Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Sophie
I sat on the floor and stretched, first toward one leg then the other before folding forward in the middle. The pancake stretch is my favorite and I rested with my torso and arms flat against the wooden planks and took slow, deep breaths.
When I first started pole, I could barely touch my toes, never mind fold myself in half like this. And now I do it a couple times a day. As someone with a sedentary job, it’s great for my hips, which get stiff, especially when I binge write.
As I deepened the stretch, I thought about yesterday. I’ve been taking pole lessons for four years, so I didn’t have any trouble passing Level 1. Logically I know today is going to be more difficult, but I’m much more relaxed. I think it was the fear of the unknown that had me so nervous. I mean, I know pole dance fitness. Maybe I don’t execute every advanced move perfectly, but I can certainly hold my own. But being tested on my skills was a whole new experience.
Pressing back into a seated position, I twisted at the waist, taking the opportunity to look around the room. Some students are stretching while others are standing around talking. A couple are perched on the desk chatting with Jamie. Or at least chatting at him. Part of me is satisfied to see he’s not engaging with them any more than he had with me yesterday.
“We’re starting in five minutes ladies, so grab a pole and get ready to dance,” Elliott said, shaking his hips and shimmying his shoulders as he walked toward the desk.
He said something to the two girls and they smiled and walked over to the poles they’d set their drinks at earlier. The blonde one glanced back over her shoulder at Jamie then whispered something to her friend. They both giggled.
I reached for my tumbler and took a big drink of water, watching Jamie and Elliott quietly bicker, which seems to be their main form of conversation. They act like an old married couple, but I’m not sure of their exact relationship.
As Elliott walked away, Jamie frowned and looked in my direction. Our eyes locked and I should have been embarrassed that he caught me staring at him, but I was too mesmerized to look away. My heart pounded as I got lost in his dark brown depths.
“Okay ladies. Are we ready to get certified?”
I jumped as Elliott’s voice broke the spell between Jamie and me. Shifting my gaze toward the front of the room, I focused on Elliott. Once he had everyone’s attention, he continued, thanking us for coming, detailing the schedule for the day, and wishing each student good luck.
“I have three assistants today.” He directed our attention to the people in question, who each waved as he said their name. “Jamie, Kat, and Ruth are going to help me keep you all in line.” Everyone chuckled at that, then he added, “But seriously, Kat and Ruth are certified pole experts and can answer any questions you have about technique or transitions. Jamie isn’t certified, but he knows how to perform all the tricks you’ll be doing.” He paused, then bobbed his eyebrows. “And he’s so nice to look at, I figured I’d have him hang around.”
Jamie’s cheeks and the tips of his ears turned red as every woman in the room ogled him. I have to admit, the man is nice to look at. He has the whole tall, dark, and brooding thing going for him. With his strong jawline and chiseled cheekbones, he would have been a perfect fit for old Hollywood. And I’d bet he doesn’t have an extra ounce of fat anywhere on his body.
“Okay, let’s get started with some squats.”
Once again, Elliott’s voice jerked my attention to him. I shook my head to clear Jamie’s image from my brain then placed my feet shoulder-width apart and switched my focus to the task at hand.
We warmed up then jumped straight into running through basic Level 2 moves, including different ways to get in and out of them. Then one by one, each student spotted Elliott, to prove she knew proper technique.
After a quick lunch, we got into some more advanced tricks and transitions, which required using our recently-proven spotting skills. For that, Elliott had everyone pair up. Some ladies came together, so they partnered with each other. I was about to ask a woman who was in yesterday’s class to work with me when Elliott approached, put his arm around my shoulders, and steered me back to my pole.
“Since we have an odd number, you can work with Jamie today,” he said, raising his voice on the last half of the sentence so the man in question could hear him across the room.
Jamie crossed the studio looking like he was heading for his execution. I’m not sure what’s up with that. Aside from showing me the dressing room, we barely exchanged words, and the ones we did were related to pole. Yes, he’s caught me staring at him a time or two, but in my mind, that doesn’t justify his grumpy look.
Elliott prompted us to do one-handed spins, outside and inside leg hangs, side climbs, and shoulder dismounts. Through each move, Jamie stood just to the side of my pole, watching. I struggled to focus on my moves instead of the hot man staring at me with those intense brown eyes. Even if he’s only doing it because he has to, it’s still making my body tingle in all the right places.
Despite the distraction, I managed to perfectly execute all the required moves.
I grabbed the spray bottle of alcohol and microfiber rag and cleaned the pole while Elliott announced the next move.
“Okay ladies, your last trick is a straight-leg layback,” Elliott said. “Partners, standby and be ready to spot.”
I’d lathered myself with grip this morning and after lunch but reapplied before attempting the layback. I don’t want to slide down to the floor headfirst.
Once I was good and tacky, I glanced at Jamie, who was standing right next to me. He nodded toward the pole, then looked back at me. His raised brow made him look a little less grumpy, but no less sexy.
Ignoring the butterflies in my stomach, I climbed up and settled into a pole sit. I gripped the pole with both hands then took a quick breath in through my nose and slowly let it out, bracing myself. Holding on tight with my hands, I kept my ankles crossed and dropped my hips until my butt rested against the pole. With my legs straight, I squeezed it tightly between my thighs then released my hands and slowly leaned back, leading with my head. Once I caught sight of the wooden planks of the floor, I spread my arms out to the side and arched my back, holding the pose long enough to get credit.
Engaging my core, I sat forward and wrapped my hands around the pole. I’d just pulled myself back into a pole sit, when the big toe of my right foot cramped. I sucked in a sharp breath and bent my knees, loosening my grip, and I dropped. Before I could slide my legs down and put my feet on the floor, I felt strong hands cradle my hips, holding me in place. At Jamie’s warm touch, my body broke out in goosebumps, causing my nipples to pebble against my top.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I couldn’t speak at first, so I nodded.
