Kiss Me, Dancer (13 page)

“That’s Parker.”

“Good thing I don’t have a sister.”

Funny you should say that
. She thought of Parker’s identical reaction to Drew being around his sister. But she also suddenly felt selfish, realizing she and her brother spent yesterday talking about Casey’s dilemmas and never even mentioned anything he might be going through. Parker was so different from Drew. So quiet and reserved. She prayed there was somebody out there who was right for him. “Do you have brothers?”

“Just me. Listen, Casey, my realtor is busy today, but he said he’d give me keys to a few properties we can check out if you’re up for it.”

“Sure am.”

“I also have a favor to ask.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Why do I get the feeling you don’t trust me?”

Casey laughed. “Maybe because I’m not totally sure I do.”

“Can’t ask for a more straightforward answer than that. So, here it is. Several of the vineyards up in your neck of the woods are having wine tasting today. I’d like to make the rounds to a few of them, since I’m thinking of buying a vineyard. That okay with you?”

Buying a vineyard? This guy does have bucks
. “Sounds like fun.”

“Great, I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

Casey showered and fussed with her unruly hair, wanting to leave it loose today. It was sexier that way.
What am I thinking? This is a business excursion
.

She began trying on one outfit after the next, while explaining her position to Sugar Boy who lay on the bed watching her.

“I know I’m going into dangerous territory, Sugar Boy, but I can’t help it. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted any man as much as I want this one. I know, I know. You’re asking what will happen to my dance studio if he tears my heart to pieces? Well, I’ll just have to keep my heart out of it. I’ll just let myself have a little taste of this deliciously sexy man, have a little bit of naughty fun, and be done with him. I’m sure he’d prefer it that way, too.”

She opted for tight-fitting jeans, a sleeveless, tiered ruffle blouse (navy print in case she spilled her wine), and cork wedges.

When she saw Drew’s Porsche pull into her driveway, Casey raced down the stairs. Drew got out of the car and gave her a megawatt smile that made her feel more beautiful than she knew she could ever be. He opened the car door without a word. Had she rendered him speechless? She sure hoped so. He looked every bit as handsome as he’d been in her dreams last night. He wore jeans paired with a silky print shirt, half-open and fluttering as he walked. Giving her a sigh-worthy view of his muscled chest.

She slid into the cushioned leather seat, recognizing the sandalwood scent she’d come to associate with Drew. And realized she’d forgotten to put any perfume on herself.
Very feminine, Casey.

Neither of them said much as they drove along. Maybe Drew felt as awkward as she did. To keep herself from obsessing on his sexy hands on the steering wheel and the powerful energy that radiated off him, she peered out the window as they passed acres of green corn, arugula, strawberries, tomatoes and bright yellow summer squash. A purple and blue field of cultivated perennials reminded her of a Monet painting.

“Look. A lavender farm.” She opened the window and inhaled deeply.

Drew smiled at her. “Hope you got your fix, ‘cause you’re letting out all the AC.”

They visited three potential studio properties: a barn so rank with the smell of cow manure it would take an army corps of engineers to deodorize the place, a former ice cream shop that was way too narrow, and a big farmhouse that might have been good if it weren’t so deep in the boonies she’d lose most of her students.

“I knew this wouldn’t be an easy job,” Casey said. “It took me the better part of a year to find my current studio.”

He glanced at her. “But how could you have missed it when it’s so close to the center of North Cove?”

“The place had still been a hardware store. I caught the ‘going out of business’ buzz from my friend who runs a nearby coffee shop, and I hopped on it.”

They sped along Route 25 swooping in on their designated targets: the North Fork wineries. Sunny locations with rustic charm offering Drew and Casey the chance to grace their palates with some of the most scrumptious wines they’d ever tasted. Both could safely say that after visiting five vineyards they began to feel the effects.

“Let’s see. Five vineyards down, only thirty-five more to go,” Drew said with a fake lisp, pretending to be really drunk.

“That all?” Casey said, realizing she felt quite comfortable with Drew. He didn’t drive like a jerk, he didn’t talk her ear off, and he didn’t crowd her or ignore her opinions when they looked at the real estate. The only problem was this nagging fantasy of his naked body all slick and sweaty and sliding around on top of hers.

