Jordan, Olivia - Carly's Two-Stepping Temptations [Studio Seductions 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

“You could say that, yeah.”

“Did the drink take care of that?”

“I’m not thirsty anymore. But you could say there’s something I’m hungry for.”

A hand clapped over her shoulder, and Carly jumped. Turning around, she saw Heath standing behind her, a smirk on his face.

“I thought you didn’t social dance,” he said. “Especially not at bars, with the common people like me who don’t know how to lead.”

“That wasn’t a social dance. That was an exhibition.”

“It looked awfully spontaneous to me.”

“Exhibitions can be spontaneous. Nothing wrong with a little unplanned dancing.”

“So I guess asking you to dance would be a waste of my breath.”

Carly felt guilty, but she didn’t want to have to deal with the hassle of mixing work and play.

“I’m sorry, but Jared and I were in the middle of something.”

“Go,” Jared said, giving her a playful shove and a wink. “We can finish our discussion after this song.”

Carly put a fake smile on her face as Heath took her in his arms. But after just a few bars of the music, her facial expression became more genuine. “You’ve been practicing.”

Heath beamed. “Every night. I wanted to prove to you that I could learn such difficult choreography and become a better dancer. I know you probably think I’m some wealthy jackass, but I got where I am today due to my own hard work, and I approach every project with that same sense of commitment. Even my dancing.”

“I’m glad to know that.”

“I just want you to respect me. I know I can be difficult at times. I’m not used to hearing criticism from anybody. The first two days of rehearsal with you were a bit of a culture shock.”

“It’s okay, really. All is forgiven. Just keep practicing, and you and I are going to get along very well.”

“What about when I asked you out at the end of the last session? Are you sure you’re not upset about that?”

“What? Oh! Don’t worry about it.” Carly didn’t want to admit that she’d actually spent an inordinate amount of time rehashing that moment in her mind. She especially didn’t want to admit that the only thing that kept her from fantasizing about Jared was to indulge in similar fantasies with Heath. On more than one occasion, however, her fantasies of Jared refused to go away, and she’d found herself thinking about both of them.

“So we’re cool?”

“Yeah, we’re cool.”

“Good. That means I can do this.” He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and pressed Carly into a kiss.

For two blissful seconds, Carly was caught up in the explosion of electricity that came from Heath’s lips pressed against hers. But then, another couple collided into them, knocking them off balance.

Carly pulled Heath off the floor, embarrassment starting to burn on her cheeks. “What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that I’d finally shown you that I was capable of being a good dancer, and that now I was worthy of kissing you.”

“Yeah, but you don’t stop in the middle of a crowded dance floor to do so.”

“Never mind. Forget I did anything. I thought you’d enjoy it.”

“I did, it’s just that”

“It’s just that what? You don’t get involved with students? Or you’re such a stickler for etiquette that you don’t recognize a romantic gesture when you see it?”

“Yes, but—”

“Yes but what?”

“But there’s something else, too. Though I guess I should say someone else.”

Heath sighed. “What? Come on, don’t leave me hanging here.”

“You’re not the only man I’m interested in.”

* * * *

First, she criticizes me. Then, she rejects me. Then, she rejects me again, claiming there’s some other guy. What sort of parallel universe have I stumbled into?

“So you’re not interested. Okay, I get it. You like someone else. You could have just told me that on Tuesday, rather than giving me all that crap about not dating your students.”

“First of all, that wasn’t crap. Second of all, I didn’t say I wasn’t interested.”

“Yes, you did.”

“No, I didn’t. I said that you’re not the only man I’m interested in.”

Heath paused a moment to parse Carly’s words. “Not the only man. So you’re interested in someone else, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re interested in me?”

Carly nodded. “Pretty much.”

“Well, it’s obvious you’re just going to have to make a choice, then.”

Carly shook her head and gave him a seductive smile. “I don’t know that I do. I mean, if you had two women you were interested in, would you want to just pick one over the other?”

“Fine, then don’t choose,” Heath said, without giving his words much thought. He immediately clasped his hands over his mouth.
Did I just say what I think I said?

Carly raised an eyebrow. “So you see things my way?”

“I–I guess so. Don’t choose.”

“You actually would be willing to share me with another man?”

Although Heath never thought he’d ever be having such a conversation, he couldn’t help but agree. “I guess so.”

“You guess so?”

“Hey, cut me a break. I’m just as shocked by my own admission as you are. All I know is that I think you’re really attractive, I want to get close to you, and if that means sharing you with another guy, then so be it.”

“What about the fact that I don’t date students?”

