Page 20 of Playing for Keeps (Seattle Hawks Ice Hockey #4)

Jay

Markus greets us with an enthusiastic flamboyance that seems to be lacking these days whenever you’re greeted some place new.

After he’s finished hugging us within an inch of our lives, he runs a hand through his freshly styled jet black hair, longer on the top, shorter at the sides.

“Welcome to the studio,” he says with an equally enthusiastic smile.

The dance studio is aptly named Downtown Dance and according to the menu board in the reception area where we’re standing, offers everything from your classic ballroom to the waltz, the foxtrot, some rumba and cha-cha in between.

As my eyes coast down the list, I see there’s more; Latin and social dances from the salsa to the swing.

I’ve heard of the mambo, and only know the merengue because of the movie Dirty Dancing.

I’ve seen it over and over again with many a female counterpart.

My eyes continue skimming as Jade chats excitedly with Markus and asks him how long he’s been running the studio.

Hip-hop and contemporary dances I read. From Jazz to breakdancing.

Now the latter is something I could get into, even if I might make myself look like a complete idiot whilst doing it.

And Coach Carter would bust a nut if I hurt myself in any way, shape, or form during the season because of a fucking dance lesson.

Then at the bottom of the menu board, there’s a list under Other dance styles; ballet, tap dancing, country line dancing and Zumba.

Line dancing could also be a hoot. “Seems you do it all,” I say as Markus ushers us down the brightly lit hallway, little brass sconces lighting the way over a deep red plush carpet to big double heavy-looking wooden doors.

“That we do,” he practically sings as we walk.

“Breakdancing?” I give Jade a nudge in the ribs as she stifles a giggle.

“Don’t even think about it, Jay.”

“Why not? It’s a fun wedding, remember? No one is going to be expecting us to break out into a hip-hop slash breakdancing medley.”

Markus turns to us and obviously catches wind of our conversation as he lets out a laugh, his topaz eyes twinkling with delight. “You know anything can be arranged,” he says with a rueful shrug. “You just have to be open to it.”

“See!” I say to Jade, not meaning to point the finger but waggling one her way, anyway. She’s already looking less than impressed with what I can only assume is the thought of learning a breakdancing routine. She gives me a withering look to confirm I’m correct. “Be open to it, Little JJ. ”

She shoves me with a knock of her hand into my shoulder as Markus busts open the doors in a grand gesture, like we’re entering a palace.

We’re greeted with an extremely large shiny floored dance studio with mirrors the entire way around the expansive space.

It’s no smaller than a hotel ballroom, and impressive as they come.

You’d have no idea from the small shop front that this was even back here.

The ceilings must be twenty feet above average with the fancy kind of cornicing you only see in really old houses.

It has a rose pattern intertwined with leaves mapping the entire surrounds of the ceiling.

For some reason, it kinda reminds me of my grandpa’s cottage back in North Dakota.

Maybe because it has old world charm and an equal balance of modern day vintage mixed with the new.

“Wait? Are we the only ones here,” I ask, quizzically, as I check the space out, turning my head to scan the entire room. There’s a place for us to put our jackets and belongings and change into a pair of what Markus calls proper dance shoes right at the end of the room.

“It’s a private lesson,” Jade tells me as we walk to the little cloakroom area and take a seat on one of the plush velvet cushioned chairs next to the cubicles, just off the main floor.

Funnily enough, there’s a pair of dance shoes in exactly our sizes waiting for us about a metre from where I plonk down.

“Fuck. This must be setting you back if it’s a private lesson. I’ll reimburse?—”

She waves my mere suggestion off with her hand. “Don’t worry about it. This is something I wanted to do so we could have fun and not look like idiots that don’t know what we’re doing at my brother’s wedding. There’s nothing worse than anyone in a bridal party not being able to dance properly.”

“Speak for yourself about looking like an idiot on the dance floor.” I jump up out of my seat and press my palms to my waist, waggling my hips side to side before she can object, chanting, “Cha, cha, cha.” As I shuffle.

Jade covers her mouth with a stifling laugh. “Oh my god, Jay!”

“Ten points for enthusiasm,” Markus croons, popping his head in through the opening as Jade finishes tying her shoes. She looks so fucking cute still in her yoga gear, her hair pulled up into a messy bun with just a couple of loose tendrils falling free.

It seems like she had a good day filming her yoga videos from what she said in the car, and I’m glad to see a smile on her face after what Tanner told me over the phone. “That’s what you need in this game!” I agree.

He probably has ten years on me, and a long, svelte frame to boot.

Clearly a professional dancer, you can see by the way that he walks and gestures dramatically with his hands for everything.

He wears a pair of fitted dark suit pants and a tight Downtown Dance white t-shirt with bold, sparkly black lettering and polished black shoes.

His hair is slicked back with oil or gel or some shit.

“I’ve got the moves and the enthusiasm!” I declare. “It’s Jade here you’ve gotta watch.” She steps forward to strike me again, but I dodge out of the way and shuffle out of the cubicle backwards, shimmying my shoulders as I go.

“Behave!” she chastises, but she can’t keep a straight face and neither can I.

This might be more fun than I actually believed possible. Especially when we get down to the nitty-gritty on what we’re going to be learning, and Markus is eager to get started

“From what Jade told me when she signed you both up, it sounds like you’re a fun-loving duo and want to rock it out at her brother’s wedding in a few weeks?”

My head turns to look at Jade, mouthing rock it out as she tries to ignore me.