She blinked away the image. “Think anybody’s ever really pulled it off?”

“One man. Rumor has it he turned into a grape.”

“Later to be mashed, fermented and bottled.”

Drew turned the car onto a side road. “Actually, there is one more vineyard I’d like to hit. Then we’ll stop for lunch. What kind of food are you in the mood for?”

“Pizza.” Her reply came out spontaneously, but the twitch at the corners of his mouth told her Drew had a more fashionable lunch in mind. “Um, do you like pizza?” she asked, feeling grossly unsophisticated.

“Sure. But apparently not as much as you and my son do.”

That was one of the things Casey loved about kids. You could always count on them to bring things down to earth. “I’m so glad you’re letting Josh take dance classes again.”

“Guess I can be stubborn sometimes. I played so many sports at his age and envisioned him doing the same.”

“Dance will help him with sports. Make him a better athlete.”

He smirked. “Hmm, maybe. Maybe not.”

“Plenty of football players take ballet.”

“They take all kinds of things.”

“Beats steroids,” Casey said.

“It’s a damn sight healthier, I’ll say that much. Then again you can’t exactly call ballet a performance enhancer.”

“Are you serious? Ballet improves everything: stretch, coordination, balance, speed. Maybe you should try it. It’d help you with your ping-pong game.”

Drew moaned. “Back to that again, are we?”

“Well, you were a little stiff on your pivoting.”

“I’ll show you some pivoting. Wait till we get out on the basketball court. Or are you going to back out of that one?”

Casey had almost forgotten the challenge she’d accepted during their little tiff at Trevor’s party. “Nope. I’ll enjoy beating you there, too.”

“Yeah, right.”

“You might have more strength, but—”

“Might?”

“Might. Per pound. But I’ve got stretch, fast reflexes and I’m a great jumper.”

He shook his head. “You think you’re so hot.”

“Me? You’re the one who walks around like he’s God’s gift to women.” She couldn’t believe she said that, but her mouth seemed to be on an unstoppable roll.

“Hey, I can’t help it if the ladies chase me down.”

“Puhleez. I’m gonna throw up.” She looked away, hand to her stomach.

His tone grew challenging. “You should see some of the women I’ve had. Riley was a mere B-lister in my book.”

“Well, I’ve had my share of A-list action, too, pal.” Once. And he’d incinerated her heart. But Casey wasn’t about to let Drew see her as the loser she really was.

“You mean like Trevor? Now
there’s
a fine example.”

Trevor
. That relationship had been her attempt to be someone she wasn’t, to settle for a simple, steady man. Did such a creature exist? She doubted it. And the alternative sitting next to her seemed pretty bad choice right now. “As if you’re any better.”

“You know how many women wanted your slot for this afternoon? You’re lucky to be here with me in this car.”

Her jaw dropped. “Pull over and I’ll get out.”

“Oh no, you don’t. I’ve got a couple more vineyards to go to, and you agreed to be the babe on my arm today.”

Parker was right. Drew’s another Jeff.
She crossed her arms and looked out the window, murmuring, “An ego the size of a football field.”

“I was damn good at football. First string running back at USC.”

“Yeah, I know. You already told me.”

After a couple minutes of heavy silence, Casey turned to Drew. “You don’t have to do this studio thing with me.”

He frowned. “I’m not letting you back out of this.”

“Hello.
I’m
the one who needs the studio, and I’m trying to give you a chance to back out.”

“Spare me.”

“I
am
trying to spare you. From getting into something we’ll both regret.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. That’s the trouble with you artsy types. Too emotional to make good business decisions.”

Casey sighed. She couldn’t argue with him on that one.

***

Casey read the sign as Drew parked in a gray pebble lot next to a huge gable-roofed farmhouse with a wide porch overlooking acres of lush green vines. “The TR Winery and Vineyard. Is this…”

“Taz Ravage’s place.” Drew got out of the car. He came around and opened her door, but Casey hesitated.

“I’m not sure I—”

“Ah, come on. So we’ve both got some issues with our athletic prowess. You’re not gonna turn all sour on me, are you?”

