Kiss Me, Dancer by Alicia Street, Roy Street Read Free Book Online Page B

was Drew going to give this ass the satisfaction of calling the shots over him. “We’re done with this station.”
    “Fall over and you decide to bail?” Trevor shook his head. “That’s not setting a good example for your son.”
    Drew walked closer until they were nose to nose. Remaining calm and quiet, he said, “I didn’t come here to argue. And you leave my son out of this.”
    He turned, put his hand on Josh’s shoulder and headed for the next station.
    When the class ended, Drew left Josh shooting hoops with a friend and ambled toward Casey who stood center floor saying goodbye to her regulars. Once her fan base thinned out, he noticed the upbeat smile she gave students throughout the class had changed to a worried look.
    Drew meandered up to her. “Why the long face?”
    “Sorry. I didn’t realize it was that obvious,” Casey said.
    “You had a big turn out. Should be feeling good.”
    She waved the notion away with her hand. “It has nothing to do with our program. I’m having a battle with my landlord, and it just keeps getting worse.”
    “I own quite a bit of property. Maybe I could give you some advice. Why not tell me about it over a drink tonight? I’m dropping Josh at his mom’s. I could pick you up—”
    “Thanks, but tonight’s not good.”
    “Okay. How about tomorrow?”
    She tapped her finger against her lip, thinking. “Is that Wednesday? I’m helping to set up this party for Trevor. It’s his birthday. But what about—”
    “Did I hear someone say birthday?” Trevor said. Funny how Drew’s presence seemed to make Trevor materialize next to Casey. “Wouldn’t be talking about my little ol’ birthday, would you?”
    Casey nodded. “Trevor’s turning a big thirty-four.”
    “Going on eighteen, babe. Going on eighteen.”
    “In more ways than one,” Drew muttered to himself.
    Trevor wrapped a possessive arm around Casey and said to Drew, “We’ll be partying over at The Captain’s Quest in Riverhead. Know where that is?”
    Drew crossed his arms over his chest. “Course I do.”
    “Great,” Trevor said. “Come on by.”
    “Thanks, but—”
    “No hard feelings about my busting your balls over the lunges,” Trevor said with a big smile. “That’s just how me and Casey do things. Right, babe?”
    She gave a muted laugh. Drew got Trevor’s hint loud and clear. But that only brought out Drew’s uber-competitve nature. And he didn’t intend to lose. Especially since Casey’s expression was far from that of a woman enthralled.
    So when Trevor said, “Come join us tomorrow night. Around eight. Bring your girlfriend.”
    Drew replied, “Maybe I will.”

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Wednesday morning Casey received an early call from her landlord. “Got another buyer interested. He’ll be over to see the property today around three. Will you be there or not?”
    Mr. Vonrelis’s words landed on Casey like a ten ton boulder. “Umm.”
    “Otherwise I’ll give him the keys.”
    “No, I’ll be here. Has he made an offer?”
    “Hasn’t seen the place yet. At least not from the inside. If he goes higher than my last offer it’s a done deal.”
    A wave of anxiety chilled her. “But you agreed to hold off. To give me a chance.”
    “I didn’t agree to anything except choosing your offer if it’s good enough. But you haven’t made an offer. The man’s name is Rozella.”
    Casey had no appetite for breakfast after that lovely news. She left her corn muffin on the table and poured coffee into a mug with a collage of dancers on it, a gift from one of her students. Shuffling into her sparsely furnished living room, she sank onto a worn loveseat upholstered in a print of pink roses and green vines. A straw colored wicker rug, an old trunk for a coffee table, a wooden rocker perpetually occupied by her aging calico Miss Daisy. Not much, but it was home to her. But for how long?
    Another phone call came in. She glanced at her cell, thankful it was her brother.