“Oh, not very long.” Saylor immediately started spinning the ring on her finger. “Couple months.”

  “When’s the big day?”

  “We haven’t set a date.” Saylor wouldn’t look her in the eye, which seemed odd. Anyone Tia had met who had just gotten engaged usually wanted to talk all about the wedding and nothing else. Maybe something else was afoot.

  “You haven’t?”

  Saylor shook her head. “We figured we’d have a long engagement since it happened so quickly.”

  “I feel like there’s a story you’re not sharing here.”

  “Not much of one. We met when he was in Denver for work about six months ago. But long-distance was hard, and we thought me moving here would help with that. So we got engaged, and I moved here.”

  Tia’s face pinched. “Usually when people talk about being engaged, there’s a lot of talk about love.”

  “Oh, I love him.”

  But Saylor’s face remained passive.

  “Of course I love him.”

  Why did Saylor sound like she was trying to convince herself? Tia kept quiet, drinking her beer as she listened for the different inflections in Saylor’s tone, eyeing her mannerisms. “I’ve never been married. Or engaged.”

  “Do you want to get married?” Saylor’s question was different from how people normally asked that.

  And it was different enough that it didn’t immediately put Tia’s back up. “Not really, no.”

  “I never thought I wanted to get married either.” Saylor spun her pint on the table. “But I guess I changed my mind.”

  She still sounded like she was trying to convince herself. Tia picked up on that tone from a mile away, and she was going to continue to look for it as much as possible. She finished her first drink and ordered a second one.

  “I find dating at this stage of my life odd.”

  “Why’s that?” Saylor’s brow furrowed.

  “Because I’m close to fifty years old, and most people my age have been married and divorced. Some of them were widowed. Most have kids, a lot of them have kids still in school.”

  “And you don’t want those complications?” Saylor prompted.

  “I don’t understand them. Younger people tend to not have the worldly experiences I do. They’re at the start of their careers. They want to have fun and then settle down.”

  “But you don’t want to settle,” Saylor concluded for her.

  “Correct. Fun, I’ll have. Settling… that’s not for me.” Tia smiled when her second drink was put in front of her. Considering how attracted she was to Saylor, she really should look into finding someone to help her expend some of that sexual energy she was carrying around. Someone who was free for the taking and who was interested in women. Though Saylor could be interested in women even though she was engaged to a man. Tia wouldn’t shove her into the straight category just yet. They didn’t know each other well enough.

  “You’re not afraid to be alone?” Saylor’s voice was small, her shoulders collapsing in slightly as if to make herself take up even less space than she had been.

  “No.” Tia eyed Saylor over her pint. “Are you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I love being alone. But I’m rarely lonely.”

  Saylor frowned, as if not quite understanding the difference.

  “I suspect you’re more lonely than you are alone.”

  “Maybe.” Saylor finished her drink and pressed her hands into her lap, as if she was scared to say anything else.

  “Do you want another one?” Tia pointed toward her drink.

  Saylor stared at it, the debate in her eyes clear as day. “I shouldn’t.”

  “That isn’t what I asked.” Tia leaned in a little, her hand flat on the tabletop. “Look, I’m not the police. If you want another beer, have another one. If you don’t, then don’t. Own your decisions, Saylor.”

  Saylor winced. “Yes.”

  “Good.” Tia waved the waiter over and asked for another one. “Now, do you like Seattle?”

  Saylor smiled. “I don’t know.”

  Humming, Tia scooted from the chair she was in to the third chair at the table, sitting right next to Saylor. Maybe closeness would help loosen her up a bit. “Tell me about skating. I’ve only been once when I was a kid.”

  “Once?” Saylor’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “I love it. It feels like flying.”

  “I get that from dancing.”

  “Maybe, but you can go faster when you’re skating.”

