Twenty-three
The last thing Mackenzie needed was another distraction. The Blackfish Ball was in less than two weeks, and she had a hundred details to chase down before the guests arrived.
Her mom and Russell were scheduled to fly in the morning of the ball, and above all else, she was determined to show Russell she’d handled the mess he’d left her with grace and ease.
She was locked away in her room, tallying the last-minute dietary requests on a notepad, when her phone rang.
“If it’s not the caterers, I’m not answering,” she muttered, glancing over.
She did a double take. Cameron.
Mackenzie snatched the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hey! How are you doing?”
She dropped her pen and sat up. “Good. I’m finalizing a few details for the ball. Nothing major. How are you?”
“Ah, I can’t wait. It’s been too long since I’ve been to a good ball.”
She laughed. “I didn’t take you for a ball enthusiast.”
“You don’t have me pegged, Mackenzie.”
A flutter hit her stomach. Clearly . “I’m so sorry. My apologies. I should’ve consulted you sooner.”
“You should have.” He laughed and cleared his throat. “I’m headed to the island now for business, but I saw the dance studio in town has tango lessons tonight. I was hoping I’d see you there.”
Mackenzie laughed. “Dance lessons?”
The last thing in the world she had time for was tango lessons.
“You probably don’t need lessons; you’re so good at everything,” he sighed. “I’m not so lucky. I’ll be there. All alone. No partner or anything.”
She looked down at her desk and the scribbles on her notepad. The checklist of to-do’s was as long as her arm, with a second list spanning another page.
She needed to double check ferry reservations for the band. There was a problem with the hydrangea order and she had to decide if the upcharge for viburnum was worth it. The guy she’d rented a red carpet from had disappeared from the face of the earth, and the caricature artist had hinted again about needing five-star accommodations to do her best work.
“Unless,” he added, “you decide to join me?”
She grinned down at her desk. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears. “Is this an official Opuluxe Escapes event?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be.”
Her heart leapt.
“Okay,” she heard herself say. “I’ll be there.”
“Great. I’ll send you the details.”
She hung up the call and sat at her desk, her limbs tingling. Whatever you want it to be. What was that supposed to mean? Was he still trying to get her to work for Opuluxe Escapes? Or was this…something else?
A text popped up with the time and place. She only had four hours until the class started.
Mackenzie took a deep breath and turned back to her checklist, her eyes snapping into focus. She looked at the top of her list: Flower order mix-up.
She dialed the number of the florist. “Hi, yeah. The carnations are fine. Thank you.”
Done. Next up, the ferry. She had no idea what her password or username was for the online system, which had put her off dealing with this. There was no time to dillydally now. She reset it, checked the reservation was for the correct time and date, and sent a confirmation to the band.
Done.
An hour before the tango class, Mackenzie had accomplished everything she needed for the day, plus a few tasks she didn’t think she’d get to until tomorrow. It was amazing what a goal could do to her productivity.
She stood from her desk and walked to the mirror. Should she wear her hair up? Add more makeup or act like she didn’t care?
The fact that she was even thinking about it meant she cared. Whatever you want it to be.
Her heart jumped into her throat. What did she want it to be?
Mackenzie shook her head and picked up her makeup bag. Fresh mascara and a dab of lipstick never hurt. She changed into a black sheath dress and stared at herself in the mirror. It didn’t look too try-hard. She could be running to the store or going to a work meeting.
Or going on her first date with her future husband.
Only kidding. She turned away from the mirror. She didn’t believe that, not really. But it wasn’t impossible.
She’d wasted so much time with Steve. What if Cameron was the one she was supposed to end up with? The other half of her power couple, the one she’d been looking for? What if she’d been after the wrong salesman all along?
Her family loved to tease her for missing things right in front of her face. Being able to focus – being able to see a win so clearly – was useful, but it gave her tunnel vision at times. She could admit that.
Dancing needed heels, right? She’d read that somewhere. She bent down, rummaging through the shoe rack at the foot of her bed until her hand landed on the smooth black leather on her favorite pair of heels.