“I was hoping you might make an exception, just this once. I mean, I won’t be your student forever. Just for a few weeks, until after the fundraiser. Then I go back to dancing in bars.”

Carly looked pensive. “I still haven’t told the other guy how I feel about him.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?”

“I was trying to say something. Then you interrupted and asked me to dance.”

“Well, don’t let me distract you any longer.”

Carly turned and walked toward the bar, and Heath followed close behind her. The guy she had been talking to smiled as she approached.

“I see you caused a bit of a traffic jam out on the floor,” he said. “I’m telling you, Mr. Taylor, you might be one of the richest men in town, but you could stand to learn a thing or two about floor control.”

The man turned toward Carly. “I believe we were in the middle of a discussion about something, yes?”

“You could say that,” Carly said.

“I’m trying to remember—oh yeah, I know where I left off.” With that, he leaned in and kissed her.

Heath watched Carly’s knees buckle and her hands grip his biceps. To his surprise, he didn’t feel jealousy. Instead, he just felt irritated that her fellow dancer had deigned to talk to him in such a way.

“See that?” the dancer said as he pulled away. “All the passion, none of the collisions.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” Heath said, ignoring the commentary. “Of course you know my name, but I most definitely do not know yours.”

“I’m Jared Brooks. I just started with the studio this week. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He offered his hand, and Heath shook it, begrudging him all the while. “What, do you have a problem with me kissing your woman or something?”

“I’m not his woman,” Carly interjected.

“And I don’t have a problem. Well, not with that, anyway. I’m just used to being treated with a little more respect.”

Jared shrugged. “I don’t exactly take money seriously.”

Heath felt himself go red. “Nobody at your studio really seems to, except for Taletha.”

“And even she doesn’t care quite so much when her studio isn’t in massive debt,” Jared retorted.

“Hey, guys, if you’re going to have a verbal pissing contest, I’m going to go home and chill out in peace and quiet. I don’t need the two of you sparring. I’d rather just turn in early than deal with bullshit all night.”

Heath grabbed Carly by the hand, spun her around, and kissed her. He let her tart-yet-savory taste fill his mouth, let the curves of her hips fill his hands, let his teeth scrape her bottom lip as he pulled away.

“No more arguing,” he said.

Jared grabbed Carly’s ass and pulled her against him, placing light kisses up and down her neck. Heath seized the opportunity to bury his face in her breasts, relishing the way the soft flesh curved around him.

“Carly? What the hell are you doing?”

The three of them all looked up. Heath found himself staring at a man who was leaning on a cane, staring at Carly with a fury he’d never seen in his life. Carly was still pressed against his body, and he could feel her start to tremble. Rather than stepping back and leaving her to the confrontation, he pulled her in a little tighter, trying to absorb her fear.

“Carly, I asked you a question,” the man said.

“W–what are you doing here, Jake?”

“Let’s skip the small talk and cut to the chase, shall we?” Jake’s fake smile turned Heath’s stomach. “You broke your promise.”

“I did not.” Carly’s voice stayed strong, but Heath could feel the tremors increasing.

“Yes, you did.”

“Prove it.”

“You’re in his arms, aren’t you?”

“That doesn’t mean I danced with him.”

“Carly.”

Even Heath couldn’t suppress a shudder. The man’s tone was so angry and menacing that even he felt intimidated, and the guy clearly didn’t have any sort of trouble with him.

Carly pushed out from between Jared and Heath to confront her antagonist directly. “Okay, fine. I danced with him. I broke my stupid promise. So what? What do you plan to do about it? I danced with him, and it made me happy, and nothing is going to change that.”

“You’re going to regret what you’ve done.”

“Oh, come on, Jake. We just danced.”

“I also saw you kissing, so pardon me for thinking that something else might be going on between the two of you.”

“Well, I’m not saying one way or the other. It’s none of your business.”

Something inside of Heath snapped. “Come on, man, don’t be a prick. If you get off on watching other people make out, do it from the privacy of your own home. Don’t bug your ex-girlfriend.”

“I’m not his ex-girlfriend,” Carly said. “I’m his ex-dance partner.”

* * * *

Jared couldn’t believe it. He’d always thought that if he came face-to-face with the great Jake Cunningham, it would be a happy time, one involving some modicum of respect and awe. Instead, Jared was confronted with the shell of a broken man, who looked halfway drunk to boot. Nor did he understand why Carly wasn’t supposed to dance with him.
Though this probably explains why she didn’t want to go out with me.

“She promised she wouldn’t dance with Jared,” Jake said, his speech tinged with anger. “She swore to me she’d never dance with him again.”