  This had seemed like the safest bet for a topic. Saylor’s entire face lit up at the conversation. “True. But I do love a slow dance.” Fuck, that had sounded so flirtatious. Why couldn’t she stop herself sometimes? Saylor was engaged. There was no reason Tia should be pushing this.

  Saylor’s cheeks pinked, clearly embarrassed by Tia’s flirting. Tia cursed herself. She should know better. Saylor was fragile, and she didn’t need an older woman coming on to her. Ever. Taking a long sip from her beer, Tia tried to find another topic of conversation.

  “What do you do for work?”

  Saylor bit her lip and shrugged. “I don’t work right now. I’ve been trying to find a job since I moved here, but I haven’t had any luck.”

  “It’s not a great market for it.” Tia played with the coaster on the table, forcing her fingers to think about something other than reaching over and touching Saylor’s wrist for comfort. “What did you do in Denver?”

  “Odd things here and there when I could. It’s expensive to be on the competitors’ circuit, so I coached a lot of kids, did some sewing projects here and there when I could, substitute teaching.”

  “Did you go to school for anything?”

  Saylor shook her head. “No. My life was figure skating.”

  “And it’s not now? Why stop just because you moved?” Tia looked directly into Saylor’s beautiful brown eyes. If skating was that much a part of her life, why would she stop? Especially so suddenly. It seemed an odd turn of events, didn’t it?

  “It’s just time to move on.”

  Well that was a nonanswer if Tia had ever heard one. But she obviously hadn’t gained enough of Saylor’s trust to talk about that yet. Just like Saylor hadn’t earned enough of Tia’s trust to talk about how fucked up her family was. Letting it drop, Tia ordered a third beer. What the hell did she care if she got drunk? Her home was two blocks away.

  “Sometimes you have to break those ties,” Tia mumbled into what was left of her beer before downing it.

  “Yeah. Sometimes you do.” Saylor sipped her new beer quietly, an elephant suddenly landed in the middle of the conversation, and Tia wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. Not yet anyway.

  “You know, if you need something to fill your time while you look for a job, I can always use help with some of my classes with kids. You’re good enough and have the experience of working with kids that you could really help me out.” Tia clenched her molars. What was she doing? She was so used to fixing everyone’s problems that it came naturally to her. She’d just offered it up like it was nothing. Well, it was nothing. She really could use another adult to corral the kids, especially an adult she didn’t have to pay.

  “Really?” Saylor looked skeptical.

  Tia could understand why. “Yeah. I’ll need to run a background check, but having another adult who understands the basic principles of dance would be really helpful.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Saylor finished her second drink of the night. “I should really get home.”

  “Facing the fear?”

  “It’s not fear.” Saylor looked Tia dead in the eye, confidence in her eyes. “I know what I’m facing.”

  “And what’s that?” Enraptured, Tia couldn’t look away.

  “Failure.”

  five

  “Saylor, stay a minute, would you?”

  Saylor couldn’t believe she was there.

  Again and again she’d told herself she wouldn’t show up, but something about the way Tia had eased her nerves when they’d gone out was enticing. She wanted to know if she could feel that calm again. Biting her lip, Saylor followed every step in the class as best as she could. But now as everyone filed out of the classroom and Saylor was stuck waiting for Tia to finish up her conversations, she wasn’t sure what was right or what was wrong.

  Or who she even was anymore.

  Something about Tia was so easy. In a way she’d never experienced in her life before. Not with figure skating, not with friends. Jericho waved as she left, and Saylor gave her a small wave back. Maybe that was easier too. Was it possible that she was beginning to like Seattle?

  Yet the thought of going back to her apartment filled her stomach with dread.

  “I hope you consider competing.”

  “What?” Saylor jerked her head up and looked Tia directly in the eye. She worried her lip, folding her hands together and twisting them.

  “Competing.” Tia smiled as she pulled her hair out of the ponytail and redid it.

  Saylor could barely take her eyes off the movement of Tia’s hands, the tension of her fingers as she pulled the elastic, her hair as it fell against her back.

