Page 40 of Flirty Dancing

“Oh? What kind of dancing?”

“Ballroom—the waltz was my favorite. But I was almost a Rockette, you know.” She sighed. “That was another time, of course. Perhaps I could have you and Mr. Dixon for tea sometime and tell you all about it? We could talk dance?”

“That sounds great.”

“That last cabin”—she turned to point along the east side of the lake, to the very last one perched by the shore with its own small dock—“is where I stay every summer. Been here for years.”

“Oh, that’s awesome. You must really love it here.”

“I sure do. What about Wednesday?”

“Wednesday?”

“Would you and Mr. Dixon like to come to tea on Wednesday afternoon?”

“Oh, um…” Archer’s brain whirred. “Let me ask Mateo.”

“Thank you, Archer. I’d love to talk more.”

“Me too. I’d better get going now, Ms. Lamb, but it was lovely to meet you.”

“You too, Archer. I’ll look forward to seeing that piece every week.”

“Thank you. I look forward to dancing it.”

On Monday, they were waiting offstage for Francisco’s welcoming announcement forClub Retrowhen Archer heard the murmur of two voices arguing but trying to be quiet about it. He turned to see Ben and Beau facing off, arms crossed and glaring, anger in stark juxtaposition to their shimmering white costumes. The other dancers were turning to watch them, too.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ben hissed at his boyfriend. “You’re going to pull this shit on menow? We go on in two minutes!”

“Oh, I’m sorry if my feelings areinconvenientfor you,” Beau snipped.

Ben threw his hands up. “For fuck’s sake. I am not crushing on Gage!”

Gage’s eyes widened. They tried not to stare at him.

“I’m so sorry, Gage,” Ben continued, his voice growing louder. “But my insane boyfriend is jealous of you because, apparently, I happened to look at you one time.”

“‘Happened’ to look at him,please.” Beau rolled his eyes. “You were literally drooling over him on the dock yesterday.”

“THAT’S NOT WHATLITERALLYMEANS.”

“Hey!” Mateo stormed over, brows bunched. “Get it the fuck together. They’ll be able to hear you out there.” He pointed through the masking draperies to where the audience waited.

Ben pressed his lips together, chagrined. “Sorry, Mateo. It’s just… I don’t know what else to say.”

The room fell into awkward silence.

“Maybe this is a good time to tell you all,” Gage interjected in a stage whisper, “that River and I are together.”

All heads swiveled over to River, who froze, eyes wide, then offered an awkward grin. “Ummm,” they said. River usually didn’t say much.

The group turned back to Beau and Ben.

“Fine.” Beau sniffed. “I believe you.”

Ben shook his head. “You are—” But he noticed Mateo still glaring at them and took a calming breath. “Fine.”

Mateo nodded. “Fine?” he asked Beau.

---