is signed by all parties, the United States will authorize millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the region. This is Cole Greer from the United Nations.”

  The cameraman gave Cole a thumbs-up sign.

  Tiffany had found him just as he was going on-air, standing outside the main building with the Flags of Nations as his backdrop. He hadn’t seen her, but as soon as he dropped the microphone and swept the wind out of his hair, she came around into his view.

  “You must be happy,” she said, hugging him. “I heard about the ratification in the cab on the way over.”

  He stared down into her face. “This place was a zoo. One minute the vote was being taken, the next there was more discussion. Three times we were set to break in with the story when we had to cancel.”

  “This is big news.” She glanced at the dozens of reporters around her.

  “Yeah, it is.” His face was red from the wind and cold.

  “Are you done? Can you go home?” she asked.

  “Not just yet. I’ve got to stick around and see if I can get some interviews.” He rifled through the memo pad he habitually carried. “I was just about to go inside and see if I could find Secretary Macman. He’s usually willing to talk to anyone who asks.”

  Tiffany nodded. He was ten million miles away. And it hurt. He hadn’t asked about her day; hadn’t asked if she was okay, if rehearsal had gone well. It stung for a minute, but she bit back the ache. His mind was occupied elsewhere, on what he considered more important things.

  “Okay, listen,” she said. “I’m going to head home, get something to eat, call it an early night. I’ll leave something in the fridge for you for whenever you get in.”

  Swiftly, she stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his cheek.

  “What? Oh, okay. Thanks, Tiff. I’ll be late.”

  “I know.” She forced a smile. “Go get your interviews.”

  He smiled absently at her and smoothed
down the hair that had been whipping around her head. His gaze traveled along her face, as if memorizing every line and plane of it. “We need to talk. I need to fill you in on some things. We really haven’t had much time alone the past two days.”

  “We’ve both been busy.” She lifted her shoulders in a careless shrug.

  The tone of his voice already told her what he wanted to say. He was going back.

  “Yeah.” He pulled her close. “Tiffany.” When he said her name, the sound was so sad, so melancholy, Tiffany almost broke down.

  Pride and habit had her biting back the emotions. “We’ll talk. Go to work for now.”

  He kissed her quickly.

  During the long cab ride home and in the elevator, Tiffany choked back the tears.

  It was only when she turned the key in the lock and burst into the apartment that she let them fall of their own will.

  She didn’t even have the energy to make it to her room, just collapsed on the couch and cried.

  ****

  The smell of food woke her. She lifted her head and saw her mother puttering about in the kitchen.

  “Mom?”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t know you were sleeping when I came in.” Carly crossed from the kitchen and bent to kiss her daughter’s cheek. “Mike’s going to be at the studio late tonight because of the breaking news about the peace treaty, and I knew Cole would be gone too, so I thought we could have a girls’ night. I brought Hop Suey’s.”

  Tiffany pushed herself up, smelled the delicious aromas from her favorite restaurant, and burst into tears.

  Carly gathered her daughter up in her arms. “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, Mom.” Tiffany sobbed. “Why does loving someone have to hurt so much?”

  “So that’s the reason for the tears. Cole.” Carly rubbed her back. “Did something happen between you two? Did you have a fight?”

  “No. Nothing like that.” She swiped at the tears with the back of her hand. “It’s been wonderful. So, well, wonderful. Cole is everything I ever thought he’d be. We’re everything together I ever dreamed.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “The peace treaty.”

  Carly blinked hard a few times. “Excuse me?”