Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
RUTH
Just a few days later, Ruth realized that she'd fooled herself.
When she'd shown up to the ballet studio, she thought she'd be safe.
Katie had come over again to talk about the tea and given her the contact information for the Parent Coordinator, Missus Guthrie.
Missus Guthrie wanted to talk to her in person, so there she was, standing amidst a whirlwind of dancers while the older lady who ran the Parent Volunteers told her more than she'd ever wanted to know.
Apparently, Missus Guthrie had been with the company from a time before the dinosaurs and had no problem letting everyone know the most intricate and intimate details of the company.
Ruth was worried that she might fall asleep on her feet.
The ballet company was well known in town and while Ruth had wanted to go and see a show, she hadn't managed to work out her schedule.
As soon as she'd met Katie, she became determined to go and actually had a ticket reserved for the opening night performance.
"Now, in the Seventies..."
Oh no... Ruth felt her right foot fall asleep. Not as embarrassing as falling asleep during her introduction, but if they had to walk somewhere, she might have to drag her leg along behind her like Igor in Frankenstein movies.
"Miss Baker! You came!"
Ruth had about half a second's notice before Katie ran into her at full speed.
Ruth's breath rushed out of her lungs and as she reached out an arm to wrap around Katie, she found the wall with the other to keep them both upright.
"Katherine?"
Missus Guthrie's tone was full of disapproval.
"Are you supposed to be running?"
Katie's face twisted into a half-smile, half-wince. "Sorry, Missus Guthrie. I just got out of rehearsal, and I saw Miss Baker was here. I just wanted to say hello."
Ruth adjusted the arm she had around Katie and gave her a one-armed hug. "I'm glad you did. I wasn't sure when you were going to be in rehearsal."
Katie rose up and Ruth looked down to see that Katie had pointe shoes on. She was all the way up on the tips of her shoes.
"Amazing." Ruth shook her head. "I always wanted to take dance lessons, but didn't have the chance. I can't wait to see you on stage."
Katie leaned in, laying her head on Ruth's shoulder and suddenly, it was hard to breathe.
And if Ruth had to talk, she wasn't sure that any words could make it beyond the lump in her throat.
Katie's effusive personality warmed her through.
Missus Guthrie dropped her chin and frowned. "Katherine? I believe you have somewhere to be."
Ruth wanted to say a word or two to the older woman. Katie was a wonderful young lady.
"I have another minute or two, Missus Guthrie.
I'm going to help with the rehearsals for the Bonbons, but they're all checking in and putting on their shoes.
Miss Baker is going to make the most amazing treats for our Sugarplum Tea.
I was so glad she's helping us. I had to come over and give her a big hug. "
Then Katie looked up at her with a grin that lit up her whole face.
Ruth had no idea that it was just this easy to feel all kinds of motherly affection for someone.
"Sorry, Miss Baker. I just had to give you a hug."
Ruth smiled from ear to ear. "A hug from you? I'll make time."
Katie started to move away and then stopped, looking back. "Miss Baker? I'll be done in a half an hour. Do you think you'll still be here?"
"I think so." Ruth suddenly found herself willing to listen to the rest of Missus Guthrie's recitation on the history of the dance company if she could see Katie again in a little bit.
She was hoping that she'd get a chance to see Katie dance in the rehearsal.
"I'll be here when you're done."
Katie was almost bouncing with energy. "See you then!"
Ruth shook her head and sighed. 'If only I had a little bit of that energy.'
"I agree," Missus Guthrie intoned, "she really needs to slow down."
Ruth tried to school her expression when she looked back at the older woman.
While she was there to help. It seemed that Miss Guthrie was a kind of cornerstone in the dance company and Ruth didn't want to upset her, but she also felt a little upset that the other woman thought that she was finding fault with Katie when it was the furthest from the truth.
What should she say? How should she say it?
She didn't want to make things difficult for Katie and it seemed like Missus Guthrie would never be short of judgements.
For anyone.
"I would move as fast as she does if I had the energy," Ruth added a little wistful sigh at the end of her words. "I understand that she's been dancing and taking lessons since she could walk. I admire that kind of dedication."
Ruth didn't look directly at the other woman. She didn't want to openly challenge her. Ruth didn't know the inner workings of the dance company.
"Miss Baker..."
Ruth heard the curious tone of voice and drew in a steadying breath for whatever she'd face next.
"You're not related to Katherine?"