She wondered if he’d really let go of their argument this fast, or if she was merely witnessing his skill at smooth-talking and pacifying business clients. “Sure you wouldn’t rather go somewhere else?”

“Why? We both liked his wine. That’s what got me thinking about trying a vineyard myself.” He held out a hand to her.

Casey let him help her out of the car, but said, “I’m not really in the mood to be around rock stars right now.”

Drew teased her with a playful wink. “Afraid you won’t be able to keep yourself from tearing the clothes off Mr. Ravage if he shows up in the flesh?”

She gave a nervous laugh and tried to calm herself with some adult reasoning.

It had been several years since she’d danced the lead in Taz’s music video. She doubted he would even remember her. And what was the big deal anyway? So Taz came on to her rather imposingly and she fought him off. End of story.

Besides, even if she hadn’t turned him down, it was none of Drew’s business any more than his previous sexploits were hers. And she had no doubt Drew Byrne had blazed quite a trail throughout the bedrooms of the Hamptons, Manhattan and beyond.

But as Casey stepped onto the polished wood floor of the tasting room, an uneasy feeling crept into her gut. She just hoped it wasn’t some intuitive message from her inner Madame Lumina.

The airy room sported a few tables near the perimeter, but was mostly open space with a long mahogany bar. She couldn’t help thinking it would make a great dance studio. Lots of people milled about. Wine tasting at the North Fork vineyards had become popular recreation for New York City dwellers as well as locals on summer Sundays.

She and Drew stood at the bar waiting their turn when a buzz went through the room. “It’s Ravage,” Drew said.

Taz. A pale blonde with blue highlighted hair in dreads all the way to his shoulders. Arms so covered in ink you could barely find a square inch of skin. His Nordic profile and prominent jaw combined with his tall rangy frame made him look like a wild Viking in an Armani suit.

Casey watched as he swaggered across the floor, signing autographs, posing for photos, kissing women and basking in the ubiquitous adulation.

He walked in their direction. Casey felt him looking at her. She made a feeble attempt to hide behind Drew when she heard Taz say, “Don’t I know you?”

She mumbled an incoherent, “Could be.”

Taz snapped his fingers and pointed at her from a marksman’s crouch. “The lead dancer in my “Brake’em And Leave’em” video. Casey. Right?”

“Got me.”

Taz glided in. Casey’s eyes darted side-to-side as if there might be somewhere to run. Before she knew it Taz had his arms wrapped around her. He stared into her eyes and said breathlessly. “Ohhh, the times we had. The times we had.”

The times we had?
Casey couldn’t fathom where that came from. They’d hardly spent any time at all together during the shoot. Most of the takes were of her and the other dancers moving through a smoke filled warehouse while he strutted about under a spotlight. It wasn’t until his little party afterward that he introduced himself by trying to maul her.

The only good thing about this was the astonished — and slightly jealous — look on Drew’s face. Mr. Truckster was obviously trying to force an amiable smile, but his acting skills came up short. His eyes clearly registered a desire to wring Taz’s neck.

“Check this out!” Taz announced to the onlookers. He clasped Casey by the waist and urged her across the floor in a weird tango that she quickly picked up on to avoid tripping over her feet. The crowd laughed and applauded. To make things even more cringing Taz ended their little routine by spinning Casey around and slinging her in a backbend over his knee just in time for a little a serenade:

“Drive me wild, girl. Make me crazy, girl. Let’s do it. One more time.”

Another round of clapping and cheers. Taz lifted her to standing and gave her a kiss that was far too long and too wet. Knowing her only chance of escape was to continue the performance, Casey broke free and started singing one of Taz’s hits as she backed her way to the door with poses and lunges and spins. When she reached the glass doors, she offered a beaming smile and farewell wave to Mr. Ravage and the crowd, eliciting more applause.

The moment she was out the door, Casey made a beeline for Drew’s Porsche, hoping he’d catch on and meet her there.

Which he did. But he arrived in a completely foul mood. He didn’t say a word. Just tossed her an accusing look, unlocked the car doors and drove toward North Cove.
Men
. By the time he pulled into her driveway Casey decided she’d just as soon be an old maid living alone with her cats and books and music. So what if her students would have to be the children she never had?