  “Steven needs a partner for the next competition because Jericho is going to be on some cruise.”

  Saylor’s ears stopped ringing. She wasn’t tracking the conversation. “What?”

  “Are you paying attention?” Tia chuckled, her voice low as she shook her head.

  “Sorry.” Saylor immediately looked down at the ground, her cheeks reddening. She’d been struggling to focus, because of the scent of Tia’s body—sweat with something sweet—and because the warmth she brought each time she was in Saylor’s presence was something Saylor found herself longing for.

  “Don’t be sorry.” Tia laughed lightly again and put her hand on Saylor’s arm. Her touch was firm, her grasp tight, and a shiver ran through Saylor’s body. “We had an intense practice.”

  “Yeah…” Saylor trailed off. She kept her eyes locked on Tia’s feet.

  “Will you look at me?” Tia’s question was so gentle, a beckoning.

  Saylor pressed her lips together hard, dragging her gaze slowly up Tia’s body, over the curves of her calves, the muscles in her thighs, her thin hips, to her waist. Her heart hammered, her breathing shallow as she reached Tia’s breasts, tightly confined in her workout clothes, but straining against the material. Saylor struggled to pull her gaze away, but when Tia stepped in even closer, she had to—otherwise it would stay awkward.

  “I meant my eyes,” Tia murmured.

  Saylor’s mouth went dry.

  But Tia looked amused, not offended.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I enjoy being admired, especially when it’s not in a leering fashion.” Tia reached out and put a hand on Saylor’s arm. “I wanted to talk to you about competing with Steven in a few months.”

  “Months?” Saylor squeaked.

  “Yes. I think you can be brought up to speed quickly, since you have more than the basics already down. It would be Steven’s first competition, too. I’m not expecting much other than for you two to participate and get experience.” Tia didn’t move her hand. Instead, she squeezed tightly and moved her fingers up and down.

  Saylor flicked her gaze to the touch before locking her eyes on Tia’s. She had no idea what to say. Her heart was in her throat. “I don’t know.”

  “Come on. You can do this.”

  “I…” Saylor swallowed down her fear. “I don’t think I can.”

  “Let’s try it then.” Tia walked away, turning on the music and coming back. She didn’t even take a breath to prepare as she snagged Saylor’s hands and spun her into a circle.

  It was exactly like before. Saylor moved against her, unable to force herself to stop as the music filled her soul and propelled her feet to follow Tia’s lead. She moved her fingers lightly against Tia’s body, sliding them when she was supposed to. She stepped closer into the circle of Tia’s arms, pressing their chests together just like she’d done with Steven earlier when they’d practiced this very dance.

  But it didn’t feel the same.

  This was so much more than a simple dance.

  Saylor sucked in a staggering breath as she spun in a circle, landing right back into Tia’s grasp. The music faded away to the point that Saylor barely even heard it. The only sound in her ears was her breath, a gentle ringing, and the sound of their feet against the floor. Tia held her so gingerly, guiding their movements as they spun around the dance floor from one step into the next. When she stopped, Saylor missed it.

  “See?” Tia breathed. “You’re a natural.”

  “I don’t see,” Saylor responded, more confident than ever in that simple phrase. She wasn’t made for dancing. Not like Tia was.

  “Then I guess you’ll need a lot more private lessons.”

  “I—”

  “I didn’t realize you had private lessons scheduled.” Kirsten stepped through the doorway and into the studio.

  Saylor’s cheeks burned. They were so hot, she wasn’t sure she wanted to touch them, and she certainly couldn’t turn to face Kirsten. What was it with that woman? Saylor hated her, but she was pretty sure it was only on principle. Tia tensed every second Kirsten was nearby, and that set Saylor off. She faced the ground again, worried that Kirsten would see her embarrassment.

  “I didn’t realize you kept tabs on my calendar,” Tia fired back, an anger in her tone that Saylor hadn’t witnessed before.

