Page 4 of Dancing on Air

When she saw a chocolate lab rush down the lighted pathway straight towards her hiding spot, she closed her eyes and held her breath.

Then the dog stopped barking.

When she looked down, it was sitting directly underneath her hiding spot, looking up at her as its tail thumped on the ground happily.

“Are you friendly?” she asked quietly, glancing around. She’d never been around dogs or any animals, for that matter. The dog tilted his head and let out a low happy bark.

“I’m going to trust you.” She slid down the tree. Her feet touched the ground, and she smiled when the dog didn’t make a move.

Kneeling down, she petted the dog, who instantly rolled over, exposing his belly. She chuckled and gave the dog’s tummy a scratch.

It appeared that her brother was home. She wondered if she should make herself known, but she wanted to watch him. To see what kind of person he was.

Fear of being kicked off the island or, worse, arrested kept her from coming forward as well.

Then to her surprise, shortly after JT returned home, a new visitor arrived. Emma Wilder, the freaking movie star, waltzed onto the island. She’d read that Emma was starring in her brother’s movie and wondered just how close the pair of them were. She’d seen them flirting plenty, so they must be pretty friendly.

She found a place to hide during the day, and at night she spent her time trying to learn as much as she could about her brother while avoiding the security cameras.

On her third night, the dog cornered her in the same damn tree, and she was finally discovered. She’d chanced coming out of her hiding spot to listen in as the couple hung out by the docks. She knew the dog just wanted to play with her again, but unfortunately, he was being too loud.

Now, she was staring down at her brother as Emma came running up from the pathway and shined a flashlight directly in Cora’s eyes.

“You might as well come on down,” JT said, holding the dog by the collar. “Hold, Bo.” JT turned and handed the dog over to Emma, who took his collar.

Bo. The dog’s name. Cora smiled slightly. It suited him.

“Bo, sit,” Emma said softly, as Cora shimmied down the tree.

Her brother was taller than she’d imagined. She’d only seen him from afar. Now, he hovered over her and she suddenly felt scared. What if JT was just like her dad? He looked a lot like him, with the exception of the long blond hair and the huge muscles she could see on his arms and chest.

Cora removed her hood and her long red hair fell all around her face. While she’d been sneaking around, she’d hidden it for fear it would catch the light and give her away.

Most of her life she’d been teased about the brightness of it, but in the past few years, her bright locks had dimmed a little.

“Who are you? Why are you on my island?” JT asked when she was safely on the ground.

“I’m your sister,” Cora blurted out, crossing her arms over her chest. Just let him try and deny it. She had all the proof. Besides, she was upset at the way he was looking at her.

He laughed. “Tell me another story.” JT pulled out his cell phone.

For some reason, this pissed Cora off. Couldn’t he see the truth? Didn’t he know all about her already?

“I’m Cora Thomas. My father… our father married my mother, Pam, after he divorced yours,” she explained quickly.

JT froze and ran his eyes over her. She saw the moment he knew it was the truth.

“What are you doing here?” Emma asked. “Sneaking around?”

“I… I just wanted to meet…” she started.

“The truth,” JT interrupted her.

She thought of the last few phone calls between JT and her father that she’d overheard.

“You wouldn’t help my father out, so…” She threw her chin up again.

“So, you’re here to what? Steal from me? Force me to give him money he doesn’t deserve?” JT demanded.