Fools in Love, page 11
Kate felt her stomach do a little twist. She’d been thinking the same thing. The last time she’d walked by All in Bloom, she’d spent most of her time looking through the large glass windows next door.
The place had solid hardwood floors, two empty walls, and what appeared to be a bathroom and storage rooms off the back.
It wouldn’t take much to turn it into a studio. Mirrors for each of the walls, barres on each side. Maybe some roll-up mats if she wanted to add yoga classes. Kate could even teach tap since she’d spent almost five years learning and dancing it herself.
The more she thought about her prospects, the more she realized that Tom had been right. She’d only thought of teaching as a bad idea when she was at the top of her game. Looking down her nose at the profession when she, herself, had relied on so many others to teach her had been shortsighted.
How many kids in Pride would love to learn like she had? Learn in town, instead of having to carpool to Edgeview or, worse, Portland.
She and her parents had spent so many hours traveling in the car to and from the city when she was younger.
“Do you know who owns it?” Kate asked Suzie.
“I do,” Josh said, breaking into the conversation.
“Josh bought up a lot of the old buildings in town a couple years back,” Carrie said with a sigh. “He gutted that one in particular, hoping to rent it out, since no one seemed to want to open another hair salon in town.”
“I had hoped to get someone in there before the end of the year. You’re welcome to take a look at it,” Josh added. “I can meet you over there in the morning, or we can walk over now. Up to you.”
Kate practically jumped up. “Now is good.”
Josh smiled, then turned to Carrie. “We’ll be back.” He kissed her cheek.
Josh and Kate walked down the street. The three-unit building sat on the other side of town, which was only about four blocks away.
“So, how are you feeling?” Josh asked, motioning to her leg.
“Much better. I’m excited that I have the go-ahead from Dr. Stevens to push myself a little more and get back to what I love.” They passed the building that housed his business, Internal Security. “How’s business?” She motioned to the two-story brick building.
He smiled. “Better than ever.” He nodded to Carrie’s Sanctuary. “We’re going to be expanding that building soon too. We still house all the bigger animals out on our property, but here we needed some more space.”
“That’s great.” She sopped by the windows to watch a small white fur ball roll around and play with a black one. The puppies were no bigger than her fists and looked so darn cute, she instantly thought of getting them.
“They’re not ready for a forever home just yet,” Josh said beside her. “But if you want, I can have Carrie put you on the list for when they are.”
“I…” She thought of turning him down, but then watched the pair of them wrestling and smiled. “Okay.”
“So, it’s really true?” Josh said as they started walking again.
“Hm?” She glanced at him.
“You’re sticking around?” he asked as they passed the police station and the fire station.
“I’m not sure I…” She shook her head. She’d known Josh all of her life. He was a few years ahead of her in school and, as far back as she could remember, he’d been totally infatuated with Carrie. Which had worked out, since they were now married and, if rumors were true, trying to start their own family. “I don’t think I’d make it dancing professionally. At least not in New York. I’m washed up. Everyone in the city knows about my injury. Besides, I think it’s time I took a break and put down some roots.” She thought about Tom. About wanting to spend more time with him.
It was funny. Before, she’d only ever felt trapped in the small town. Her eyes had been on a prize and the only way to obtain it had been to head to the Big Apple. There, everything she’d ever imagined she had wanted waited for her.
She’d dreamed of the bright lights, the loud noises, and the people. Thoughts of the stage had filled her mind to the point that her hometown was nothing more than just… well, a nuisance.
Now, however, with life in the city behind her, she was finally looking forward to something different. Even though she’d been raised in Pride, she’d always felt like an outsider. Most of the people she’d grown up with had always wanted to stay here. Sure, a few had moved on after school, but none had done so as young as she had. Even now, people like Josh were returning and putting down their own roots. Marrying, building homes, starting businesses, and having children. There was an entire young generation just waiting for her to teach.
Young girls with maybe the same desires that she’d had.
“It’s the reason I came back to Pride myself,” Josh said with a smile as they turned the corner and the three-unit building came into view. “Suzie owns the flower shop, but I own the other two units,” he said as they stopped in front. “I gutted this one a couple months back in hopes that it would rent faster. So far, I haven’t gotten a lot of interest. The other unit, I’ve got some interest in it. It needs some work, but I’m hoping it will be rented soon too.”
Kate was too busy looking at the space she was interested in to ask any more questions. She held her breath as Josh opened the glass door.
The place was big enough for a small dance studio. As she walked inside, she could just imagine it. Maybe she’d paint the walls a soft taupe color? She could get her dad and brother to hang the mirrors and barres.
“There’s a bathroom and two large storage rooms off the back of the building that could easily be converted into changing rooms,” Josh said, interrupting her thoughts.
“What are you asking for rent?” She turned to him suddenly, making up her mind.
When he gave her the amount, she tried to hold in her excitement. She easily had enough in her savings accounts to cover a year’s worth and doubted it would come down to having to pull anything from that account.
Josh smiled. “You can take some time to think on it if you need?”
