Page 25 of Control

I paced slowly around the room, the soles of my shoes sinking slightly into the plush carpet as I walked. “Probably too old for you.”

She groaned in protest over the nickname, but I wasn’t changing it. I liked how little digs at her revealed bits of her true self. “Be serious.”

“Thirty-six.”

“Merde. I guess I really am a ‘baby girl’ to you, then?” she said, her light tone returning.

I shrugged to no one. “Method to my madness.”

I could hear her brain working over the line, even though she didn’t speak for nearly thirty seconds. “Look, I’m not very good at this stuff…like talking about my feelings.”

My free hand found the inside of my pocket as I walked, toying with the seam that held it together inside. “I’m not trying to be your therapist and analyze you. Just be yourself.”

She sighed. “I’m trying.”

“That’s good enough, then.” I only ever wanted her to be genuine, not the person she pretended to be to push the world away.

She let out a yawn. I found the soft squeak at the end to be adorable. “I should go now. I have class tomorrow.”

I didn’t want the call to end even though we weren’t really talking about anything. It was the best conversation I’d had with a woman in a long time.

“Good night, baby girl,” I said, reluctant to let her go.

“Good night, Jai,” she whispered, making my insides melt like they did anytime she said my name.

Holding my phone in my hands, I stared at the screen long after the call ended—no hint of the constant restlessness that I had been suffering remained.

Chapter XI

Claire

“Okay, that’s all for class today. Be sure to practice your ronde de jambes for next week. And I will know if you haven’t been practicing.” I eyed each of the girls before dismissing my last class of the day. The older girls were always chattier than the little ones as they collected their belongings before leaving the studio.

Loud giggling by the door made me turn to see what had prompted it. A group of my girls were huddled, gawking at the tall figure leaning against the wall.Jai.

My eyes caught his as he strode over, all cool and full of confidence. His signature arrogant smirk was set on his lips as he passed his ogling fan club.

They weren’t out of line for gawking. He was one hell of a man—incredibly handsome with the combination of the charming twinkle in his eyes and rugged scruff on his jaw. The way he carried his shoulders when he walked, so proud and strong, would make any woman drop her panties in a heartbeat. And now that I knew he had the skills to back his good looks, I couldn’t ease jitters in my belly.

My gaze caught the aforementioned twinkle as he looked down at me. “Happy to see me, baby girl?”

Crossing my arms over my belly to stifle the butterflies, I clenched my fists to apply extra pressure to my core. “Maybe.”

“Your students seem happier to see me than you do right now.” He nodded over to the girls, who were still staring at him. One of them let out a shriek, before they all ran out of the studio cackling like baby hyenas.

I rolled my eyes at the huge grin on his face from all the attention. Moving to the wall where I kept my bag on the floor, I sat down to change out of my dance shoes. “What are you doing here?” I asked as I focused on my feet instead of his beautiful face.

He moved closer to where I sat, slipping his hands in his pockets. “Trying to take you to dinner.”

I glared up at him, his presumptuousness annoying me. “What if I already have plans?” I said, standing up.

He nodded to the sneakers on my feet. “Looks like you’re finished teaching for the day. And you still need dinner, right?”

My stomach roiled at the mere mention of food. As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. If I went straight home, I’d probably just make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on bread that was two days past its expiration date. Though it would be very dry, the bread at home was still edible and insanely cheap since it was already past its prime when I bought it.

I looked down at my purple leotard and black tights covered by a white wrap around my waist. I didn’t have a change of clothes on me, only a jacket to cover my torso. “But I’m dressed like a ninety’s jazzercise teacher.”

His gaze roamed too slowly down my body, taking in every part of me. “As long as you aren’t naked, you’re allowed inside of a restaurant, right?” he teased, putting extra emphasis on the word “naked.” “Plus, I loved the nineties.”

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