Irresistible You (18 page)

“No really, you two have this strange on again, off again relationship. You take yo-yo dating to a whole new level.”

“Believe me Randolph is in love with Randolph and the possibility of furthering his career. I’m the arm-candy every man needs who’s avoiding a serious commitment. I’m the perfect date to be by a politician’s side. When he needs a date, I’m there, and vice versa. It’s the perfect friendship.”

Vanya stepped into Randoph’s line of vision and struck a pose. Her pas de deux partner instantly hurried to her side and together they captured everyone’s attention, with their impromptu dance rehearsal.

“That is so sad,” Richard said as he watched the couple in the center of the room.

“Be nice and smile,” Juliet said as she stood up and made a circular motion with her ankle, bending her foot in either direction feeling the tightness of the ribbon around her leg. She flexed and bent her foot then eased up onto her toes then repeated the action.

Richard stood by her side took her waist and spun her around until she stopped, extended her leg and bowed low while he supported her hand and waist. “I always feel like we’re being auctioned to the highest bidder,” she complained.

“We are,” Richard said.

“I really hate this part.”

“Don’t we all,” he said as he spun her around again, then stopped and faced her.

“Don’t even try it. You love this, don’t you? People drooling over you as you dance. Who are you trying to fool?”

“Can I help it if these people have exceptional taste?”

“You are so full of yourself.” Juliet chuckled.

“Jealously is such an ugly quality.”

“Me? Jealous of you, oh please. I have more talent in my fingernail than you have in your whole conceited body.”

“Prove it.”

Choreographer Peter Flemings entered, clapped his hands several time and nodded to the pianist sitting in the corner. Morning rehearsal began.

Chapter Ten

Phillip excused himself to take a phone call, leaving J.T. to sit in the dark almost empty theater and watch as the stage slowly came to life before him. The dim lights gradually brightened on stage, when, as if on cue, a flurry of activity began.

Above him the electricians and lighting crew adjusted the spotlights’ intensity and altered the tinted film strips covering the lights, creating a subdued atmosphere. A serene blue with gentle rays of purple and red light was cast across the stage. The stage was set with a familiar set from the performance of
Carmen
J.T. had seen the night before.

It was from the first act of the ballet. Set outdoors in a makeshift plaza surrounded by trees and storefronts, the props and scenery told the story of a gathering in the busy marketplace. When the character Carmen arrived, the swirl of activity stopped and Juliet’s solo began. The first part of the ballet was dramatic. The lighting became softer, giving the stage an almost surreal dreamlike quality.

J.T. smiled as he imagined Juliet dancing across the stage in her seductive costume. He could see the precision of her spins and turns as she moved to the music. His smile broadened. She was good, very good. The perfection of her dancer’s body only added to the beauty of her movements. She was slim and svelte, but not thin. Toned, but not overly muscular, she was shapely and curvy with all the womanly assets that had kept him dreaming of her for ten months.

Suddenly, his smile faded as he remembered what Trey had said earlier. Maybe his cousin was right. The fact that he had tried to find Juliet the after the blackout might mean that maybe it was more than just a passing physical attraction.

If that night had been as meaningless as he’d tried to convince himself of, then he should have easily just walked away. But he didn’t, he couldn’t. There was more. Even now, no woman had even come close to replacing that feeling—not that he had given another woman the opportunity.

 Suddenly the stage was illuminated with bright white lights, drawing his attention to the crew now standing on stage moving the props and scenery. Three carpenters brought out a large fountain and positioned it center stage. They stood back and looked, then moved it to the side. They looked at it again, shifted it back to center stage and yelled to someone in the wings.

 The stage manager, Roger, hurried across the empty stage carrying a clipboard with a headset and earbud in his ear and a wire connected to his belt loop. He approached some of the crew. They spoke for a few minutes. Then Roger pointed to the lights above the stage and turned his attention to the stage hands moving the scenery. He nodded and said something into the microphone on his headset then scampered off stage as quickly as he had arrived.

Phillip returned and immediately began name-dropping, announcing that he’d just spoken with the mayor’s office. He went on to elaborate, saying the mayor was interested in the ballet company giving a special performance for some dignitaries coming to the city in a few weeks. To change the subject J.T. asked him to explain what the crew was doing with the new set. Phillip did, in great detail.

 Moments later several dancers walked out to center stage. Laughing and talking, some sat down while others stood and listened to the choreographer as he and his assistant detailed movements. He made broad, sweeping gestures with his arms giving the dancers an idea of what he had in mind. Afterwards he clapped his hands and all of the dancers assumed their positions on stage. They began rehearsing the first act. The rehearsal was filled with laughter in between brief interruptions and breaks. It continued that way for the next forty-five minutes.

Phillip left, much to J.T.’s delight.

Some of the dancers began clearing the stage, and J.T. watched from the darkened theater as Juliet and her dance partner walked on stage. They stopped and spoke to a few of the other dancers and to Peter’s assistant for a few minutes. Then they walked off stage to stand in the wings. J.T. watched intently as Juliet looked around nodding her head several times, then pointing across the stage as she and her partner seemed to map out and begin blocking their steps for the performance.

