Page 26 of Fools in Love

“How’s that going?” Nick asked, sneaking a peek over the menu at her. “Is she ready for the championships yet?”

Tom chuckled. “Her form is improving.”

Nick set down his menu and smiled. “And your Pilates?”

Brook leaned forward and practically whispered. “You’re doing Pilates with Kate?”

Kate couldn’t help but laugh at the look Tom gave them.

“She’s a machine. I stopped working out with her in sixth grade,” Brook said with a smile.

They hadn’t planned on having dinner with her brother and cousin, but by the end of the meal, she was very thankful they had run into them. She’d forgotten how much fun it could be hanging out with people she liked.

As far as family went, they were the best. Brook and Nick had been there anytime she’d needed them growing up.

They, along with her parents and aunt and uncle, had flown to the city for opening night the first time she’d gotten a lead role. They had supported her in everything she’d done.

Not once growing up or in the past few years had she ever questioned if she’d been loved.

Then she remembered how Tom had said that his mother and brother were dead. He hadn’t told her the details of how he’d lost them. What about his father?

He seemed distant and sad about the entire thing. So much so that she was leery of asking him for more details.

Maybe her brother knew more?

Tomorrow was Saturday. She could ask him then. On Saturdays, her brother usually came over and helped their dad with his latest project. For as long as she could remember, her dad and brother had a car or another piece of machinery they were rebuilding or fixing.

Their current project was an old Ford truck that they were rebuilding in her parents’ four-car garage.

“I like your family,” Tom said as he drove her back to her parents’ place. “I have ever since moving here.”

“They seem to like you right back.” Her stomach bubbled with excitement. Would he kiss her again? It was practically all she could think about. That and the fact that she probably had pizza breath. She had found a mint at the bottom of her purse when she’d gone to the bathroom after eating. Still, she worried about it. And when she worried, she tended to rattle on about things, which she was currently doing.

She talked about her life in the city. Her classes. The shows that she’d been in.

By the time Tom parked in her parents’ driveway, she was pretty sure he knew all there was to know about her.

Finally, she shut her mouth as he turned off his car.

“Thanks,” he said, turning towards her. “For tonight. It’s not often I step outside my comfort zone.”

“Me either,” she agreed. “I would have just stuck with my Pilates until I could get back to my normal routine. I would have never thought of learning how to box.”

He was frowning slightly. “You… Do you think you’ll be able to go back to what you were?”

She looked down at her leg and felt her heart sink. “No, my career as a professional dancer is over.”

“Still,” he said quickly, “there are other things you could do.”

She looked up at him. “Don’t say teach.” She practically groaned it.

He shifted a little more towards her. “Why not? Someone had to teach you how to dance.” He tilted his head as his eyes ran over her. “Are you discounting the women and men that did?”

She frowned and then thought back to the many dance instructors she’d had over the years. She’d looked up to them. Each and every one. Her heart did another funny flip, only this time, the pain was self-inflicted. She had discounted the career of teaching dance. It was true—those on the top rarely looked up to those below them. She felt so foolish.

“I can see that, again, you’re stepping outside your comfort zone.” He chuckled. Then he surprised her by leaning over and brushing his lips gently across hers. “Good. Think about it. If it’s right for you, things will fall into place. If not…” He shrugged. “You could always become a professional boxer.”

Chapter Nine