Page 1 of Jilted
Chapter One
A my walked around the studio, double checking to make sure there was nothing on the floor.
They’d been cleaned and freshly waxed two nights ago, and the studio had been closed to lessons all weekend, but the first class of the day was a group of fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds.
They were a handful in their own right, but once the music got pumping, they were worse.
Not to mention, at that age, the hormones were rampant.
She had several students who were here because they were serious about becoming professional ballroom dancers.
Others, though, she was convinced they were just here to cop a feel with a member of the opposite sex.
She remembered what it was like at that age.
And she vividly remembered what it was like to dance with a boy she had a crush on.
Brett Hudson.
His name still gave her goose bumps.
Amy started dance classes when she was five. She met Brett when she was ten. They were paired up together during one lesson, and since that day, they’ve been dance partners, best friends, and now, they were business partners. Four years ago, they opened their own dance studio.
Satisfied that the floor was clean and safe, she moved on to make sure all the playlist was ready to go. Nothing disrupted the flow of a class more than having to stop and search for the correct music.
“I got it!” Brett rushed through the doors, his blue eyes sparkling. “I got it, Amy!”
“The TV show?” Amy exclaimed. “My God, Brett, that’s fantastic. I’m so happy for you.” She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him.
Brett picked her up, spun her around, and laughed. “I can’t believe it either,” he said, setting her back on her feet.
Amy couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “Don’t forget your friends when you become famous.”
“Never.” He dropped his bag on the floor and kicked it toward the corner. A habit of his that really annoyed her. “We have to go out and celebrate tonight.”
“Yeah.” She laughed. Since Dancing Duel had become so popular, Brett had joked about trying to become a professional dancer on the show.
Amy had always encouraged him, but it wasn’t until recently that he finally took her encouragement to heart.
And now it had paid off. Big time. She was thrilled for him.
“We’ll go to Gregorio’s for dinner, and then to that new club on the boulevard for drinks and dancing.” He snapped his fingers and wiggled his hips.
Amy laughed. “You mean Nefarious?”
“Yeah, that’s the place. We’ll go there and dance the night away.”
Like they didn’t dance enough as it was. She smiled and shook her head. It was a rare occasion to see Brett in such a good mood. He’d had a string of bad relationships lately, and they had taken a real toll on him emotionally. Getting on this show was exactly what he needed.
“I’ll pick you up at six?”
“I’ll be ready.” She refocused her attention on the task at hand – getting the music ready for their upcoming class. “Oh, and Brett, tonight’s my treat. No arguments.”
He grinned big enough to showcase his dimple. Amy had more than one fantasy about kissing that very dimple. She looked away, afraid her true thoughts would be displayed on her face for him to see. Lying to him was something she never could successfully do.
In the entire time they’d known each other, not once had they ever shown any sort of sexual attraction to each other. No flirty looks or words; no drunken admissions of love; no regrettable caresses or kisses. They were just best friends and business partners. Plain and simple.
Of course, like any best friends they talked about everything, including relationships and sex. They just never talked about doing it together, even though she’d thought about it – a lot.
Why wouldn’t she? He was tall, lean, and muscular, with abs to die for and arms that always kept her entranced.
They were strong yet graceful. His legs were the same way, and she’d imagined more than once what it would feel like to have his svelte body pressed firmly against hers.
Brett had a headful of thick, black hair, and piercing blue eyes.
Amy blew out a breath and fanned her face with her hand. She had to stop thinking about him like that. Nothing would ever come of it, and her inappropriate fantasies would only frustrate her.
“It is hot in here, isn’t it?” Brett asked, interrupting her thoughts. “Is the air on?”
“Uh,” she cleared her throat, “yeah, I think so. I’ll go double check.”
Amy quickly left the room, happy to be away from Brett for a few moments. What had gotten into her today? She hadn’t thought of him like that in years. Why now? Why today?
She’d better get her act together before tonight because it would be a very long night if she spent it fantasizing about the one man she could never have.
“Is it just me or was that class more difficult than usual?” Brett blew out a breath and dragged a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what got into them today, but damn.” He laughed.
“It’s spring. The kids are anxious for the nice weather. I guess it’s to be expected.” Amy sat in one of the chairs that were set out for the parents and removed the towel that she’d draped around her neck.
Next, she removed her heels. She rubbed the bottom of her foot. She extended her legs in front of her and wiggled her toes. That’s when she noticed Brett staring at her, an odd look on his face.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “Why do you keep wearing those shoes if they hurt your feet?”
