“Ladies, put your hands on—”
The door opened, and everyone turned to see Karen Bedford hurry inside, Olivia trailing behind her. Now this was a surprise—both Karen and Olivia. Obviously, the young woman had changed her mind, but Erma never would have guessed Karen would deign to enter Maple Falls unless she was visiting Anita. Even then, she usually stuck to the café, although sometimes she visited the diner. Maple Falls had never been cosmopolitan enough for Karen, and once her youngest child graduated from Maple Falls High—their father’s alma mater—she and the doctor had moved to Hot Springs toot sweet.
Karen glanced around the room, a slight frown on her face, while Olivia went to stand by Jared. Her expression wasn’t much brighter.
Sunny glided over to them. “Welcome, ladies. I’m Sunny, and I’m so glad you’re joining us tonight.” She gazed expectantly at Karen.
“Karen Bedford.” Karen’s frown disappeared as she shook Sunny’s hand.
“I’m Olivia.” Olivia took a step forward.
Sunny turned to her. “Right. You left a message for me last night. Very thoughtful, thank you. So you and Jared can go stand by Senior and Myrtle. And you—” She gestured for Karen to follow her to the other side of the room. “Bubba needs a partner too.”
Karen balked. “But I already have—”
“Ms.Sunny,” Bubba said in a slow drawl as horror flashed across his face. “I ain’t too sure about this.”
But Sunny was already leading Karen to stand in front of Bubba. Once she was in position, Karen sighed. “Hello... Bubba.”
“Hi, Mrs.Bedford,” he said weakly.
Erma would have laughed if Bubba didn’t look so forlorn. Karen was clearly disgruntled by something, but it wasn’t her dance partner. Bubba would be fine.
I hope.
Sunny started walking around the group of dancers. “As I was saying, face your partner. Ladies, put your hands on your partners’ shoulders. Men, put yours on the ladies’ waists.”
“This is like junior high,” Senior said with a laugh as he and Myrtle complied.
Erma glanced at Olivia. Jared’s hands were barely touching her, and Erma noticed for the first time that she looked especially cute in her bright-pink dress with a flared skirt. Perfect for dancing. Olivia’s hands lightly rested on the front of Jared’s shoulders. Both kids looked awkward and uncomfortable.
“Hey,” Jasper said, moving closer to Erma. “Get with the program.”
“I’m gettin’. I’m gettin’.” She put her hands on his shoulders and caught a whiff of a scent that reminded her of those Irish soap commercials. That was one thing she could give Jasper credit for—he might look disheveled, but he was always clean.
Then his hands skimmed her waist. She startled.
“Somethin’ wrong?” he said.
“No, just...” Just what was that little jolt she’d felt when he touched her? She’d danced with Jasper countless times over the years. But it had always been grudgingly, either on her side or on his side. Mostly both, and it had mostly been for fast numbers when they didn’t have to touch each other. Come to think of it, Jasper usually disappeared during slow dances. Surely they’d danced a few of them, though. And she’d never, ever felt ajolt.
She lifted her head to see his expression. He was looking past her shoulder, crotchety as usual.
Must have been a gas pain.
“Ladies, take your right hand and hold it up like this.” Sunny’s palm faced outward. “Men, take your left hand and hold their right one.” She paused as everyone situated themselves. “That’s great! Now, tonight we’re going to practice basic footwork and posture, otherwise known as your dance frame.” She checked everyone’s stance as she spoke. “Then I’ll introduce the rumba.”
Erma glanced at Jasper, who was still looking at everyone and everything except for her. He was a short guy, only an inch or three taller than her. His eyes were moss green—whyhadn’t she noticed that before?—and he had several wayward hairs poking out from his bushy gray eyebrows. They really needed a trim.
He scowled. “What are ya starin’ at?”
She jerked her gaze from his face. She did not like feeling this off-center, particularly when it came to Jasper. She forced herself to focus on what Sunny was saying. Jasper could let his eyebrows grow wild for all she cared.
“Everyone looks good,” Sunny said. “Now, men, take one step back on your left foot—”
The studio door opened again, and for the first time an annoyed expression appeared on Sunny’s face. Everyone relaxed their positions and looked to see who had the nerve to show up well into the class hour. Erma’s brow lifted as Kingston Bedford walked in, looking sheepish.
And handsome.Let’s be real.
