Read Online A Moment To Dance by Jennifer Faye - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Faye
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dropping in her mind like a row of dominos. Cheated on? Jilted at the altar? Or was he harboring some deep, dark secret of his own? Did they at last have something in common?
“What happened?” Ella blurted out.
“I’m a little surprised you don’t know.”
“Why would I know? It isn’t like we’re close or anything.”
Tracey sent her a knowing look. “Not yet. Give it time.”
“Quit being ridiculous and just tell me what you know.”
“Not quite a year ago, his older brother and his wife were on their way home from visiting him in Santa Fe when a drunk driver hit them head on and killed them instantly.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “The gossip mill says Tony’s girlfriend dumped him when he decided to move home to oversee the family’s ranch and assume responsibility for his nephew. He’s never once complained or cried into his beer. At least not as far as I’ve heard.”
A deep sadness came over Ella as her thoughts turned to Johnny, who was much too young to lose both of his parents to such a preventable accident. Thankfully, Tony had been there to step in and take care of his family.
She’d have to be careful, or soon she’d end up liking him for all of his fine qualities. His dreamy smile could easily be her final undoing. But that couldn’t happen. She couldn’t put herself in the position of forming an intimate relationship with him. He’d expect her to open up about herself—about her past. And that was something she refused to do.
♥♥♥
At not quite seven thirty Monday morning, Tony trudged across the dry, uneven field with his cell phone pressed to his ear. “Do you really think that’s our best option?”
“Yes, I do,” Josie, the local dance instructor, said. “Shall I go ahead and pencil you in for the lessons?”
If this was what it took for Ella to fix her home and for Johnny to gain a qualified tutor, Tony didn’t see that he had any choice. “Go ahead. If Ella has any problems with the time or whatever, I’ll give you a call.”
He slipped the phone into his pocket as a yawn escaped. He gave his head a firm shake as he stepped up to the back door of his mother’s house, eager for another cup of coffee. After a night of tossing and turning, trying to decide if he made the right decision by hiring Ella to tutor Johnny, he’d barely gotten a wink of sleep. By the time he’d rolled out of bed long before the sunrise, he’d resigned himself to the inevitable.
Once inside the door, he slipped off his cowboy boots. What he really needed now was some of his mother’s extra-strong brew. That’d keep him on his toes. He looked up, and his gaze collided with the woman who’d filled his thoughts the night before. He blinked, but she was still there, sitting at the kitchen table with his mother.
“Howdy,” he said, trying to remember if they’d had plans to meet. “Are you here to see me?”
She smiled. “Actually, I stopped by on my way to work to give your mother these Mexican wedding cookies to thank her for lunch the other day. Would you like one?”
“Maybe later.” His tone lowered in disappointment. “Don’t let me interrupt. I just came to get some coffee. I’ll be out of here in a jiff.”
Another yawn threatened to escape, but he smothered it. He didn’t need his mother inquiring about his exhaustion, especially not in front of Ella, who looked as fresh as one of the daffodils in his mother’s kitchen window.
“I’m afraid the pot’s empty,” his mother said. “I didn’t realize you’d be in for your break this early. I’ll get another pot started.”
“No, stay there.” He waved her off. “I’ve got it.”
What was the real reason for Ella’s presence? Was it as innocent as she claimed? She was just being friendly with his mother?
Not one of his girlfriends had been close to his mother. In fact, his mother outright disliked Jessie, saying she was nothing but trouble. Not that Ella would ever be his girlfriend. It’s
“What happened?” Ella blurted out.
“I’m a little surprised you don’t know.”
“Why would I know? It isn’t like we’re close or anything.”
Tracey sent her a knowing look. “Not yet. Give it time.”
“Quit being ridiculous and just tell me what you know.”
“Not quite a year ago, his older brother and his wife were on their way home from visiting him in Santa Fe when a drunk driver hit them head on and killed them instantly.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “The gossip mill says Tony’s girlfriend dumped him when he decided to move home to oversee the family’s ranch and assume responsibility for his nephew. He’s never once complained or cried into his beer. At least not as far as I’ve heard.”
A deep sadness came over Ella as her thoughts turned to Johnny, who was much too young to lose both of his parents to such a preventable accident. Thankfully, Tony had been there to step in and take care of his family.
She’d have to be careful, or soon she’d end up liking him for all of his fine qualities. His dreamy smile could easily be her final undoing. But that couldn’t happen. She couldn’t put herself in the position of forming an intimate relationship with him. He’d expect her to open up about herself—about her past. And that was something she refused to do.
♥♥♥
At not quite seven thirty Monday morning, Tony trudged across the dry, uneven field with his cell phone pressed to his ear. “Do you really think that’s our best option?”
“Yes, I do,” Josie, the local dance instructor, said. “Shall I go ahead and pencil you in for the lessons?”
If this was what it took for Ella to fix her home and for Johnny to gain a qualified tutor, Tony didn’t see that he had any choice. “Go ahead. If Ella has any problems with the time or whatever, I’ll give you a call.”
He slipped the phone into his pocket as a yawn escaped. He gave his head a firm shake as he stepped up to the back door of his mother’s house, eager for another cup of coffee. After a night of tossing and turning, trying to decide if he made the right decision by hiring Ella to tutor Johnny, he’d barely gotten a wink of sleep. By the time he’d rolled out of bed long before the sunrise, he’d resigned himself to the inevitable.
Once inside the door, he slipped off his cowboy boots. What he really needed now was some of his mother’s extra-strong brew. That’d keep him on his toes. He looked up, and his gaze collided with the woman who’d filled his thoughts the night before. He blinked, but she was still there, sitting at the kitchen table with his mother.
“Howdy,” he said, trying to remember if they’d had plans to meet. “Are you here to see me?”
She smiled. “Actually, I stopped by on my way to work to give your mother these Mexican wedding cookies to thank her for lunch the other day. Would you like one?”
“Maybe later.” His tone lowered in disappointment. “Don’t let me interrupt. I just came to get some coffee. I’ll be out of here in a jiff.”
Another yawn threatened to escape, but he smothered it. He didn’t need his mother inquiring about his exhaustion, especially not in front of Ella, who looked as fresh as one of the daffodils in his mother’s kitchen window.
“I’m afraid the pot’s empty,” his mother said. “I didn’t realize you’d be in for your break this early. I’ll get another pot started.”
“No, stay there.” He waved her off. “I’ve got it.”
What was the real reason for Ella’s presence? Was it as innocent as she claimed? She was just being friendly with his mother?
Not one of his girlfriends had been close to his mother. In fact, his mother outright disliked Jessie, saying she was nothing but trouble. Not that Ella would ever be his girlfriend. It’s
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