Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Not that I’d ever tell her that. I value my life.
“You tell me a lot of things,” I reply, and I can feel Bee roll her eyes next to me.
Now, I’m damn glad that Blake made sure I came today.
Skyla’s red hair falls in soft, sleek curls around her shoulders. She’s wearing a green dress almost the same color as her eyes, and I feel pulled to her in ways I’ve never experienced with anyone else before.
Sure, I want to get my hands on her, feel her beneath me, soak myself in her, but I want to talk to her. Listen to that amazing lilt in her voice. Ask questions and find out what makes this incredible woman tick. But also, how in the hell did a New York City Ballet dancer end up in our small town?
“She’s pretty,” Bee says softly. I can feel her eyes on me.
“Understatement.” I cross my arms and watch Skyla laugh again, and I feel it in my gut. Now I can see that she has a dancer’s lithe body. She’s stunning. “But she said no, so the answer is no.”
“She told me.”
I glare down at my sister, who hums, still watching her friend. “She needed advice. She has reasons, Beck, but I can tell she likes you, so maybe don’t give up, okay? You’ll have to be patient with her.”
I can be fucking patient if she’s the reward at the end of it.
We take our seats, and as we quiet down, Skyla takes her place on the small stage and smiles at all of us. She’s rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet in that way I’ve noticed that she does as if she’s moving to music in her head.
She’s adorable.
“Hello, friends,” she begins. She has an incredible smile. Her eyes skim the crowd and find me, and that smile doesn’t falter, but I see the surprise in those green orbs before she moves her gaze away.
She has reasons, Beck, but I can tell she likes you, so maybe don’t give up, okay? You’ll have to be patient with her.
She’s not immune to me. I can work with that.
“It’s pleased I am that you’ve come for our first recital of the year. Your wee ones have done such a good job this spring of learning new routines, new steps, and how to feel the music.”
She tucks her hair behind her ear and glances backstage, nodding.
“For our first number, we have our three-year-olds performing, and I think it’s going to fill your hearts with joy to see the sweetness we have in store for you.”
She chuckles before moving to the side of the makeshift stage. Eight little girls walk out, eyes wide, terrified.
But they are sweet, I’ll give her that.
I can’t take my eyes off the woman who coaches the little ones from the side. Finally, it’s Birdie’s turn, so I shift my attention to my niece, grinning from ear to ear at her excited smile and pure self-confidence as she moves across that stage. Birdie loves being the center of attention, so this is right up her alley.
We sit for an hour, and except for the five minutes when Birdie dances, I haven’t taken my eyes off Skyla. I’ve caught her eyes seeking mine as she’s sneaked peeks at the crowd, and each time, she’s blushed before returning her attention to the kids.
Bee’s right. She likes me.
So yeah, I can be patient.
Chapter Six
SKYLA
I love recital night.
Granted, there will never be anything that compares to dancing with Mikhail after months and months of grueling work on a world-class New York City stage in front of a sold-out auditorium. That’s something I’ll miss forever and will live in my heart until I take my last breath.
But seeing all of these wee darlings in their pretty costumes excited to dance for their loved ones takes second place.
Some of them freeze up on stage and don’t do anything at all, and others—like Bee’s niece, Birdie—know every single step and keep the crowd spellbound.
Honestly, I never know how the evening will go, but it’s never boring.
Now that the show is over, parents are grouped in the studio, chatting with friends about their children’s dance, school, or what’s happening in town. I’ve spent time answering questions but want to check on Riley backstage.
“You didn’t even sit with the audience,” I say to Connor as I find my brother standing beside Riley.
“Riley needed company.” He shrugs. “And I could see everything from back here. Not to mention, every chair was taken, which is a good thing. It means business is good.”
Okay, he has a point. All the seats were filled, and that made me happy.
“Still. It wouldn’t have killed you to stand in the back.”
“I own this place, too, you know. I can stand wherever I bloody like.”