  “I don’t.” Kirsten smiled and stepped in closer, moving right between them. She put her hand on Tia’s arm.

  Saylor instinctively stepped away, rolling her shoulders. She had to put some space between herself and the two of them. More than that, she needed to escape. Getting out of here would be the best thing possible.

  “Why are you here again?” Tia asked, her voice louder.

  Saylor risked a glance at her as she took a step back. She looked pissed, raging mad.

  “I thought I’d catch you before you left for the night.” Kirsten stepped in even closer to Tia, pressing against her arm as she wrapped their fingers together.

  Tia extricated her hand and sent Saylor an apologetic look. “What did you need?”

  Tia was annoyed now. Anyone within a mile radius should be able to see that. Saylor started toward the door, needing to leave the two of them to whatever argument was about to happen. She didn’t want to see another fight. She had enough of that growing up. Biting the inside of her cheek, she slipped through the door into the lobby and snagged her jacket from the hook.

  Tia’s voice was sharp as she reprimanded Kirsten. Saylor had her jacket on and zipped up. She had her hand on the doorknob and was almost free.

  “Wait.” The word reverberated through the lobby. “Please just wait.”

  Saylor tensed, her shoulders sharp. She’d been so close. “I don’t want to cause any drama.”

  Tia let out a wry laugh. “This isn’t your drama.”

  Staying where she was, Saylor tried to convince herself to just leave. There was no reason she should be staying there. She cringed. She was such a pushover.

  “Just stay. Let me get rid of her.”

  “And then what?” The words were biting. But she hadn’t intended her tone to sound like that. Saylor winced. Her anxiety was getting the better of her already.

  “And then we’ll talk.” Tia looked Saylor directly in the eye. “Please. Two minutes to get her out of here.”

  “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  “Saylor.” Tia stepped in close, standing against Saylor’s body as if they were back in their dance. “Please. Don’t leave me alone with her.”

  Saylor’s lips parted, suddenly the entire tone of the conversation changed. She wasn’t escaping but helping Tia to escape. Saylor canted her head to the side, looking deep into Tia’s eyes. She didn’t want to have her leg pulled, and she didn’t want to end up being walked all over again.

  “I’ll tell you all about it, but please don’t leave me alone with her. Not right now.” Tia moved in even closer, the warmth from her body seeping into Saylor’s skin, taking root there. “Please,” Tia whispered.

  “Fine.” Saylor stepped back toward the studio. She said nothing else.

  Tia seemed at ease already, walking into the large studio with more confidence in her shoulders than she’d had before. Saylor noted it as she folded her hands in front of her body, trying to keep herself from wringing them together in her own nervous state.

  “Kirsten, I’m busy.” Tia moved to the stereo equipment, closing everything up and locking it. She kept her back to Kirsten, as if she was too scared to look at her.

  “You don’t look busy.” Kirsten glared at Saylor and stepped between her and Tia, clearly a power move.

  Just who was this woman?

  On instinct, Saylor walked closer to Tia, leaning against the wall next to her, hands in her pockets, and she refused to look away from Kirsten. Something about this woman set her off. It had from the first moment they met, and Saylor was definitely not going to back down now.

  “I’m closing up for the night. Unless there’s something you need, I’m asking you to leave.”

  “She’s not leaving.”

  “Saylor and I have some things to discuss.” Tia flicked a glance in Saylor’s direction, her lips pulling tight into an uncomfortable smile.

  Kirsten snorted loudly. “You never change, do you?”

  Tia cringed, openly.

  “Always have one way to find them.”

  “That’s not what’s happening here.” Tia spun around, cutting her hand across the air as if that would stop the conversation.

  Saylor looked from Tia to Kirsten, wondering exactly what was going on that she was missing. Because there was a part of the conversation that she wasn’t privy to. But if she had her guess, they had history—sexual history—and Kirsten wasn’t taking the hint to leave well enough alone.