She hadn’t worn them in months. They’d help with the dancing – help her stay on the balls of her feet. And if they made her legs look long and graceful? That was an unavoidable side effect.
Mackenzie slipped on the shoes, crept down the stairs, and got to her car completely unnoticed. She wasn’t hiding anything, but it was best to avoid having to explain herself to Granny and Eliza. She didn’t know what she would’ve said.
Did she even want to work at Opuluxe Escapes? Sure, she might be able to make a bunch of money and rise to the top of the sales department. She could recreate herself and prove to herself – and Steve – she didn’t need any of them to succeed.
Somehow, none of that seemed as exciting as the tone of Cameron’s voice, the glint in his caramel eyes, the touch of his hand on her waist…
Her chest fluttered. She wasn’t doing that again. No dating coworkers. She’d learned her lesson.
But she could always work somewhere else. Then the coworker thing would be a nonissue.
Mackenzie put her hands on the steering wheel and drove to the studio. There was a parking spot directly outside and she pulled in, staring through the windows.
Ballet bars ran along all three walls, each covered in full-length mirrors. The polished wood floor shone under recessed lights. A svelte woman in a belly shirt strutted around, smiling and greeting the four couples gathered near the front.
Cameron stood near the door, the sleeves to his blue button up shirt rolled up, exposing the rippled muscles on his forearms.
Mackenzie sucked in a breath. Maybe she shouldn’t have come. Maybe she wasn’t ready for anything new. She could make an excuse, tell him she was busy.
At that moment, he turned and caught her eye. He smiled. Waved.
She raised a hand and waved back.
Too late now.
He opened the door as she approached. “I’m so glad you came.” He dropped his voice low. “I didn’t realize this class catered to an older crowd.”
As though that was her primary concern.
“You’ll find we have a robust retiree community here on the island,” Mackenzie said. “Which is lucky, because they like tea.”
“That is helpful for a tea shop, isn’t it?”
How long was this going to take? Maybe they could grab dinner after. Mackenzie scanned the room, looking for a poster or a sign, when she spotted a woman’s smiling face.
“You’re Patty’s granddaughter, aren’t you?” She pointed, walking over.
Mackenzie nodded. “One of them. Yes.”
“Hear me out,” she said, putting an arm on Mackenzie’s shoulder. “I know about the ball and I think you lost my invitation.”
Mackenzie let out a slow breath. “Did I?”
“Yes. Patty swears up and down she has no control over it, but you must. I’m a great dancer. I’ve got the moves. I’ll class it up.” She grinned and raised her eyebrows.
“If you’re such a great dancer,” Cameron said, “why are you in this beginner’s class?”
A scowl swirled onto her face. “Oh, a comedian. Don’t tell me you’re invited and I’m not!”
He nodded. “I’m the entertainment.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’ve been a member of this community for twenty-three years and—”
The teacher in the belly shirt clapped her hands together. “All right, everyone! Please bring yourselves close. Our lesson is about to begin!”
The woman cast one last look at Cameron before walking back to her partner.
“Thanks for the backup,” Mackenzie muttered. “I can’t go anywhere with Granny without someone trying to get an invitation.”
He shook his head. “Glad I’m a VIP.”
“Oh,” Mackenzie said quietly, “I meant to tell you you’re non-VIP. It’s not personal. It’s functional.”
“VIP is a state of mind,” he whispered.
She stifled a laugh.
“Today we’re focusing on the basics,” the teacher said. She walked over to a speaker and pressed a button. Accordion-heavy music started playing. “The posture, steps, and emotion fuel the beautiful connection between partners in tango.”
“You’re not a VIP,” Mackenzie said quietly, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
“What am I, then?”
She glanced at him. He had a half smile on his face.
Her heart flew into her throat again. She looked away. “An honored guest, just like the rest of them, but your dinner will be served in the tent.”
