Touch Me and Tango (12 page)

Except then she’d have to face Mark. She’d promised to
answer his marriage proposal when she got back. But maybe that was her
solution. Marry Mark if he agreed to pay off her mother’s debts. The thought
sent a wave of panic through her. The same kind that had made her come running
to the States.

Yeah, Parker, I ran
.

He’d called her on her tendency to bolt, damn him. He’d always
been able to strip away her defenses. But who was he to talk? Not exactly
perfect himself. Mr. Control freak. Not to mention quitting on her.

The clock chimed four. Enough with all the stress around her
uncle’s diamonds, Parker Richardson and their forever strained relationship.
She had a class to teach with Julio at six thirty, and there was a five o’clock
advanced ballet that she wanted to take beforehand.

Boy, did she need it. Aside from the fact that keeping in
professional level shape took constant work, the dance world was the one place
she could always turn to for getting her head on straight.

***

As Tanya swung the door aside and stepped into the girl’s
dressing room at the North Cove Performing Arts Academy, she immediately
noticed a twentyish lanky brunette in cobalt blue leotard and grey tights. Some
say professional dancers have difficulty concealing their aptitude for line and
movement just by the way they hold themselves. Tanya sensed right away that
this dancer standing alone between a row of lockers was either a pro or soon
would be. But that impression was quickly overshadowed by the pained look on
the young woman’s face and the tears in her eyes.

Tanya removed the Adidas gym bag from her shoulder and
lowered it onto a wooden bench. “Anything I can do?”

“Don’t mind me,” the dancer said, reconfiguring her lips
into a sweet engaging smile. “Just having one of those moments.”

“I think I know the kind.”

“I can’t help it though. Hate it when I suck.”

“Bad class?” Tanya asked.

She studied Tanya a moment as if deciding whether or not to
go on. “I’m off to the side in the corner behind a row of lockers when in come
two students. I overheard them talking. Discussing how terrible their teacher
was. And the teacher naturally just happens to be me.”

“Oops.” Tanya wrinkled her nose. “How young were these
students?”

“Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.”

“Well if it’s any consolation, I used to moan and say nasty
things about all my teachers when I was that age. Bet if you took a poll, you’d
find the majority would give you a thumbs up rating.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But thanks for saying it.”

Tanya unzipped her bag and removed her dance clothes. “Why
don’t you ask Casey for some help? I hear she’s a fabulous teacher.”

“Yeah, but Casey has a natural gift for it. I just don’t
have what it takes to be a good teacher.”

“I don’t really know you, but my guess is you just need to
ease up on your self-doubts and learn a few communication skills. Talk to the
students instead of at them. Be clear and firm without being bossy.”

Jenna pulled up a knee and twisted against it, stretching
her back. “Okay. I’ll pay attention to that. Thanks for your advice.”

“Hey, I’m just chock full of wisdom these days. Which is why
my own life is such a mess.”

“Sorry. Feel free to share.”

Tanya shrugged. “The usual relationship crap. Working on a
project where my partner in the deal just happens to be an ex-boyfriend.”

“Fun.”

“The thing is, it could be,” Tanya said, opening the locker
and stuffing her bag inside. “But he’s one of those super judgmental types.
Always sticking to his lofty principles.”

“Bor-ringggg.”

“Plus he’s got this attitude where he always knows what’s
best. Makes me feel like a shallow jerk. Worse yet, he leaves me wondering if I
really am one or not.”

“Oooh, that is not good.”

“But I, um, have done some awful things to him in the past.”
Tanya sat on the bench and began changing into her dance clothes.

“Sounds like you two have a past with a capital P.”

“Oh yeah. In fact we hadn’t seen each other in years. And,
well, did you ever find a guy you just can’t forget? I’ve tried, but instead I
find myself measuring every guy I’m with against him. And they all come up
short. Or just plain wrong.”

“So you’re in love with him.”

“No.” Tanya frowned. “I don’t do love.”

“You answered a little too fast if you don’t mind me saying
so.” The dancer tilted her head in thought. “You know, your advice might work
for you, too.”

“For me? I’ve been teaching for years.”

“No, I mean about falling in love. Dance class isn’t the
only universe where communication and self-doubt issues apply.”

