Page 29 of Dirty Dancer

Milo hadn’t cared for it, but accepted that we had to be patient. After all, he’d been patient with me. His snort had been pretty amusing at the description.

“Hey,” I’d reminded him with a little jab of my elbow. “I was worth it and so were you.” That earned me a kiss to the top of my head. Theo was a tough nut. If not for Mickey, Jasper, and Kel promising me that he was coming around slowly and talking to them, I would worry more.

For now, I trusted their thoughts on the matter. Rome was waiting for me as I descended the stairs. I’d gone to sleep with Mickey in my bed, but he was gone when I woke. He never stayed the whole night, he was always too worried about bad dreams and losing control.

“Hi,” I said, greeting Rome as he lifted me right off the steps and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I’m going out today. But I waited so I could tell you before I left.” That was huge for Rome. When we were home, he kept his own schedule. It had been a while since he got to paint anything.

“Okay,” I said, stroking my fingers through his hair before I dropped a kiss on his lips. “I’ll be at the Clubhouse all day. Jasper is on the road, but I promised him a date tonight.”

Rome nodded. “Liam will be back tomorrow.”

I sighed.

“Are you well?” Quiet intensity underscored his inquiry.

“Yes,” I said. “I promise. I love being home, but we’re all so busy. I like it when we’re all here, and it’s noisy and chaotic.”

“Jasper and Liam like hitting each other too,” Rome said and I grinned. That wasn’t quite what I meant by chaos, but it fit. “Tell them you want family dinner.”

Family dinner when we were all together. I chewed my lower lip. We’d make adjustments for Theo being here, but maybe if everyone was present, he’d relax more.

They were always asking me what I needed or wanted. I tried to do the same for them. “I’ll tell Kellan, but I think he is going with Vaughn to look at possible sites for his new tattoo place.”

It wasn’t a done deal, not yet. He didn’t want to make any decisions until we were going to be home longer term. That said, as much as I loved having him on the road with me, I didn’t want him to give up his interests for mine.

“Starling,” Rome said, recapturing my attention. His expression held a combination of understanding and curiosity.

“I’ll be okay,” I said. “I just worry about Vaughn.”

“You worry about everyone.” Rome pressed a kiss to my nose and then put me on my feet.

“I suppose I do.” Then again, they all worried about me. “It’s kind of what we do.”

“Yes,” he said before he shouldered his backpack. “Do you need me to stay?”

The offer made me sigh. If I said yes, he’d change his plans just like that. “No,” I said. “Go make something beautiful, and then show me when it’s done?”

“I will.” It was a promise. Then he gave me another kiss. “I have my phone.” For a moment, he studied me. I met his gaze without looking away.

At his nod, I smiled. “I’ll see you later?”

“Yes.” Then he was heading for the door and letting himself out. The downstairs was quiet, but it was also still early. I’d come for coffee, but I diverted to my studio instead. What I needed to do was get out of my head, that meant stretching and dancing for a little while.

After, I’d shower and then roust anyone else who was here to have breakfast with me. The studio was exactly as I left it, although maybe a bit cleaner. They didn’t let it get dusty and I appreciated that. Someone had also organized all the CDs.

It took me a few minutes to punch up the boxes on my toe shoes, and then to stretch. Once I was ready, I slid in a playlist and moved to the center of the studio. It was a thirty minute set.More than enough to warm up and exercise without overdoing it.

Eyes closed, I got into position and when the first note left the speakers, I was ready.

Freddie was sittingon the foot of my bed when I came out of the bathroom. I’d pulled on a tank top and panties after I toweled off but I carried the lotion out with me.

“Hey,” I said, smiling at him as I dropped to sit on the edge of the bed to apply the lotion to my legs. “Good morning.”

“Hey, Boo-Boo,” Freddie said. His hair was pulled back from his face into a loose ponytail. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he looked relaxed. “You have any plans?”

“Not until tonight.” I ran the moisturizer over my arms and then up to my neck. My hair was still damp, but I’d run a comb through it and it fell in straight lines. It would dry eventually. “Jasper and I are going out.”

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