His thoughts faded as his eyes focused on Juliet. Dressed in black tights, a thin midriff tank top, a flimsy short shirt and ballet shoes, she stopped his breath.

She stood on pointe, focused, completely oblivious of his or anyone else’s presence just as she had been the night she danced alone in the studio. Beautiful beyond words, graceful beyond imagination and sexy beyond fantasy, he felt the familiar tremor course through him as his thoughts raced and he remembered the feel of her body beneath his just hours earlier.

Juliet stepped onto the stage as the piano began to play. It was a different dance and a different performance. Graceful yet playful, with small steps, she gently glided across the floor on her toes. She seemed to embody the character. She was shy and coy, her movements almost childlike.

J.T. followed her every step, his eyes glued to her as the tempo of the dance intensified. Never blinking, he stared at the stage as if he was in a trance. She was exquisite. He smiled realizing his sudden appreciation of ballet. He could literally watch Juliet dance forever.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?”

Startled, J.T. turned to see for the first time an attractive older woman sitting in the seat next to him. He was so enamored with Juliet that he didn’t even notice when she sat down beside him.

“Yes, she is,” he answered.

The woman smiled and tilted her head admiringly, but kept her eyes trained on the stage. “Are you familiar with ballet?”

“No.”

“A novice, how splendid, I shall let you in on a little secret.” She lowered her voice and leaned in closer. J.T. looked at her with curious interest. “Ballet is like a beautiful woman. And like any woman, she can give pleasure and pain, ecstasy and anguish.”

J.T. smirked cynically and turned back to observe the performance. So much for his new found respect and appreciation of ballet. “That’s an interesting thought,” he added.

“Confident and seductive, the intensity and passion of her movements have been known to bring men to their knees.”

“Is that right,” he added mildly amused by her remark.

“Yes. She can awaken the coldest heart and reach the deepest soul and free the spirit trapped beneath.” She paused as Juliet’s tempo picked up and she twirled across the stage. “I have known men, who were intensely analytical, lose their sense of logic and reason as soon as that curtain rose. But, she is a jealous and demanding lover who does not tolerate unfaithfulness. Once she is in your blood, you are forever hers.”

A curious shutter gripped him. Suddenly the conversation became surreal. Were they still discussing ballet or was the woman referring to his relationship with Juliet? There was no way she could know anything about them because technically, there wasn’t anything to know, yet. J.T. finally decided that he was just letting his imagination get the best of him. The woman was obviously still referring to dance.

They sat in silence watching Juliet as she pirouetted across the stage, then twirl and gracefully leap into her partner’s arms. He lifted her up into the air above his head with one arm,
en attitude
, turning gradually and then slowly lowering her down against his body. A sudden rush of jealously spiked through J.T. as Juliet glided to the floor.

“You obviously know her very well,” he said tightly.

The woman smiled and chuckled gently. “I do, she is a fearless spirit who will forever be my heart. I’m sure you will agree as soon as you experience your first performance.”

“I have. I saw
Carmen
last night.”

“Ah, yes,
Carmen,
the gypsy seductress full of life and adventure meets a fatal end because of love. It is a magnificent ballet and Juliet is exquisite. It’s her signature role and she is without a doubt the finest
Carmen
in a decade. The role has made her both allegro and adagio.”

“Meaning?”

Lena smiled, “meaning that Juliet has the ability to excel in both precise and quick movements required in roles such as Kitri in
Don Quixote
as well as graceful and classic roles such as in
Odette
and Odile in
Swan Lake
.
Carmen
is somewhere in the middle. But to truly experience
Carmen
, you must see the actress and character as one. Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes,” he said impressed by her knowledge.

She nodded. “Bold and beautiful, both a seductive temptress, and an impossible mistress,
Carmen
, like its characters is addictive. The ballet, like Juliet is the heart and soul of this company. Unfortunately, most men confuse the two and instantly fall in love with both the character and the woman.” She leaned back then glanced at J.T.’s stoic profile. “Tell me, which one has captured your heart?”

The rhetorical question reverberated in J.T.’s mind. Had Juliet Bridges captured his heart? No, he assured himself. He was intrigued, yes, enticed, yes, most definitely attracted to her. But there was no way that the dancer could capture his heart.

They slipped into silence as they watched Juliet and Richard dance. Slowly and gracefully, they moved across the stage in measured steps capturing the somber feeling of the ballet.

“I don’t remember this scene from
Carmen
. The set is the same one from last night, but this dance looks different. It looks…somehow…sad.”

“That’s very observant. You see, you’re learning quickly. You are correct. The troupe is performing
Carmen
for matinees and evening performances, so the set must remain intact. This evening, Juliet and Richard are blocking out the choreography for something else, something very special.” A gentle smile stole across her face as if her thoughts were somewhere else momentarily.

Following her eyes, J.T. looked back toward the stage. “So it is a different dance."