She glanced toward the big clock opposite the wall of mirrors. Grant was fifteen minutes early. She wasn’t ready for him yet. Still, it pleased her that he appeared eager to start the lessons, despite his so-called two left feet.
He pushed open the door and stepped inside. When he saw her, he grinned. “I’m early.”
She had the same indescribable reaction to his smile that she’d experienced yesterday. “I noticed.” She turned and headed for the iHome stereo, needing a little distance so she could think straight again. “You’ll have to wait while I get organized. Tell me. What kind of music do you like?”
“Country, mostly. And I listen to a lot of praise music when I’m cooking by myself.”
Grant Nichols was an interesting combination, Skye thought as she scrolled through her iPod. He had an eye for horses, according to Chet, and he had the look of a real cowboy. Something more than the clothes he wore. A kind of western inner attitude. He made his living in the kitchen and made no apologies for it as some men would. However, he was ashamed of his dancing abilities. Still, because of his friendship with the groom, he was willing to try to change that.
And how cool is it that he listens to praise music while he works?
She stopped scrolling and selected a Vince Gill album. An extra-slow waltz number was in order for this first lesson, and this album had one that was about seventy beats per minute. Perfect for a novice. When it was ready to play, she turned toward Grant again.
“We’re going to start with the country waltz. Ever done it?”
He shook his head. “Not really.”
“Okay. Just a few basics. We’ll count it out like this: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.” She went to stand in front of him. “No leaning forward. Keep your own balance. Imagine a string pulling you up from the top of your head.” She put her right hand in his left, then positioned his right hand on her back. “Your knees shouldn’t be stiff. We want to compress into the floor so that our actions are nice and smooth as we move in a circle.”
Confusion filled his eyes. “Compress into the floor? What does that mean?”
“Just keep your knees flexible. You’ll get the hang of it.”
“What about spins and going backward?”
She smiled, hoping to encourage him. “That’s a ways off. All we want right now is to glide. Let’s try it without music first, shall we? I’ll count off six, and then we’ll begin on the next one. Okay?”
He nodded. His hand tightened on hers. To the point of pain.
“Relax your grip, Grant. You’re going to do fine.”
He released a humorless laugh.
She counted to six, then, “And one—”
Grant’s boot came down hard on her toes.
Ouch! Somehow she managed to only think the word, but she couldn’t keep from wincing.
He froze in place. “See. I told you. I’m a lost cause when it comes to dancing.”
“Mr. Nichols.” Skye showed him her best serious-teacher expression. The one she’d perfected for her elementary school students. “Do you give up so easily on everything you try?”
“What? No. But this is different. I’ve tried this before.”
“Not with me you haven’t.”
Grant opened his mouth as if to say more, then closed it.
Skye smiled at him. “Very good. Let’s try again. One. Two. Three . . .”
The lesson didn’t end up being the worst experience of Grant’s life, although it hadn’t ranked up near the top of his best experiences either. He hadn’t battered and bruised his teacher. Not to an extreme degree, at any rate. She could still walk to the stereo after the final dance. They could both be thankful for that.
Music off, Skye turned toward him. “That went well.”
And she said it with a straight face.
Grant about choked on a laugh. When he recovered, he said, “You’re cute when you lie, Skye Foster.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. If he’d insulted her— Her laughter spilled forth unabated. Not insulted. Amused.
Everything about Skye seemed wonderful to him. Her sense of humor. Her glorious smile. Her boundless energy. Those expressive, big brown eyes. Her luxurious black hair. Sure, he didn’t know lots about her yet, but that was the great part. He couldn’t wait to learn more. To get to know her better and better.
“Would you have dinner with me, Skye? Tonight at the Tamarack.”
Her smile faded by degrees.
His heart felt like it might break in the same way. “Sorry. Maybe you’re involved with someone else. I didn’t mean to—”
“No,” she answered, the word breathy. “There’s no one else, Grant. And I’d like to have dinner with you.”
Relief rushed through him. “Great. I don’t eat out often. I already spend a lot of time at the restaurant, cooking. And it’s not much fun to eat out alone.”
“I know. I feel the same way.”
“Do you?” He couldn’t imagine why she would ever have to eat alone. The men of Kings Meadow must all be married, engaged, or blind. That was the only explanation that made sense to him.