Luna
FOUR
The studio always feels different right before class. Like it’s holding its breath, waiting for the doors to open, filling it with excitement and magic.
The wood gleams under my bare feet as I arrange the stick-on-fairies on the floor, giving the little ones something to mark their space.
I teach dance for all ages, from two all the way to adults. Each class holds something different for me and gives me a sense of joy in a way I can’t explain, but the tiny dancer class pulls at my heartstrings like no other.
There’s just something so pure and innocent in the way they see the world around them. Everything is new and exciting. It’s a beautiful thing to witness and be a part of the magic through the eyes of a child.
When they enter this room, they become the fairy princess in the bedtime stories their parents read to them each night.
Every spin and jump they do is small, but to them, they are dancing like they are on the biggest stage and leaping so high they can almost touch the stars.
If I can keep the magic and joy of dance alive in their hearts, then I’ve done my part to bring a little more happiness into this world.
Movement outside the window catches my eye as I see the first of the moms arrive with their little ones in tow.
Smiling, I head over to the small waiting room sitting just off the dance floor.
When I first bought the place, it was several small offices that made up a law firm. My brother, Noah, got into renovating older homes and businesses in the area a few years back. His crew came in and completely ran with my ideas, transforming this place into a ballet studio dream.
Walls were knocked down, leaving me with just enough room for a small office in the back, a waiting area out front, and the most gorgeous dance floor, fully equipped with barres and mirrors throughout.
The tall windows in the front are draped in sheer white fabric, giving it a serene, ethereal feel.
“Miss Luna!”
I laugh as sweet Claire flings herself at my legs, her dark hair pulled back neatly in two buns at the nape of her neck.
“Hi, Claire bear. Did you have a good weekend?” I ask, bending down to her level.
“Uh, huh,” she nods sweetly. “I got ice cream at the beach.”
“Well, that sounds yummy,” I smile, waving at her mom as she points to the door, letting me know she’s leaving. “Why don’t you go find your fairy with your name on it while I get all the other girls situated?”
She bobs her head before running off to search for her spot. An excited buzz fills the air as the rest of the class filters in. I briefly say hi to the moms as their daughters run to see their friends.
“Okay, my little ones. Let’s all find our fairy, please, and take a seat. We have a lot of fun things planned today.” I walk around the room and make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be before I turn around to face the class.
A tall figure stands in the doorway, broad shoulders filling up the space.
He’s holding the hand of a little girl with blond curls and big blue eyes.
She’s looking around shyly, but also with an air of excitement that I can clearly feel as her small feet, clad in little ballet slippers, begin to stand on her toes with anticipation.
My eyes work their way up his black tee that stretches across his chest until my eyes meet his.
Holy hell.
Intense green eyes meet mine, and something foreign sparks deep in my core. His full lips pull into a frown as his gaze sweeps over me. It’s like a hot branding iron against my skin as his eyes roam down my sports bra and black leggings, leaving a blazing trail of heat in its wake.
“We’ve got a new fwend,” Maci says suddenly, pulling me out of my daze.
“Yes…yes, we do,” I manage to whisper past the sudden dryness in my throat.
Pulling myself together so I don’t look like some crazy teacher in front of my new student’s parent, I put on a smile and walk over to them.
“You must be Scarlett,” I say, bending down to the little girl when I reach them.
She nods her head and holds up three fingers. “I almost fwee.”
She’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, with her blonde curls already escaping her bun on the back of her head. Up close, I see that we both have the same dusting of freckles across our noses as she studies me quietly.
“Well, that’s the perfect age for this class,” I beam. “I’m Miss Luna, and I’ll be your teacher. We have a lot of friends in here who would love to meet you. There’s a place right next to Maci that we saved for you.” I point to the empty spot, and Maci excitedly beckons her over.
She looks up at the dominating presence at her side, and his face softens at the excitement brimming in her eyes.
“Go ahead, baby girl,” he smiles, showing a perfect set of white teeth and a softness to his face that wasn’t there before. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”
She excitedly hands him her stuffed animal, that was clutched to her chest, which appears to be a dolphin in a tutu, before running off to meet her new friends.
Standing up, I watch his gaze fixate on his daughter as she sits down next to the other girls. He’s even more gorgeous up close as I take in his strong profile and head of brown, loose curls peeking out of his baseball cap.
I glance briefly at his left hand and notice there’s no ring. Thoughts I have no business thinking suddenly enter my mind about a student’s dad, but I stuff them down, knowing it’s dangerous territory.
“Thank you for bringing her, Mr…”
“Cayden. Just Cayden,” he says, cutting me off as he finally averts his eyes from his daughter.