The older woman made it sound like a crime.
Be nice, she reminded herself. Be nice.
"Related by blood? No. I live next door to Katie and her father. She's wonderful. I'm happy to help with the Tea. I already have my ticket for opening night."
Missus Guthrie looked down her nose at Ruth and her glasses slipped down to the rounded point. "Normally we just have the parents and immediate family members of our dancers helping at performances. It makes sense to have people with a real connection participating."
"Funny..."
Ruth heard the same deep and rumbling voice that she imagined in the dark, late night hours whispering in her ear.
"I don't recall that rule, Missus Guthrie."
The older woman crossed her arms over her chest. "Mister Stone. What exactly do you mean?"
Ruth turned slightly, just in time to see him shrug those big, broad shoulders of his. It was hard not to swoon and sink to the floor at the sight.
Yes, she knew she was being silly, but this man did things to her that made her feel a little silly.
"You're implying that Miss Baker volunteering with the company is odd because she's not related to Katie."
Ruth swore that she saw the older woman bristle at the usage of Katherine's nickname, but really, what did it matter if she didn't like the nickname?
Miss Guthrie sniffed and her gaze turned toward the corner for a moment before she looked back.
Ruth felt the older woman's gaze on her and resisted the urge to grin at her before Missus Guthrie looked at Nick.
"The company prides itself on being a kind of family, Mister Stone."
Ruth wasn't sure how, but she swore she could hear Nick's voice laughing in her head.
"Hmm... then why would it matter if Ruth is a parent or not?”
Missus Guthrie opened her mouth to say something, but Nick continued on.
“Are you a parent to someone in the company?”
Missus Guthrie’s mouth gaped open. And Ruth wondered if he already knew the answer.
“Well… no, but…”
“I think I remember you saying at the orientation meeting that you prided yourself on being a community member who volunteers with the community because of your appreciation for the dance.”
Ruth watched Missus Guthrie in turn preen and her cheeks color as she looked away.”
“The important thing,” she began as she lifted her gaze so she could look down her nose at both of them, “is my true dedication to the company.”
“This is Ruth’s first time volunteering with the company.”
Ruth smiled at the warm tone of his voice and then a moment later when she was sure things couldn’t get any better, it did.
Something warm and delightfully heavy settled over her shoulders.
“I think we should give her a warm welcome and show her hospitality so she would be inclined to return and volunteer again.”
Missus Guthrie started mumbling something about rolling out a red carpet, but Ruth wasn’t really listening.
With Nick’s arm around her shoulders her brain had suddenly short circuited.
She knew he was strong. There was no missing his bulk when she saw him. And no, he wouldn’t qualify for Magic Mike or something like that, but that had never been her thing.
She liked big teddy bear kind of guys.
She liked wrapping her arms around a man and feeling like she could hug him over and over again and never get enough.
Having him at her side, his warmth around her shoulders, was almost a dream come true.
It was the first time that he’d touched her other than to shake her hand when they’d met.
It was one thing to have a crush on her next-door neighbor and see him in passing from time to time.
It was quite another to get within touching distance.
And smelling the difference.
The man smelled like wood, fresh cut, sanded wood.
Pine.
Her favorite scent, outside of fresh baked treats.
And she hoped that his scent would stay on her clothes after he took his arm away.
Which was bound to happen sooner than later.
Right?
“You know,” Nick’s hand squeezed her shoulder, and she tipped her head back to look at him, “it’s kind of nosey… noisy in here today. Missus Guthrie, I’ll email you and CC Ruth’s email tonight, and you can send her all of the information she’ll need right?”
Missus Guthrie looked at both of them over the top edge of her glasses. “I guess I could, but-”
“Wonderful!” Nick’s voice was probably a tad too loud, but he was already steering her away, so Ruth didn't have any idea how the other woman had reacted to his words or their quick exit.
But really, she couldn't seem to care.
Nick Stone had his arm around her and the longer he left it there, the easier it was to feel the warmth of his body.
She shivered, remembering her reaction the first time she'd stepped into the dance school.
Nick's soft laughter felt like it tickled across her cheek.
When he leaned heavier on her shoulder she pulled in a breath.
"Sorry."
He laughed again and she realized she hadn't seen him smile much around her. Laugh? Never.
"I know you didn't expect me to kidnap you like that, but I had the feeling the dragon was going to give you a hard time."
Dragon?