“Line up so you can see yourselves,” the teacher said, snapping her fingers. She placed a hand on her trim stomach and stepped forward. “We are going to step slow, slow, quick quick, slow.”
The room filled with the sound of shuffling feet. Mackenzie instinctively put her hands up, focusing on her reflection.
“Gentleman, you step forward with your left foot. Ladies, you will start back with your right foot.” She demonstrated, then walked around the room, correcting them.
“Do you think I should add in some hip sway?” Cameron jutted out his leg.
Mackenzie snorted a laugh. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Good, very good!” the teacher said. “Now turn to your partner and try together. As they say, it takes two to tango!” She threw her head back and let out a cackling laugh.
Mackenzie bit her lip. Cameron was already facing her, holding out a hand. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. Always.”
Mackenzie stepped forward, placing one hand in his, the other on his shoulder. His shirt was soft and warm.
Thankfully, her hand wasn’t sweaty. Not yet.
A gentle touch fluttered to her side and landed on her hip.
“Slow, slow…” he muttered, looking down at their feet.
Mackenzie kept her gaze up. She relaxed her shoulders, leaning into the music, only being thrown out of it when he stepped on her foot.
“Hey,” she said, “watch it.”
Cameron laughed. “I didn’t know you were so good at tango.”
“It’s my first time!” she said, beaming. “I guess I’m just good at everything.”
He sighed. “I guess you are.”
He raised his arm, sending her into a spin, and she twirled, laughing, her mind circling.
The song stopped. She stepped away, her chest heaving with breath.
“I didn’t expect to like this so much,” he said.
She smiled at him. “Tango?”
“Dancing with you.”
The air let out of her lungs. “Ah.”
“You’re all doing wonderful,” the teacher said. “Let’s take a break. Please have some water and catch your breath.”
Mackenzie was the first to the water cooler. It glugged and bubbled as she filled a paper cup with cold water. She walked to her purse and pulled out her phone.
“I’m sorry,” Cameron said, low and near her ear. “Was that too forward?”
Mackenzie cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t say that, but I have a policy.”
“What?” He grinned. “You don’t date salesmen?”
“I don’t date salesmen I work with.”
He nodded. “I see. Well then, that is a predicament.”
“Isn’t it?” She raised an eyebrow and drained the water cup. She crumpled it, tossing it into the trash.
“I’m sorry, it’s been so long since I’ve met someone so…”
Mackenzie couldn’t resist. She cut him off. “So much better at sales than you?”
He laughed. “Yeah. That’s it.”
Silence hung between them. She stared at him, trying not to smile.
“It’s been a while. I, uh…” He scratched the back of his neck. “I had a bad engagement.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Oh.”
“I fell in love quickly and proposed. Her family hated me, though.”
As much as she wanted to crack a joke, she couldn’t. She was too focused studying his every hesitation, every sigh.
“They broke us up,” he said, shaking his head. “They threatened me.”
“Threatened you?” She cocked her head to the side. That was too wild, and somehow worse than her breakup.
“It’s true. They had some criminal connections, if you know what I mean.”
“What? Like the mafia?”
A smile broke his face. “I know how this sounds, but sort of. Yes. They ran me out of the country.”
There were three voicemails waiting on her phone. Two of the numbers she recognized; one she didn’t. Another call lit up her screen.
Why couldn’t they give her a break right now?
“That’s awful, Cameron. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He looked up at her, his eyes shining. “It’s just to say – I’m not trying to rush anything with you, Mackenzie. I’m not trying to do anything. I just…like you. I can’t help it.”
She grinned. “Oh. I don’t blame you.”
He laughed. Her phone rang again.
“I’m sorry, I need to take this. I’ve got people trying to reach me at all hours and—”
“And you’re getting threats from neighbors.” He smiled. “I understand. It was nice to spend some time with you.”
Her breath hung in her throat. “You too.”
“I’ll see you next Saturday?”
She smiled, stooping to pick up her purse. “Yeah. Saturday.”