Rescue Me(18)

"This is the guy I was telling you about," she was saying as he bit the bullet and approached them. What was her name? Katie, Kathryn?

Meredith shook her head. "Katrina, I don't think this is a good idea. I know I agreed to it, but I'm starting to have my doubts."

"Nonsense. Cole, this is Meredith, Brandon's sister." If only he'd been properly introduced to her before that night at the club, they could have avoided the whole mess.

"Yes, we've met." He couldn't keep the glint out of his eye when he saw a telling flush make its way across her cheeks. Had they ever.

"Oh, good. I was just telling her that I thought someone in one of the meetings had mentioned you had dance experience. And we need someone to help us out with the ballroom class next week."

He couldn't have been more shocked if she'd suddenly sprouted wings and told him she was an alien species. From the wide-eyed look on Meredith's face, she felt the same. He let out a loud laugh. "I think you've got the wrong guy."

"No, it was definitely you. So what do you say? Can you take one for the team?"

He sighed, knowing he was about to get roped into something he would regret. Pulling up a chair, he joined them at the table. He stole a fry from Meredith's untouched plate and winked at her when she started to object. "Why did you have to put it like that? What are you getting me in to?"

Katrina smiled like the cat that ate the canary. "I need you to be the male half of a ballroom dance couple to lead the new class. Temporarily," she added hastily when he started to shake his head. He hadn't taken ballroom dancing since he was a teenager, and even then it had only been as a favor to his sister.

"Brandon is going to owe me big time," he muttered under his breath. "Alright, who's the unlucky woman?" He popped another fry in his mouth and nearly choked when Meredith spoke to him for the first time since he'd sat down.

"You're looking at her."

***





Meredith looked around the empty fitness studio as she started her warm-up routine. Cole would be done with his last students and arriving any minute and she wanted to be ready to go. She could not believe that Cole of all people was going to be her dance partner. She was excited about teaching the class, but also completely freaked out by the prospect of being in such a situation with him. It seemed that no matter what she did they kept getting thrown together.

She wondered what it would be like to dance with him again. A smile stole across her face as she recalled how they had moved together on the dance floor that first night at the resort. He definitely had moves, but the fact that he knew how to ballroom dance blew her mind. She would have to ask him about it because he was nothing like any of the dancers she'd grown up with.

She lifted one leg onto the ballet barre fastened to the wall and leaned over, relishing in the stretch. Her body yearned to move again. The few times she had been dancing since she'd arrived had been so exhilarating and refreshing.

Finishing her stretches, she went over to the sound system and plugged in her iPod to pull up the playlist she'd made, an eclectic mix of dance tunes set to the beats per minute of the dance they would be working on. The Rumba. It was an extremely sensual dance, which made her nervous, but it would be a favorite with the students taking her class.

Her class. The prospect sent a thrill through her. For how long had she dreamed of teaching her own dance classes? After years of training, it had been her goal, her passion, and when she'd had to give it up, she'd been heartbroken. It was incredible to be given the chance now.

Cranking up the music, she fastened her shoes, strappy heels that would be perfect for the dance. Too bad she's lost her favorite red shoes. Maybe she'd ask Cole for them now that they'd been stuck together again. She briefly wondered if the outfit she'd chosen was too revealing, but it was suitable for moving. Black leggings hugged her every curve, and the loose cropped shirt hung off one shoulder, revealing her leopard-print sports bra beneath. She wouldn't have thought twice about it if it weren't for her new dance partner.

She began practicing some of the turns and didn't hear the studio door open over the loud music. When she spun around and saw Cole leaning against the wall watching her she froze in her tracks. The look on his face was enigmatic. What did he think about all of this? He hadn't seemed very eager to do it once he'd found out she would be the other dance instructor. She had mixed feelings as well and wished she knew what he was thinking. She walked over to turn down the music so they could discuss the specifics before getting started.

"Hey," she said, stopping a safe five feet from him and feeling suddenly shy.

"Hey."

"Look, I know you aren't excited to be here, but thank you for filling in."

"You stepped up too," he said, running his eyes up and down her body.

She felt heat creep up her neck but fought to keep her composure. How did he make her feel so unhinged with one look? If they were going to get through the evening, she couldn't be falling all over him. Despite how delicious he looked in the shirt that was stretched tightly over his muscled chest.

Pull yourself together.

"So what are we working on?" he asked.

"The Rumba. Do you know it?"

He laughed incredulously. "I do."

"I have to ask. How do you know anything about ballroom?"