Tanya smirked. “Got me there. But this dude can be really
difficult to work with. Makes me want to scream sometimes.”

“I bet you drive him crazy, too.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Sometimes the best partners are worth putting up with. Like
dancing, it’s an exercise in patience and determination. That exquisite
struggle to achieve perfection in unison.”

“Well, maybe I’d just as soon skip the struggle.”

“You don’t believe in a working relationship?”

“I’m fine with dance partners, but I’m just not cut out for
marriage and that sort of thing.”

“You sound like my brother. My mother’s always harping on
him about getting married. But Parker won’t budge. Sometimes I worry his
stubbornness is the reason he still hasn’t found anybody.”

“Parker?” Tanya looked at the young woman’s face more
closely. Yes, a definite resemblance.

“Parker Richardson. If you live around here you’ve probably
seen him sailing by in his Richardson’s Gardening and Lawn Care truck. I
forgot.” She put out her hand. “I’m Jenna Richardson, by the way. Casey’s
sister.”

“Tanya Gentilliano.” She almost didn’t want to give her
name. Who knew what might eventually go back to Parker? How could she be so dumb?
It was such a small world in North Cove. And this was Casey’s school, for God’s
sake. “You’re the ballerina dancing with ABT.”

Jenna grinned and nodded. “Company’s on a short break so I’m
teaching for my sister starting this week. Too bad she may have to fire me.”

“No way.” Tanya was relieved she changed the subject.

“You look like a dancer. Are you a teacher or student?”

“Both. I’m taking the advanced ballet before I teach at
six.”

“Uh-oh. I’m teaching that class this week. Give me a
critique afterward?”

“Will do.” Tanya walked with her to the door.

“What do you teach?”

“Ballroom.” They stepped into the hallway. “And speak of the
devil, here’s my partner in crime.”

Julio Martinez paced nervously in front of the main studio
with his smartphone next to his ear. As they got closer they could hear him
speaking.

“There is no reason to be jealous. No. No. I am telling you
the truth. What? You don’t mean that. Wait. Hold on. Don’t hang up. Hello?
Hello?”

Tanya held back a laugh and glanced at Jenna who made the
O-mouth.

Julio shook his head. “I lose more women that way.”

“Don’t worry,” Jenna said. “We weren’t listening.”

“Sure you were.”

Tanya put a hand to her hip. “Now why would we, or anyone
for that matter, be interested in your love life?”

“Ah-haaah!” His face lit up as he wagged a playful finger at
the two girls. “You see? You
were
listening.”

“Listening? No. Overhearing? Yes.”

He slid his phone into a side pocket of his duffle bag and
accompanied the two girls into the large dance space.

“No big deal,” he said. “I’m used to it. My love life is an
open book. A book to be studied.”

“To be studied?” Jenna rolled her eyes. “Thinks he’s Don
Juan.”

“No I don’t.” He shrugged. “But apparently others do.”

“And to which trait exactly do you attribute all this
amazing sexual irresistibility?” Tanya asked.

“The lips.”

“Why, of course. How could we possibly have missed them?”

“Before you joke. Ask yourself, could you resist?” He pursed
his lips together in a highly exaggerated pucker.

“Probably,” Jenna said.

“That’s only part one. Check this.” He turned away from them
and did a sexy cha-cha. “I know all you ladies like tight buns on a man. Don’t
deny it. Every time I perform I know every woman is dying to grab my booty.” He
pivoted to face them. “And a nice little package comes with it.”

“Little?” said Tanya.

Julio winced. “Did I say that?”

Tanya and Jenna rolled with laughter.

***

Tanya returned home still unsure about her strategy. Part of
her hoped to see a repentant Parker waiting on her doorstep.
In your dreams
.

But if Tanya thought she was troubled, when she found her
mom in the office all she had to do was take one look at Joel pacing the floor
and Eva slumped in a club chair.

“You better sit down,” Joel said.

She glanced at her mother, who faced her with that
frightened, questioning little girl look Tanya had seen before. Her mom had
always been more child than adult, more like a sister than a mother. But even
though Tanya had matured in a way her mother probably never would, she was in
no shape to reassure her right now. Still, she answered with a tiny nod that
made Eva’s shoulders relax.

