Page 19 of Fools in Love

With her injury and the stories about her on everyone’s minds, she felt as if the spotlight was on her every time she stepped outside of her parents’ place. She was used to being in the spotlight, but this was different. This was personal. It was as if her life, her choices, were being weighed and criticized.

Whenever someone stopped off and talked to him, she felt her pulse spike, just like she had at the pizza place the other day. Everyone inquired about her health, about her future. She didn’t have answers for them, which only made her feel more and more frustrated.

It reminded her of her pre-show jitters. She didn’t know what she was anxious about, other than having to explain herself.

“What are the other reasons?” she asked, trying to make the conversation casual again.

“Vegas is an expensive place to live,” he said with a shrug.

“New York, too. Still, I guess I liked living there just the same.”

“I bet you didn’t get that.” He motioned with his chin to the sun setting over the water. “You can’t beat that view.”

She watched the sun sink to just below the horizon and realized she’d been holding her breath. He was right. There wasn’t a better view anywhere.

She’d traveled with her company to Paris, Rome, and all over the States over the years. Nothing could compare to the sunset she was watching now.

“Beautiful,” he said softly.

“It is pretty amazing.” She turned back to him and felt her face heat when she noticed that he’d been watching her instead of the sunset.

“Do you plan on sticking around Pride once you’re back on both feet?” he asked suddenly.

She frowned. She hadn’t planned on leaving, hadn’t even thought about it. Her dancing career was basically shot. It would take years and years of training her leg to hold her up again. She knew that most dancers with similar injuries never danced professionally again.

She supposed she could ask Suzie to hire her on again. After all, she’d really enjoyed working with the flowers and with her friend.

But that made her feel she was going backwards. Working at your friend’s shop during downtime was a lot different than turning it into a career. A future.

“Wow, okay, I can see your inner struggle.” He reached over and laid his hand over hers. The simple contact somehow shook her out of the dark feelings and thoughts. “Sometimes it’s best just to take one day at a time.”

She knew he was right. But still, in the back of her mind, she was having a full panic attack.

“Tomorrow,” he said, rolling her hand over until he was holding her hand in his. “I’ll pick you up and we’ll hit the gym. I’ll show you even more ways to punch out all those thoughts and fears while you teach me how to stretch out mine. Who knows, maybe I’ll even like Pilates and start wearing tights like the guys you dance with.”

She laughed at the thought of him in leotards.

“No, you have a boxer’s body, not a dancer’s.”

His dark eyebrows rose. “I think that’s a good thing.”

To her it was. She’d enjoyed watching his muscles work as he’d hit the bag earlier. He’d been wearing a black tank top and gym shorts, and all she could think about was playing her fingers over those muscles. How they would feel wrapped around her, over her, under her.

She’d never dated a dancer for one reason—none had the body type she liked. Tom did. That should have scared her, as she needed to focus on her future and her life and career change. Instead, it excited her.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “It is.”

Chapter Seven

The following day, Tom sat in the small meeting room at the station with the rest of Pride’s police force. There were eighteen employees in total—four dispatchers, Aiden as chief, and the rest cops like him. A few had been on the force for years and years, such as David and Simon. Tom Rowlings, the other Tom, or Tom Sr. as everyone jokingly called him, had retired early last year but still came around and lent a hand when they were busy.

Even Robert, Aiden’s father and the previous chief, was present today, which meant, the meeting was important.

“Thanks,” Aiden said, holding up his hands to get everyone’s attention.

Of course, there had been donuts and coffee, so everyone was hopped up on sugar. It took a moment or two for everyone to finally settle and sit down.

“Thanks,” Aiden said again. “I’d like to say that I’ll keep this brief, but…” Several people groaned and Aiden nodded. “Yeah, we have a few things to go over. First, next month is the Fourth of July Festival, which means, the town will be flooded with people from all over the state. Downtown will be blocked off and, this year, parking for the event is going to be in the Chamberlin’s field. There will be shuttles, and the Chamberlins have agreed to have their horse-drawn carriages running again.”