She held out her hand and smiled when he put his in hers without hesitation just as the patrol car pulled up outside. “No, I don’t need any time. I’ll take it.”
“Looks like Tom found us,” Josh joked. “We can meet tomorrow to sign the lease if you want. If there’s anything that needs to be done to the space, just let me know,” he said as Tom walked into the front.
“Hey,” Tom said, walking over to her and placing a kiss on her lips quickly. Then he shook Josh’s hand. “Carrie mentioned that the two of you walked down here to take a look at the place.”
Josh nodded. “Yes, and we just agreed that it’s hers.”
A look of surprise passed through Tom’s eyes quickly, then he pulled her into a hug. “Congrats,” he said into her hair.
Everything was moving swiftly, but Kate wasn’t worried or afraid. Instead, she was excited. She chatted nervously about what she would have to do to get the place ready as they headed back down to Baked.
Since Tom had driven the patrol car, she and Josh walked back and talked about all the details. Tom was waiting for them, along with Nick and Aiden, who had joined the large group.
Everyone hung out for a few more hours, and she filled everyone in on her plans.
Several people hinted that they would be interested in joining a couple of her classes, mainly the yoga class that she’d mentioned she was thinking of having each morning.
Kara suggested the possibility of using her venue for events such as recitals. Kate had been to the large facility that held Sunset Weddings, now Sunset Events. It was a massive old barn that had been remodeled into a magical place. Each event held there brought more and more out-of-town guests into the small town.
Kara and her sister Robin were the main reason Pride had grown so much in the past few years. Destination weddings had become so important to the town that the woman interested in renting Josh’s other space was opening a bridal and dress boutique.
Suzie seemed eager to hear this news, since the shop would be next door to her. It did make Kate wonder if she was doing the right thing. After all, what did she really know about running a business? Sure, she knew all the ins and outs of dance. She’d taken so many classes in her childhood that she could teach not only ballet, but tap, hip-hop, swing, and even some ballroom dancing. Not to mention the yoga and Pilates she had planned for adults.
She wanted to pack each day with so many classes that she wouldn’t miss the city or her dead career. A moment of worry flooded her mind. Was she doing the right thing? Could she really be happy here? What if she started this business and it failed? What if no one showed up or Pride was just too small of a town for what she was hoping to build?
Then Tom took her hand under the table, and just the simple touch somehow squashed her fears. Whatever the future held, at least he was by her side.
Chapter Fifteen
Over the next few weeks, Tom helped Kate get her new place ready as much as possible. They spent a wonderful full day in the city shopping, where she purchased a few items for her new apartment. He was thankful he had enough room in his car to fit everything and take it back to her place.
They ate dinner along the river in Portland at a place she’d picked, and he enjoyed the Mexican food so much that he thought he’d probably eat there any time he returned to the city.
A bout of summer flu had circulated in the station, leaving them shorthanded. Everyone who wasn’t sick had to work double shifts. Tom had been one of the lucky ones that it had skipped. Once everyone was finally back at work and healthy, only then did he feel the fever hit him.
He’d taken two days off and had spent it with Kate, since she’d gotten the flu at the same time. He’d never had anyone dote on him before when he’d been sick.
Most of the time growing up, his mother had been working, leaving his father to care for him when he’d been home from school sick. His father couldn’t even be bothered to make him lunch.
Tom was pretty sure his old man had seen children as nothing but a burden. Actually, everything had been. His mother could never do anything right, according to his father.
His dad had complained about everything. If the laundry was done, the dishes weren’t. If they were both done, the floor was dirty. There was always something his mother couldn’t get right. She’d worked a full-time job at the poker tables at a casino and shortly before her death had even picked up a part-time job at another casino.
Tom’s father had been between jobs and spent most of his days and nights drinking and gambling. Which is how that fateful night had turned dark.
“Hey, are you okay?” Kate asked as she came into his room holding a tray with a bowl of soup balanced on it. “You look…” She frowned as she sat next to him on the bed.
“Sick?” he asked, then he coughed a few times.
Kate had gotten the flu, most likely from him, but, she’d bounced back after the first day and was now making it her mission to nurse him back to health.
Kate smiled. “Sad,” she finished, running her hand over his forehead.
He sat up in the bed and sighed. “I was just thinking about my family. My mother never really had time to nurse me back to health when I was young. She worked two jobs.” He took her hand in his. “I like being pampered.”
Kate chuckled. “My mother claims that all men do.”
He smiled. “Is that soup?”
“My mother just dropped off a pot of it for you. She would come in, but she has to fill in at the bakery and doesn’t want to get sick again.”
“That’s the thing about small towns. Colds and flus spread just as fast as gossip,” he said as she set the tray over him.
The thought of food was finally appealing to him. Over the last two days, he’d barely eaten anything. He’d sipped some hot tea, but everything else he’d tried to eat had ended coming back up.
“Think you can keep this down?” she asked as he shifted.
He nodded and took the spoon. “Can you sit for a while?”
