Rescue Me(16)

She was shocked to find herself stepping closer, a smile playing on her lips. "Then I guess I owe you an apology."

The muscle in Cole's jaw twitched several times and he raked his eyes hungrily over her body. With visible effort, he pulled his gaze back to hers and shook his head regretfully. "Like you said, let's forget it. We have a lesson to finish." He brushed past her, leaving her feeling even more confused and lost than before.





CHAPTER FIVE



Meredith stretched out on her beach chair, screwing up her face as her muscles screamed in complaint. Between learning the ropes of sailing and taking Pilates and Ballet Barre classes at the resort's fitness studio, she didn't think she'd been in so much pain since her days as a dancer when hours upon hours of rehearsals had pushed her body to its limits. She was sore and out of practice, but, oh, how wonderful it had felt to dance again.

She hadn't seen Cole in two days. Not since discovering the truth of their night together. Well, she hadn't had another lesson, she corrected herself. She'd watched him plenty from her spot on the beach, while pretending to read or relax or whatever. Like right now.

He was out in the water, just in her line of sight, teaching another guest how to get out of a kayak if they ran into trouble. Meredith sank lower in her seat, adjusting her sunglasses, and watched him over the top of the book she hadn't read a word of. He was excellent at what he did. And criminally sexy.

After his revelation in the boat cabin he had barely looked her way, and now she couldn't keep her eyes off him. Couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like if he would show her just what she was missing. He said she'd never forget, and the wild part of herself that she'd suppressed for so long ached for him to sear it into her memory.

"Hey, girl," a cheerful voice broke into her thoughts. Katrina, the dance instructor at the resort, threw herself down onto the chair next to Meredith.

Meredith welcomed the distraction but crossed her arms across her chest just in case her aroused state from thoughts of Cole was evident. "You are killing me. I don't think I've worked my body this hard in years."

Katrina laughed. "Well, you wouldn't know it. You dance like you've never stopped." They had become quick friends over the last couple days, bonding over their mutual love of dance.

"Thanks, but I know what I'm capable of, and I am so out of practice it's not even funny."

"That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about," she began hesitantly.

"How out of practice I am?" Meredith couldn't help but laugh.

"Of course not. What you're capable of. Brandon just told me that the instructor he had booked to teach the ballroom classes next week won't be coming and he wants me to do it."

"That's great! I think you'll do a good job."

Katrina pursed her lips and cut her eyes away. "No, I don't think so. I don't know how to put something like that together. That's why he was bringing someone in." She paused, then turned back to Meredith with a pleading look. "Please say you'll do it."

"Me?" Meredith shot straight up in her chair, then clapped a hand over her mouth. She had practically screamed, and heads turned in her direction, including Cole's. She shrunk back down and tried to keep her attention on Katrina, but saw Cole from the corner of her vision. He was still watching her. That was more than he'd given her since their last lesson. "Why me? I'm not a teacher. Not by a long shot."

"Nonsense. You'll do great. You have enough experience to be able to teach a beginner class."

Maybe, but that didn't mean she wanted to. Or even if she did, that she felt capable. "I don't think it's a good idea. It's been years since I've done any ballroom dancing. I'll just make a fool of myself and create negative reviews for the resort. Which Brandon absolutely does not need."

"You're exactly right," Katrina said, latching on to her admission. "If I teach the class, it will be nothing but trouble for Brandon. The best way to ensure happy guests is if they're taught by someone that knows what she's talking about. You."

Meredith snapped her mouth shut. She'd walked right into it and now she saw no way out. If it meant helping her brother, she had to do it. She admitted that a small part of herself was thrilled at the prospect, and not a little pleased that Katrina had so much confidence in her. It would be a blast, no doubt, and a much-needed excuse to spend more time dancing. But the part of her that was full of doubt made her question if it really was a good idea.

"I'll take that as a yes." Katrina clapped her hands together excitedly. “This will be perfect. And here comes Brandon now." She waved her hand toward Brandon's approaching figure.

"Perfect," Meredith echoed. She risked a glance at the emerald water, noticing that Cole was finishing up with his lesson. The way the water glistened on his tanned chest caused her pulse to jump into high gear. Maybe she should schedule another lesson with him. With his aloof attitude after their last one, neither one had mentioned scheduling another. And she needed an excuse to do more than stalk him from the beach chair.

"Brandon," Katrina gushed, pulling Meredith’s attention away from Cole. "Meet your new ballroom instructor."

A broad smile broke across his face. "Wonderful. I'm so glad you finally agreed. I'll let marketing know to keep it on the agenda." He pulled out his phone to send a text but stopped short when Katrina put her hand on his arm.