Alyssa shakes her head. “I’ll go home and change and meet you there.”
“Is six okay with you?” I ask.
“Perfect.”
“Great,” I say.
“Great,” she repeats.
We’re still wrapped in our towels, awkward as fuck. “Can I send the car to pick you up?”
She tightens the knot in her towel. “Yes, thank you.”
“Right…well… We should change and go back to the party,” I suggest.
Alyssa stands and heads to the bathroom. “I’ll see you back out there.”
When she disappears into the room, I sink onto the nearest chair. Dropping my head in my hands, I drag in a deep breath and remind myself why I’ve chosen the life I’m living. I’m not looking for anything else. I have all I need. Alyssa is onlycoming over to teach Lily. So why does my heartbeat gallop with anticipation?
Chapter Thirteen
HAYDEN
Like the last time Alyssa was due to arrive at the house, I watch for the car at the front window. The lights of the car wind up the driveway, stopping at the front of the house. Alyssa steps out of the vehicle and walks to the door. Lily, dressed in a pink leotard, rushes to open it before Alyssa can knock.
Alyssa steps into the foyer and my eyes drink her in. Dressed in her signature black cargo pants, black studded leather jacket, and chunky boots, she looks like a biker chick. A pink leotard peeks from beneath the jacket. With her hair twisted in a high bun, she carries herself with grace. Her long neck, perfect posture—she glides into the room like she’s floating on air. Even with a slight limp, she’s perfect.
My mouth is suddenly dry, and I swallow hard. “Thanks for coming. Lily has been bouncing off the walls with excitement.”
“I’m excited to get started too.” Alyssa flicks her gaze from Lily and lingers a little longer on me, her eyes holding me captive.
God, if she keeps looking at me like that, I’m screwed. “Well, I’ll leave you two to it. Lily, can you remind Miss Alyssa where the room is please?”Remember to keep your distance, I remind myself.
“Sure.” Lily holds onto Alyssa’s hand, and they disappear up the stairs.
As I settle myself in my office to do some work, music floats into the room. It’s not the usual classical music you associate with ballet but some up-tempo Michael Jackson song. Lily is going to love this lesson, I’m sure.
After about half an hour of trying to focus on the spreadsheet on the laptop, I give up and shut it down. I’m too distracted by the noise coming from the studio. I’m curious as to how it’s going.
Making my way up the stairs to the room, I poke my head inside. A gasp catches in my lungs. Alyssa is stripped down to her leotard and tights and is demonstrating a move. With one arm above her head, another out to the side, the lines in her body are breathtaking. I prop a shoulder against the doorframe and admire the view.
“See how my heel lifts off the floor?” she says to Lily, not yet seeing me watching them. Lily nods as she looks intently at Alyssa’s feet. “This allows for all my weight to be put on the ball of my foot. That way, when I spin, I’m not leaning back and tipping out of it. Let me show you.”
Alyssa does a graceful twirl. Her body is athletic, yet soft in all the right places, the spin showing off her working muscles. I never thought ballet could ever look so fucking sexy. I groan out loud. When I realize what I’ve done, I cover it up with a cough. Alyssa and Lily turn to me, both wearing a querying expression.
I push away from the doorframe. “Should you be doing that on your injured ankle?”
“I’m putting weight on my good leg.” She smiles. “Did you need Lily for something?”
“No, I’m just checking to see how’s she’s doing.”Liar! More like checking you out.
“She’s doing great.” Alyssa smiles down at Lily. “Do you want to show your dad your pirouette?”
Lily nods, stands in front of the mirror, and positions her body before she spins.
“That’s fantastic. You nailed it.” Alyssa holds her hand up to give Lily a high-five. To me, she says, “She was struggling with it in class. Now she can do it with ease.”
“You’re a great teacher,” I say.