Then Joel laid out her mother’s situation.

Ready to implode, Tanya cut in “Wait a sec. Are you saying—”

“I’m saying the sale of the property won’t be enough to
cover the debts. Filing for bankruptcy is the only real option at this point.
Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. Couple years, we’ll start getting her credit score
back up.”

“Mom, how did this happen?” Tanya snapped. She’d had enough.
“If you borrowed that much against the house why didn’t you at least use it to
pay back taxes?”

Eva’s sad face turned defiant. “Sylvia got sick and needed
help.”

“Sylvia? Our maid?”

“Yes. She took care of all of us for so many years. I wrote
you about her illness. But you paid it no mind. I didn’t expect you to come to
the funeral.”

“Which Eva also paid for,” Joel said.

Tanya crossed her arms in a defensive gesture. “I was
touring at the time.” She pictured the thickly built woman who was a couple
years younger than Eva. She vaguely remembered her mother’s letter telling her
about Sylvia having some rare kind of cancer or something. Of course she’d felt
bad, but, no, she hadn’t paid much attention to it.

“Sylvia was my friend. She stuck by me when your father
left, even when I couldn’t afford her full salary. I wasn’t going to let her
suffer. The treatments she needed went on for three years. That cheesy
insurance your father had put her on cut off paying for them. So I borrowed
against the house.”

“Sylvia had no family around?”

“She was all alone with no family around. Like me.” Eva met
Tanya’s eyes with a sad gaze.

Tanya read her meaning. When Victor Gentillano ran off with
another woman after depleting a large part of Eva’s assets, Tanya had been so
shocked and angry that she bolted. Took her own savings and ran to Europe to
dance. Never for a minute considering how alone and abandoned her mother must
have felt. Tears welled up. “I’m sorry, Mom. I was hurting so bad myself I
didn’t realize…” She sobbed and went to her mother, sliding next to her in the
club chair.

Eva wrapped her arms around her daughter and stroked her
head. “I know, Tannie. I wasn’t the most attentive mother either. Running is
just your way of handling pain.”

What Parker said. That she rushed toward goals on impulse,
not really seeing where she was going or why or who might get be hurt. Tanya
liked to think of herself as a bold, take-charge sort of person. But she had to
admit some of those bold moves were actually impulsive escapes from situations
she didn’t want to face.

Joel cleared his throat and started talking. Well, he could
say all he wanted, but the truth was bankruptcy sucked. Was Eva supposed to
look for a job? At fifty-eight? With no skills of any kind except pleasing her
husband? That man had already broken her mom in two, what would this now do to
her?

She thought of Mark’s offer. Was he serious about it? Should
she call him tomorrow and accept?

The thought of it doing that made her cry all the harder.

But she wouldn’t need to marry him if she could find Harry’s
stash of diamonds.

Joel kept talking, but Tanya’s head was spinning. She
couldn’t follow what he was saying and didn’t care. She’d already made up her
mind.

With or without Parker, she was going back to Rubikoff
Preserve.

Parker shut the inlet flap and returned the fuel nozzle to
the pump. An overcast sky loomed overhead. The forecast called for intermittent
and possibly severe thunder storms accompanied with high winds and heavy rains.
Just as well he and Tanya weren’t out in the middle of the Sound searching for
buried treasure today. He pulled up the collar of his flannel shirt against the
morning’s dampness. He’d started at four a.m. and had already planted a bed of
impatiens and periwinkle, trimmed hedges and got a lawn mowed at a weekender’s
house. Not good to mow at dawn if customers are there sleeping.

Sliding into the front seat, he reached for a large
container of fresh coffee and took a sip. As he wheeled past the gas station’s
window he waved to Sam who worked at the register.
Man can he make great coffee
. As good as the java at Natalie’s
Coffee Cove, although Parker would be the last to let that secret hit the
street. Natalie would kill him.

He rolled back onto the main road, rehearsing what he
planned to say to Tanya. When Parker Richardson made an agreement, he stuck to
it till the end. It wasn’t his style to bail on anybody. And Tanya wasn’t just
anybody. She was the woman he’d waited ten years to see again.