“Cayden,” I say softly, testing the name out on my lips. His eyes move to my mouth as another frown creases his face.
Is he always this serious?
“It’s nice to meet you,” I quietly add. He nods his head and remains silent as I shift uncomfortably under his gaze.
“Scarlett will fit right in. The girls are amazing in this class, and always have a lot of fun. We will be done in an hour if you want to come back then. Most parents use this time to go down the street for a coffee or catch a yoga class next door. The classes have cameras,” I say, pointing to the corner of the room where the feed takes place, “so you’ll be able to check up on her if you leave.
I can give you the login information if you would like, so you can watch on your phone. ”
“I’d like to stay if that’s okay.”
“Of course. There’s a waiting room with chairs when you first come in that you could use.”
“I meant in here.” His low voice catches me off guard as I blink at him in surprise.
“Here? Inside the dance studio?”
“I’m not leaving my daughter with a stranger I just met. Cameras or not.” There isn’t an ounce of room for argument in his voice, letting me know this isn’t up for discussion.
“It’s not my usual protocol,” I murmur. “Young kids tend to get distracted by their parents, but I guess I can make an exception this one time. If it causes a distraction, though, I’ll have to ask you to leave, and you’ll just have to trust this stranger that your daughter is in good hands, like all the other parents do. ”
I don’t know why he’s got me so riled up, but I can’t help as I give it right back to him. Maybe it’s the way his gaze evokes a side of me I’ve never felt before, or maybe it’s simply the arrogance and control I feel suffocating this room.
Either way, he’s trouble, and I need to leave it alone. The last thing I need is rumors going around in this small town about me and one of my students’ dads. I’ve put too much blood, sweat, and tears into this place for something to taint my business name.
“I promise not to be a distraction.” His lip quirks up slightly before it disappears again into a hard line.
So Mr. Serious does have a playful side in there somewhere.
“Fine. Grab a chair from out front. I’ve got a class to teach.” I walk away, letting him fend for himself while I get the girls settled.
“I see everyone found their fairy spot,” I grin at all the little girls as they settle down now that they know class is about to start. “We have a new friend with us today. I want everyone to make Scarlett feel welcome.”
I wink at her, sitting in the front row, and she giggles softly.
Glancing up, I see Cayden bring a chair in before he settles his large frame against the back wall.
Doing my best to ignore his forbidding stare, I turn on the music and quickly get the girls started with some light stretching before we move into some beginner techniques.
“Yes, Scarlett! Just like that. You are doing so well,” I praise halfway through the class, watching her bring her heels together in first position as I walk around the class. “Now, let’s open your toes a little more like a flower waking up.”
I demonstrate in front of the class the perfect first position and watch as they mimic me.
“Now we are going to pretend we are holding a big beach ball.” My arms are outstretched in front of me as I hug an imaginary ball. “Remember, we don’t want it to fall, so keep holding it tight.”
Glancing around the room, I make sure everyone is following me.
The girls aren’t the only ones watching me as I feel his eyes on me again.
It’s been like this the whole class, and I’ve resisted the urge to look his way.
His daughter may not be distracted by his presence, but every time his gaze lands on me, I can feel the shift in the air—like something unseen brushing against my skin, wanting to weave around and steal the next breath from my lungs.
It pulls at me until I finally give in, my gaze lifting slowly until it collides with his.
Those sea-green eyes spear me, locking me in place. Heat creeps up my neck, and something shifts briefly in his eyes, but it’s gone too soon before I can get a read on him.
Forcing my gaze away, I clear my throat and clap my hands softly. “All right, my little fairies. Let’s try our tiptoes next.” I put on a happy smile, refusing to let the strong presence in the corner stop me from doing my job.
The girls follow my lead as I walk on my tiptoes, leading them around the room.
This dance studio has become my safe place. Inside these walls, I come alive. It’s a feeling deep in the soul, a knowing that you are doing exactly what you were meant to.
Today, though, my safe place has been turned upside down. A new energy has taken over in the form of a six-foot-four, intense man. I know nothing about him except that he has a daughter.
So, why do I feel this strong connection to him?
I would know if we’ve met before. A face like his is not one you would ever forget.
Something tells me there is a lot more to this man than just being a protective father. He’s good at hiding his emotions, but I can almost feel them swirling in the air.
A sadness and anger I can’t explain.
The one that has me shaken, though, is the yearning.
It tugs at me, sharp and unrelenting, until I steal another glance.
Like I’m tethered to him.
Like something unseen is drawing me closer—and I have no idea if it’s going to pull me in…
or snap tight enough to break me apart.