Page 51 of Dust to Dust

A laugh rolled through me as I nodded for Shane to open the SUV door. “I was talking about the other dancers. When did you call me a beast?”

Isla hesitated before she hopped inside the back. When I joined her on the bench seat, she finally replied, “I only said you were like the beast in the Disney movie.”

“I’m not that hairy.”

Her brows shot up in surprise. “Was that an attempt at humor?”

“I have my moments.”

She grinned. “You’re really hard to figure out.”

“Not really. I’m pretty much what you see is what you get.”

“That’s not entirely true.”

“How so?”

“You’ve only been kind to me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

She grimaced. “You’re right. You were a real asshole at the start of my audition, not to mention the night you were shot when I tried to help you. And then after we…”

Crimson dotted her cheeks.

“After what, Isla?” I teased.

She ducked her head. “You know.”

“When we came?”

“Yes,” she whispered as she stared at Shane behind the wheel.

“Don’t worry about him. He’s paid not to listen.”

“I still don’t want him to hear!”

Wagging my finger at her, I countered, “Don’t change the subject. What would you have me say?”

She bit down on her pillowy bottom lip. “I don’t know.”

“I think you do.”

“Fine. Here’s what you could’ve said.” Lowering her voice to mimic me, she said, “‘Thanks for sharing that with me, Isla’ or ‘I’m having a hard time putting what I’m feeling into words right now, but that was truly intense’.” She licked her lips. “At the very least, you could’ve said something instead of grabbing a box of kleenex and leaving me feeling used.”

Fuck. I’d been a complete and total beast to her. Making her feel used was the last thing in the world I would ever want to do. At the same time, I didn’t know why I was surprised. I’d been so cut off from feeling anything in the last two years but anger, resentment, and agony. What softness did I have to give a fragile little dove like her?

Reaching between us, I took her hand in mine. “I never meant to make you feel used or confused.”

“It’s okay.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s not. You are everything beautiful and bright in the world. You deserve only the same in return.”

Her lips turned down in a pout. “You know now that I think about it, you haven’t been very friendly to me since I started working. You haven’t even asked me how I’m settling in or if people are treating me well.”

Smirking at her, I replied, “Isla, how are you settling in, and are people treating you well?”

“There you go attempting humor again,” she huffed.

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