She shook her head. “We’re hanging the barres today. I want to be there to make sure they get the right heights.”
He nodded and took a sip of the soup. “Thanks for stopping by to check on me.”
She smiled. “If you want, I can come back later. If you’re feeling better, maybe we can watch a movie. I can stop at the Golden Oar and get us dinner.”
“I’d like that.” He set down his spoon and took her hand in his. “Thanks.”
She shook her head. “I like looking after you.” She leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead. “Your fever has gone away.”
“Yeah.” He smiled at her. “I think I sweat through my sheets.” He rolled his eyes. “After this, I’m going to try for a shower.”
“Do you have spare sheets?”
“I’ve got it. Go, put up your bars,” he said.
She smiled. “Barres.”
He frowned. She’d basically said the same word. “Isn’t that what I said?”
She laughed and nodded. “Yes, but you made it seem…” She shook her head. “Never mind. I guess I’m just used to Nick’s teasing. He used to call them poles, like pole dancers use.”
Tom’s eyes shot up and suddenly he had a vision of Kate on a stripper pole. He smiled.
“See.” She rolled her eyes. “Now you’re thinking about them too.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “Maybe I’ll feel well enough that you can show me the difference later?”
She shook her head, but then leaned down and kissed him again. “Until later. Enjoy the soup.”
“Thanks, again.” He sobered. “Giving you a house key was the best decision I’ve made so far.”
“Dating me wasn’t a bad choice either,” she joked. He smiled for an hour after she left. Then he tried to shower, and everything sucked again.
He was breathless and dizzy when he finished, and he still had to change his sheets. By the time he was done with that, he collapsed onto his sofa face-first and basically passed out.
He woke with strong hands rubbing his shoulders and arms. Moaning into the pillow, he allowed his entire body to float until he felt Kate kissing his neck.
“You’re a very hard man to wake,” she purred next to his ear.
“I overextended myself.” He groaned. “How can showering and changing bed sheets make me so tired?”
“That’s a good sign. It means your body is healing,” she said as he sat up. “Feel better?”
He thought about it and nodded. “Other than feeling like I just ran a marathon, all the other symptoms are gone.”
“Good. That means you have your appetite back.” She stood up and walked into his kitchen. He followed her, a little more slowly. She had set the table and, as he watched, she lit the candles he’d put on it for decoration.
“This looks amazing,” he said, sitting down.
“We’re celebrating. The studio is ready. I should be opening my doors by the end of the week. Maybe Monday morning.”
“Then you decided on a name?” he asked as he pulled open containers from the Golden Oar.
She frowned at him. “No, not yet. I haven’t decided on it. I’m stuck between In Motion or Pure Motion.”
“How about just… The Dance Studio?” he asked. “Simple. Easy.”
She tilted her head as she dished him up some lasagna. “I like that too. Now I have three names to pick from.”
He chuckled. “I guess you don’t need a name to open your doors.”
“My mother registered the business under my name. Lacey says I can add a DBA to it when I decide.” She sat down, and he noticed she was eating a salad instead of the lasagna.
Still, while they ate, she reached over and took several bites of his food, and after dinner they shared a slice of apple pie while they watched television.
“I’m thinking of getting a dog or two,” she surprised him by saying once they were done eating.
“Or two?” he asked with a chuckle.
“There’s a brother and sister combo that Carrie has. They’re puppies still and won’t be ready to adopt for another couple weeks.”
“Okay,” he said, shifting until she rested her head against his shoulder. “I like dogs,” he assured her.
“Why don’t you have one already?”
He frowned, remembering the last animal he’d brought home, what his dad had done to it. How he had to bury what was left of it in the yard. He supposed that he hadn’t gotten another dog because of that memory.
As an answer to her, he just shrugged and pulled her closer. “Are you going to get both of them?”
“I’d hate to break them up. They’re so cute when they play together.” She sighed and rested back against his chest.
He ran his fingers through her hair and relaxed back. He was tired again but figured that by morning he would feel well enough to head into work. If he could convince her to spend the night in his bed.
“Then get both of them. I have a fenced yard on the side of the house that they can play in when you come over.”
She glanced up at him. Her smile warmed him. Then she moved quickly until she was straddling his hips, which placed her breasts pretty much in his face. He smiled and held her close by putting his hands on her hips.
“So,” she practically purred next to his ear, “you seem like you’re feeling much better.”
“I am,” he agreed as she started to move slowly over him. She had on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. His hands itched to feel her skin against his. He wanted to taste her, to feel her wrapped around him.
“Tom,” she said, moving over him, rubbing herself against his jeans, causing his dick to grow even harder.
“Hm?” His eyes moved to her lips, and he watched as she slowly licked them. He had to hold in a groan, just thinking of how wonderful she was going to feel.
“Are you going to take me to bed?” she asked just before she trailed her lips against his neck.
In one swift move, he lifted her into his arms and carried her back into his bedroom. He was sightly breathless by the time he laid her on the bed. Then she reached for him, and he would have run a hundred miles to get to her. At that moment, she was his entire world.