“Something like that,” Jade answers. “I’ve just always wanted to be able to dance properly, and I think we’re both quick learners. Jay’s a hockey player, if you didn’t already know.”

Markus smiles at me with a newfound appreciation. “Hockey, huh?”

“Seattle Hawks,” I tell him proudly, not that I like to brag, but it just pops out.

He guffaws a little. “Oh wow, sorry.” He shrugs apologetically. “I don’t get out much to know these things.”

I laugh and wave it off. It doesn’t bother me one iota if he knows about the team or who I am at all. “And I appreciate Jade’s confidence in me, but playing hockey is a damned sight different from whatever you’ve got planned for us this afternoon.”

He recovers from his momentary lapse hearing I’m an NHL player and appraises Jade. “And you’re a yoga teacher, I hear?”

“Yes. I’ve been out filming today for my new app, so I should be nice and limber.”

I try my best not to balk at that, nor think about it too closely.

“Perfect.” He claps his hands together like it was just the confirmation he was needing. “I’m thinking we go in solid with some upbeat partner moves, it’s kind of like a lighthearted swing meets cheeky salsa and a touch of fun in a two-step. A little mash-up if you will.”

“Sounds promising.” I nod. “As long as we can cha-cha-cha .” I sway my hips to my own stupid beat again as Jade’s hand collides with my shoulder in a bid to keep me from dancing before we’re supposed to.

“You!” She shakes her head. “You’re obsessed with that crazy move.”

Markus doesn’t seem phased by my outburst or our slight bickering. “If you want to add in some cha-cha-cha .” He even copies my poor rendition of what I think it entails, but he has way more flair and hip swing than I do. “Then your wish is my command.”

“Excellent.” I beam, then lean toward Markus, mumbling around the back of my hand. “Don’t be fooled, it’s Jade that wants us to cha-cha-cha to the Merengue. Like most girls, she’s obsessed with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.”

Jade gives me an exasperated, withering look as Markus gives us an all too knowing smirk, like he’s heard that one a million times before.

“Don’t deny it,” I mutter.

She pulls out her tongue and I laugh. Fuck, she’s cute. “They didn’t dance to the Merengue, actually. If you remember, that was Neil, the nephew’s idea, and Patrick Swayze’s character Johnny got pissed at him because he had his own ideas for the final dance.”

Hmm. Reminds me of someone. I’ve got no comeback whatsoever, so I give her a lopsided smile for good measure.

“While all that may be true.” Markus claps his hands together again. “We better get started. Now, the first thing I usually teach my students is connection and basic footwork. But you two already have the connection thing down pat already.”

I eye Jade and cast her a wink. There’s no way I could imagine doing this with anyone else. I might be kinda making a joke out of things right now, no disrespect to Markus, but that’s generally what I do when I’m not sure about something.

“Are you ready to show your moves?” A chin lift toward Jade is my only vice of either about to make a total fool of myself, or actually come out the other end with some kind of dancing knowledge and dignity.

I’m quickly learning that groping in a dimly lit sports bar to Red, Red Wine is not going to cut it here.

And no one wants to see that, except maybe me.

A self-assured grin pulls from the side of my mouth as we take our positions face to face, my eyes skating over Jade’s pretty features, noting the cute freckles dancing across her nose.

Markus gives us a good old run down on posture and what sets people apart when it comes to dancing.

Not that we’re in some kind of competition or anything, but it’s making Jade happy.

I can see it in the luminous sparkle to her sapphire eyes, accented even more by the matching eyeliner she wore this morning.

“Ready to have fun? ” I tilt my head and grace her with another wink.

She smiles back and claps her hands together excitedly. “I’m ready.”

Turns out dancing is fucking hard work and my two-step shuffle leaves little to be desired. But fuck, we have fun. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun in my life.

The guys are not going to believe it when I tell them.

Throughout practice, they were jibing at me for even entertaining the idea.

Though, now Taylor and Em have set their wedding date for June next year, I figure they’re going to be next.

And we can definitely recommend this place to learn all about it.

Markus is patient, and while he’s serious about the moves – his love of dancing and form – he’s light-hearted too and at least joins in a bit of the fun with us.

“I will pay you to stop saying cha-cha-cha ,” Jade giggles when I successfully step back on my heel with my right foot, then with a twist of my hips I step it in front, while Jade does the same, but in reverse with her left.

Then I take her hand as I spin her in a double circle, her bun has loosened off to a ponytail now and is flying with the whirling motion.

I pull her back to my chest. She’s a fucking natural, of course.

As she faces me again, she steadies herself with a hand on my heart. The warm heat of her palm searing through my shirt, at least, it feels like it. Her eyes are looking down for a second, so I use my finger to lift her chin, her eyes having no choice but to find mine and I like what I see there.

I like the softness. The way she calms me and the way her eyes smile when her mouth does.

“No way I’m gonna stop saying that. I’m having way too much fun doing it,” I say.

Before she can respond, Markus claps his hands together, indicating our lesson has come to an end, and I have to admit, I’m beat. This has been an hour and a half of pure cardio and adrenaline. I’m starving.

“Jade mentioned she’s heading back to Cali next week, so we need to get a few more lessons in before you go,” Markus says, looking from me to Jade. “What do you guys think?”

“I’m up for it,” Jade agrees, her intense blue irises finding mine to check if I’m up for it.

“Sounds perfect.” I nod. Anything to spend some more time with her like this before she leaves and I’m in.

“Same time Friday?”

“Friday,” Jade and I both say in unison, our simultaneous laugh says it all.