Jeremy smiled. “It’s like we’ve moved into a new phase of our relationship or something.”
Gunnar chuckled. “I’d say that too.”
“Hey, that’s great.” He grinned.
“I think so too, kid. I mean . . . it would be . . . if you would’ve called or texted to tell me that you were going to be late.”
“Yes, sir. I really am sorry.”
“Good.” He paused. “I’m new to parenting and all, but I believe this is where you tell me that you won’t do that anymore.”
“I won’t.” He was so relieved, he smiled. “I promise.”
“Good.” He slapped his hands on his thighs as he stood up. “Now that’s settled, I’m going to go see about our supper. My sister Darcy sent me a foolproof recipe for chicken and rice soup. I’m going to give it a try and surprise my mom. She’s been out running errands for hours.”
Jeremy stood up too. But the shock of what had just happened held him still. “Wait. That’s it?” Gunnar was just going to go make soup?
Gunnar turned back around. “I think so. Why? Do you want it to be something more?”
“No, I just thought you were going to ground me or something.”
“For forgetting to call because you were fixated on asking a girl to a Christmas dance? I think that would be pretty harsh. Don’t you?”
“Yeah. I guess. I mean, I think it would be really harsh.” Especially since he didn’t want to be grounded.
Gunnar chuckled. “I tell you what, boy. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come into my life. You make things good.”
The warm feeling of acceptance settled inside Jeremy, catching him off guard. “I’m glad,” he said just as he realized that Gunnar probably hadn’t expected an answer.
His feeling was confirmed when Gunnar chuckled again.
The sound was good.
It was almost as good as the sound of the text he received four hours later from Bethany, telling him that he could walk her home again on Friday.
CHAPTER 17
“Christ was born on Christmas Day,
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay.”
—thomas helmore
Gunnar had really hoped that his siblings would never find out about these dance lessons. Unfortunately, he was fairly sure that their mother had already told the world about them across various forms of social media.
If he wasn’t feeling so trapped by her will, he’d have been real impressed. His mother was a perfect combination of old-school comfort and cutting-edge technology. She could post pictures on Instagram and tweet about them to her thousands of followers quicker than he could pull out his phone from a back pocket.
As he pulled up to the front of Dance With Me, his mother gasped.
“My goodness, isn’t this pretty!”
He completely agreed. As good as the place had looked the night he’d picked up Kimber for their drink, it looked even more spectacular now. The entire front of the building was festooned with white lights and two beautifully decorated Christmas trees shone brightly through the front windows.
In addition, there were two large wooden soldiers near the front holding a sign emblazoned with The Nutcracker, December 23!
“They’re going to be performing The Nutcracker in a couple of weeks?”
“Looks like it, Mama,” he said as she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the sign.
“I just love that ballet.” She frowned slightly. “It’s such a shame that I won’t be here to see it.”
“It is a real shame,” he said, though he was secretly cheering. If she had been staying that long, he knew he’d be taking her to the ballet, and he drew the line at sitting through three-hour ballets starring dozens of children.
“You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
He winced, hoping it looked legitimate. “I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to go.”
“Really? But I thought that girl that Jeremy liked so much was in it.”
“You mean Bethany, the girl he’s taking to the dance?”
“Well, yes. He doesn’t have any other girls around, does he?”
“No, ma’am. At least, I don’t believe he does.” When she raised one eyebrow, he inwardly groaned. Honestly, his mother was like some kind of super sleuth. She’d been in their house all of three days and she already knew more about Jeremy’s crush than he did. “How do you know about Bethany being in this ballet?”
She released a long-suffering sigh. The same type of one she’d released since he’d been born. “I talk to the boy, Son. It sounds like you need to do some talking with him as well.”
“I do talk to Jeremy.”
“Good. Then sooner or later he’s going to tell you all about her performing in this ballet, and I’m sure you’ll offer to go see her shine.”
Boy, she was laying it on thick. “It’s time we went inside.”
“Of course.” She put her hand on the door handle. “Now, are you ready to cha-cha?”
“Absolutely. Stay there and I’ll come around for you. I don’t want you to slip on the ice.” Luckily, she didn’t argue once and stayed put until he was at her door.
When she reached up to take his hand, she beamed. “Gunnar, dear, I do appreciate you doing this with me. I promise, I do.”
“I’m glad to be able to help, Mama.” He escorted her up the steps and opened the door for her.
And then was surrounded by Christmas music, the scent of cinnamon, teenage girls in black leotards, pink tights, and some kind of flowy skirts . . . and Kimber.
She had a clipboard and looked to be getting information from the girls. It also looked like she had some kind of ribbon around her neck.
“What are you doing here?”
She raised one perfect eyebrow. “I told you I lived here. Did you forget?”
“Not at all. I didn’t think you danced though.”
“I don’t. I’m helping Shannon corral her Nutcracker dancers.” She smiled at the girls who were now staring at him. “Ladies, please meet Gunnar. Gunnar, please meet Macey, Autumn, Bethany, and Grace, four of our Sugar Plum fairies.”
