You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This by Karenna Colcroft Read Free Book Online Page B

“It’s a charity event, not a big competition like the one you were talking about.”
    Gerry sighed. “Yes, Molly, and I can see you were right. Erin, my wonderful wife here heard about Stefan’s competition and thought we should try it. I’ve been trying to explain to her that we’ve only been taking lessons here for a few months, and I’m not even sure I know the beginning stuff, never mind anything advanced enough to compete.”
    “You’ve been here twice a week every week,” Erin teased. “You’ve learned something, I’m sure. Stefan said that the competition isn’t anything big. It’s more of a fun thing. If you’re thinking about going into competing in general, checking out this one might give you a feel for what competitions are like without having a lot of pressure. You should talk to Stefan.”
    “Talk to me about what?” Stefan walked over. “I heard my name.”
    “Gerry and Molly want more information about your competition,” Erin explained. “Excuse me, folks, I need to go talk to someone else.” She walked away as Stefan began explaining the event.
    Several times during class, Erin caught Stefan watching her instead of the students. Now that she’d put aside her memories, she clearly felt the attraction to him that she’d experienced since becoming his assistant, and knowing he was attracted to her as well made it even more pleasant. She shook her head at him with a small, chiding smile to remind him to focus on the other dancers. Each time, he gave her a sheepish look and turned his attention back to the students. Each time, within minutes his eyes were on her again.
    Class ended. The couple who’d asked about competing took Stefan aside to ask his opinion, and one of the other women said, “Competition is tough, isn’t it, Erin? Is that why you stopped?”
    “I didn’t stop because it was hard.” She took a deep breath. “I lost my partner just about a year ago. Without him, I just didn’t have the heart to compete. I needed time to grieve, I guess.”
    “I’m sorry,” the woman said quietly.
    Erin inclined her head. “Thank you.”
    “So you might go back to competing someday?” a younger woman asked. She looked about the age Erin had been when she’d started attending these classes herself. “I saw you compete a couple years ago. One of my friends dragged me along. I thought I’d be bored stupid, but West Coast really caught my attention and that’s why I started taking classes.”
    Erin pasted a smile on her face. “I’m glad you enjoy it.”
    “I’m sorry about your partner. He was an amazing dancer.”
    “Yeah.” Erin looked longingly across the room at the door. “Excuse me, please. It’s a little hot in here and I want some air.”
    Puzzled, the young woman stepped aside. “Sure.”
    She moved aside, and Erin hurried outdoors just as the tears started to fall. Hugging herself, she walked around to the back of the building and stared blindly at the pond. She and Scott had hung out here sometimes after classes, especially when she’d first begun.
    The spot calmed her, and she began to think about the conversation she’d just had. The women’s questions had reminded her of Scott, of how wonderful a dancer he’d been. Right from the very first competition, she’d done well because she’d only had to follow his lead. Scott had danced well enough to make anyone look good.
    She’d followed his lead in their competitions like she’d done in everything about dance from the day he’d found her in the gym. He’d persuaded her to take classes, had talked her into competing when she didn’t know if she was good enough. All the competitions they’d done, he’d signed them up for, sometimes without even asking her. He’d pushed her to be a great dancer, and she’d let him instead of taking control of her own dancing.
    That brought more tears to her eyes. She’d depended on Scott far too much. Even after his accident, her decisions had been based on