“Because they’re pretty.” She smiled, and he laughed. “Once I break them in, they’ll stop hurting.”
“I’ll never understand you women and your obsession with shoes.”
“And I’ll never understand you men and your obsession with throwing your stuff on the floor.” She glanced toward the corner where he’d kicked his bag earlier.
He shrugged in typical Brett fashion – slow, lazy, and full of confidence. “At least it’s out of the way.”
Amy picked up her towel and threw it at him. “Would it really be so much trouble to just put it in the office?”
“I’ve got important stuff in that bag.” He walked over and picked it up, putting the strap over his shoulder.
“What could you possibly have in there that you can’t let it out of your sight for a single, fifty-minute lesson?”
“A man’s duffel bag is like a woman’s purse. Sacred and confusing.”
She shook her head and smiled. “You are such a dork.”
“Takes one to know one,” he retorted with a smile.
Yeah, they were grown adults who still teased each other like kids. It was juvenile, but it was their thing, and she wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Want to grab some lunch?” Brett asked.
“Yeah, it’ll have to be quick though. I’m meeting with the realtor today.” Amy picked up her heels and carried them into the back office. She slipped on her sandals and grabbed her purse.
“I forgot about that. Want me to go with you?” He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, looking perfectly at ease, perfectly sexy. Brett always wore a plain black T-shirt when teaching, and the fabric always stretched just right across his chest, showing the definition of his upper body.
Her gaze lingered longer than necessary on his muscular arms. What the heck was wrong with her today? Forcing herself to look away, she said, “Yeah, sure, if you want. All I’m doing is meeting with her to sign a contract and to give her an idea of the kind of space we’re looking for.”
Amy glanced around the office one final time to make sure she had everything; then she turned off the lights and followed Brett back into the studio.
“I think you forget sometimes that my name is on the sign out front, too.” He gently nudged her shoulder. “We agreed that if we were going to open a second studio, we’d do it together. I want to help.”
Amy could never forget that she and Brett were equal business partners, but she was the type of person who just naturally tried to do everything on her own. They needed another location, so she was doing what needed to be done to find it.
“Okay, if you want to spend this beautiful day going over a real estate contract, who am I to stop you?” she said with a shrug.
He laughed one of his deep, throaty laughs that always made her stomach drop to her feet and her heart flutter. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. Honestly, Amy, how long is this going to take? We’ll be done and outside enjoying the sunshine in no time.”
“You’re a poet and didn’t even know it.” She playfully stuck her tongue out at him as they made their way to the parking lot.
“Who’s the dork now?”
“I have learned from the best,” she said, bowing at him as if he were royalty.
“Shut up and get in the car.” He pointed his key fob at his car and pushed the unlock button.
Teaching dance lessons wasn’t the highest paying profession, but no one would know that based on Brett’s lifestyle.
He drove a metallic blue Mercedes. It was a hot car, but very expensive.
And his apartment was to die for. The view from his living room was breathtaking.
He wouldn’t live like he did if not for his hefty trust fund.
But despite his money, he never acted like he was better than anyone else.
Amy, on the other hand, lived less extravagantly.
Not because she couldn’t afford to live like Brett – she could thanks to a large inheritance from her grandmother—but she preferred the simpler things in life.
She owned her own house, a small, two-bedroom, one story Ranch outside of the city with a generous sized backyard.
Someday, when she had children of her own, it would be the perfect place to raise them. And she drove a modest and safe SUV.
She opened the passenger’s door and slid into the seat, loving how the cool leather felt against her bare legs. “So, where are you taking me to lunch?” Amy rested her elbow on the door and glanced at him.
“I don’t recall offering to buy you lunch.” Brett put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking lot.
“It’s the least you can do considering I’m taking you out tonight.” She kept her gaze on Brett, watching the way he concentrated on the road, the way the strong line of his jaw softened when he smiled, and then winked at her.
Amy wondered what it would feel like to nibble on his jaw. Good Lord, she had to get a grip. Seriously, what the hell was wrong with her today?
“Well, when you put it like that.” He rolled his eyes. “Where do you want to go?”
“The realtor’s office is over on Grant, so why don’t we go to that new café on the corner of Thirty-one and Main?”
“Sounds good.” Brett turned right onto the Boulevard and headed toward the other end of town.
Amy settled into her seat and relaxed. Her thoughts wandered to Brett’s announcement from earlier.
He was going to be on Dancing Duel . She truly was happy for him, but she knew that the show would keep him busy.
They wouldn’t have much time to just hang out.
Her shoulders slumped with sadness. She would miss Brett.
Miss them and the time they spend together.