All four girls raised their hands and waved. One of them smiled shyly.
“Hi. It’s nice to meet y’all.” Realizing that he’d forgotten that his mother was standing there, he added, “This is my mother, Willa Law. Willa, please meet Kimber and the um, Sugar Plum girls.”
All the girls giggled.
Kimber rolled her eyes. “They’re Sugar Plum fairies, Gunnar Law. There’s a difference.”
“Don’t mind Gunnar, honey. He’s not the best at remembering girly things. He never was.” She held out a hand. “I’ve heard so much about you, Kimber. I’m delighted to know you.”
After darting an amused glance his way, Kimber shook his mother’s hand. “I’m delighted as well, Mrs. Law.”
“Please call me Willa.”
“Willa.” After she smiled at him mom again, Kimber looked his way. “Any special reason you two have stopped by?”
“Yes. We’ve got a ballroom dance class with Shannon.”
Kimber eyes widened before she pulled in her surprise. “She didn’t tell me about that. Huh.”
“It’s supposed to start right now. Where are those classes held?”
One of the girls pointed to the open door. “In there. That’s the studio.”
“Great. Thanks.”
Then, before he could shuttle his mother to the studio, she turned to one of the girls. The one with the shy smile. “Are you by chance Bethany who knows Jeremy?”
While the rest of the girls giggled, she blushed bright red. “Um, yes?”
“It’s nice to meet you. Jeremy told me you’re a dancer. Good luck with your performance, dear.”
“Thank you?”
Gunnar thought about introducing himself to Bethany as well, but he decided to wait. The girl seemed shy, and his mother was enough for anyone to take at one time. “Mama, let’s get started.”
“Oh! Yes!”
Kimber was still standing there, looking amused. “Are you two learning any dance in particular?”
“He’s helping me with the cha-cha,” his mother supplied.
When Kimber’s eyes lit up, Gunnar knew that he didn’t just have to worry about his siblings. No, he was going to get teased about this by Kimber Klein.
And he hadn’t even attempted a single step.
* * *
Kimber wasn’t really proud of her motives, but there was no way she was going to not watch Gunnar dance the cha-cha with his mom. Deciding that she’d promised to help Shannon write a letter to parents about their schedule, she entered the room, ignored Gunnar’s stunned expression, and sat down in the back of the room.
Shannon, in full teaching mode, looked as beautiful as ever. She was wearing another one of her flattering wrap-style dresses, this one in steel gray. Her hair was in a ponytail and she had on her three-inch black heels that she claimed were more comfortable than a new pair of Nikes.
Mrs. Law was wearing a pretty navy pantsuit that looked both matronly and adorable at the same time.
And Gunnar? He was in a pair of jeans, boots, a T-shirt, and a black sweater. He already looked like he was dying of heat.
He also wasn’t moving all that well. He looked kind of like the tin man out of the Wizard of Oz—like moving too fast could cause him some serious pain.
Shannon, who had the patience of a saint, was coaxing him to relax.
“If you just try to feel the music, it gets easier. I promise. Forward, side, cha-cha-cha.”
“I’m trying,” he said.
“Gunnar, you haven’t looked into my eyes yet. Lift your head.”
“I can’t. I’m afraid of stepping on your feet.”
“I’ll worry about my feet. Look into my eyes.”
“Mama, I’m real sorry, but your eyes are right around the middle of my chest. I can’t count, watch my feet, and listen to Shannon all while bending down to see you. Trust me on this.”
“I’m looking up.”
Shannon sighed. “Let’s try this again. This time with music.” She walked to her iPad, threw Kimber a pained expression, and then tapped a few more things.
Seconds later, Marc Anthony’s “I Need to Know” came on.
“Oh! I love this song,” Mrs. Law gushed.
Gunnar looked like he was biting the inside of his lip bloody.
“Come on now, feel the music,” Shannon coaxed. “And here we go. One, two, cha-cha-cha. One, two cha-cha-cha.”
Kimber stopped even pretending that she was filing papers and watched. And when Marc Anthony called out “Tell me, baby girl, ’cause I need to know,” and Gunnar looked like he was about to throw up, she started laughing.
Which, unfortunately, caused the three other people in the room to skid to a stop.
“What, exactly, is so funny, Kimber?” Shannon asked, her tone testy.
“Nothing. I mean, nothing other than the fact that Gunnar looks kind of green, dancing to that song with his mom.”
“And what is wrong with it?”
Oh, boy. Shannon was in full schoolteacher mode. “Nothing. It’s just that it’s , um . . . romantic and sexy.”
“It’s just a song, Kimber.”
“You’re right. I’m so sorry.” Just as she was about to go back to filing, Gunnar spoke up.
“Have you danced the cha-cha before, Kimber?”
“No. I tried tap, though.”
Shannon, obviously still in a snit, popped a hand on her hip. “Kimber isn’t much of a tap dancer.”
Kimber would’ve been offended if Shannon hadn’t spoken the truth.
“Why don’t you give the cha-cha a try?” Willa asked.
This was getting uncomfortable, and it was no less than she deserved. “I really am sorry. I think I’ll just go ahead and get on out of here.”
“No, dear. I’d love to see you dance with Gunnar.” Willa fanned her face. “I kind of need a break anyway.”
“What do you say?” Gunnar asked. “Are you ready to show me how it’s done?”
She had no choice. Gunnar was giving her no choice, and even if she decided not take him up on that offer, if she refused, Shannon would never let it go. “Fine. But, I don’t have any shoes.”
“Yes, you do. You left those under my desk the other day.”
Her beautiful Jimmy Choos. “Fine.” Stepping over in her skinny jeans, she toed off her flats and slipped on her Choos.
Gunnar looked at them like they were a pair of stilts. “Can you even walk in those things?”
“Honey, one day I’m going to make you watch an old tape of me on a runway show. You wouldn’t believe the things that I’ve had to do in high heels.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” he murmured as she stood in front of him.
“You two stop talking and listen,” Shannon admonished. “Now, let’s review.” Quickly she reminded Gunnar of where to put his hands and went over the steps once again.
Kimber stopped joking and concentrated. Gunnar looked marginally more relaxed.
“It’s easier because you’re a lot taller than my mom, but I wish I hadn’t worn these boots. I really don’t want to hurt you.”
“With me you don’t have to worry. I’ve got tough feet. Honestly, you should be more worried about me landing on your foot with one of my spiky heels.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but those do look pretty lethal.”
After going over the steps two more times, Shannon smiled. “Let’s try it to music. And in honor of Kimber, I’ll put on something else.” With a few more clicks, Credence Clearwater Revival’s “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” filled the room.
“Here we go,” Shannon said. “One, two, cha—”
Kimber was pretty sure Shannon was still counting and ordering them around, but all she was aware of was the way Gunnar was holding her and the beat of the song.
“You two . . . you two look really good!” Shannon called out.
And yes, she sounded surprised.
“You feel good,” Gunnar murmured. “I love that you’re so tall.”
It was true. She was five feet, ten inches barefoot. Now, in her heels, she was at least an inch over six feet. Almost Gunnar’s height.
“You feel good too,” she teased.
“Turn now!” Shannon called out.
He twirled her, then she stepped back into his arms. And they picked up where they’d left off. For the first time in her life, she was forgetting about all the stuff that took up her time and energy and everything that hurt her.
She was forgetting about her stalker, about Brett, her career, her weight, her sisters, her future . . .
All she was aware of was moving with Gunnar. Of the way his eyes were gleaming with approval. Of the scent of his sandalwood cologne, of the way she felt pretty. Pretty in a girl-meets-a-cute-boy-who-likes-her way.
Pretty like she didn’t think she’d ever felt in her life.
And then it stopped.
Gunnar dropped his hands. She gaped at him. Both were breathing hard.
And both Shannon and Mrs. Law were looking at the two of them with something that could only be described as triumph in their eyes.
CHAPTER 18
“Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),
One last candle burning low,
All the sleeping dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Someone came, and kissed me there.”
—w
alter de la mare, “mistletoe”
“I think y’all have got those steps down now,” Shannon announced, effectively breaking the tension between him and Kimber. “So you can stop . . . if, you know, you two would like to take a break.”
Still holding Kimber close, he stared down into her eyes. She blinked, looking just as confused as he felt by the directions.
But then his mother giggled and reality hit him in the face.
Embarrassed, he dropped his hands and took a full step back. What had he just done? He was here to learn the cha-cha with his mother, not get lost in some make-believe world with Kimber!
Making himself ignore the fact that Kimber was still frozen in front of him, he cleared his throat. “Mom, are you ready to practice?”
“Well, actually . . . I’ve decided to come back tomorrow night to Shannon’s senior class.”
He turned to face her. “What? Why?”
“Well, I was talking with Gwen here while Shannon was working with you and Kimber and she was telling me how much fun the senior class was.” Her voice was as chipper as usual, but there also seemed to be something else underlying there. Like she had a really good secret that she wasn’t interested in sharing with him. “Plus, those folks know a lot of the dances, so I can work on improving, not just learning basic steps like you are.”
“Oh. I guess that does make sense.”
“I think it does. The senior class is going to be a better fit for me, I think . . . for several reasons.” She smiled over at Shannon. “I’m delighted to have gotten to watch you teach though. You did a good job.”
Gunnar looked back at Kimber. She’d moved a little bit away, but she didn’t look like her usual assertive self. Actually, she seemed to be feeling just as confused as he was. “I guess you learned to cha-cha for no reason,” he said to her. “I’m sorry to waste your time.”
“You didn’t waste it.” Gesturing toward her sister, she said, “Shannon’s been after me to learn something new.” She smiled tightly. “Tonight I did.”
“Ballroom dancing just might be your thing,” Shannon said, her voice all business. “You did a lot better cha-chaing than you did at ballet or tap.”
Save the Last Dance Page 12