After several heartbeats, I finally found my voice and added, “I’m good.”
He shifted his hands from my hips to my waist and held them there until I was steady. Even then he didn’t immediately let go. I inhaled, savoring his clean scent. The feel of his calloused fingers against my bare skin made my nipples tighten even more. His index finger shifted slightly, more a twitch than a stroke, but my core clenched at the movement.
I almost laughed out loud at my ridiculous reaction. Sure, it’s been a while since I had sex, but that doesn’t explain why my body is melting at such platonic contact.
“I’m good,” I repeated.
Jamie removed his hands and stepped back, leaving me feeling cold.
“Thanks for the spot.” I turned around to face him. “I got a cramp in my toe.”
His eyes shifted down at the offending digit. The cramp hadn’t totally subsided, and my big toe stuck out at an unnatural angle.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked as he met my gaze.
“It’ll be fine. This has happened before when I tense my feet too much.”
He nodded and we just stood there staring into each other’s eyes. My heart pounded and it had nothing to do with the perfect straight-leg layback I’d just executed, and everything to do with the man in front of me.
The chemistry between us is off the charts and I couldn’t help but wonder if it would translate to the bedroom. I shook that thought out of my head and broke the spell between us by leaning down to grab my tumbler. Taking a long drink, I watched the other students execute their laybacks, thankful for the distraction from Jamie and the pull between us.
Unfortunately, he didn’t move from his spot next to me and I couldn’t resist glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. I’m here with my arms crossed over my chest to hide nipples that look like I’m smuggling torpedoes in my pole top and he’s standing there looking stoic. I guess the chemistry is one-sided.
Thankfully today’s certification is almost over. I just need to take the written portion of the test, and I’ll be able to retreat to the comfort of my rental and regroup. I’ll order takeout, have a nice glass of wine, and explain to my nipples that they need to behave in Jamie’s presence for the next two days.
Jamie
I pulled up to the Booth residence and parked behind Elliott’s Prius. Eddie’s car is in front of his and Eileen’s is in the driveway, so it looks like I’m the last of “the kids” to arrive.
After grabbing my cell off the console, I hopped out of the truck, looking everywhere except at the brick house across the street. Not that I need to physically see the house where I spent the first eighteen years of my life to remember everything that happened there. Unfortunately, those memories have been permanently imprinted on my brain. I’ve just learned to keep them locked away in a dark corner of my mind where I can ignore them. Most of the time anyway.
Shaking my head to push those thoughts away, I walked up the sidewalk and climbed the porch steps. I’d just placed my hand on the knob when the door flew open.
“Jamie.”
Elliott’s mom Maggie lifted her arms and I leaned down enough so she could wrap them around my neck. She pulled me in for a tight hug and I rested my hands on her back, returning it. After giving me a kiss on the cheek, she released me and we stepped inside.
I’ve been coming to Tuesday-night dinners at the Booth house as long as I can remember and Maggie has greeted me the same way every week. It’s how she greets her three children too, so I’m honored.
“It smells really good in here,” I said.
“That’s because I made your favorite.”
“Swedish meatballs?”
“With mashed potatoes and green beans.” She winked. “I made dinner rolls, too.”
“You spoil me.”
“I have to keep you coming to visit somehow.”
“You know I’d visit even if you didn’t feed me,” I said, then offered a smile. “Although the food is a definite bonus.”
Since everyone else is here, we were seated around the dining room table and eating within ten minutes of my arrival. And as usual, Maggie’s cooking didn’t disappoint. Neither did the conversation. It’s funny how when adult siblings are together, they revert to acting like children.
Eileen grabbed the last roll from the basket just as Elliott reached for it. She flashed him a cat-that-ate-the-canary smile then stuck her tongue out.
“You won’t be smiling when your wedding dress needs to be let out at the last fitting.”
She finished buttering the roll, looked Elliott in the eye, and took a hostile bite.
“Behave you two. There are more rolls in the kitchen,” Maggie said.
Elliott stood, then grabbed the empty basket and stomped out of the room.
I reached for a second helping as Eileen started to talk about her upcoming wedding. Ed and Eddie rolled their eyes, ducked their heads, and focused on shoveling food into their mouths. Eileen has been planning this wedding for over a year, so I’m sure they’re sick of hearing about it.
She’s a pretty chill bride for the most part, but she is insisting that Elliott’s tuxedo matches all the other groomsmen instead of wearing his own. Which is what she was talking about when he walked back into the dining room and plunked the now-full bread basket on the table in front of him.
“Mr. Maxwell said the earlier you all get fitted, the better.”
“I don’t know why I have to wear a rent-a-tux when I actually own one.”
“When you get married, you can wear whatever you want, but for my wedding, I want the groomsmen to match.” she said.
I thought Elliott would have more to say, but he just rolled his eyes and took a long drink of water. He set his glass down and looked at me.
“So what did you do today?”
“Washed clothes, worked out, went for a run.”
“Did you hear that?” he asked his boyfriend Josh. “He washed clothes, worked out, and went for a run.” Sarcasm dripped from his words as he continued. “All those things are way more important than coming to the studio to help out?”
Josh shifted his gaze between us and chuckled.
“I’m staying out of this one.”
“I told you I’d help out for the first two days, and that’s what I did.”
“But if you didn’t have anything else to do, why didn’t you just come to the studio?”
“I told you what I did.”
“And all those things could have waited,” he said. “You know the ladies love you being there.”
Instead of answering, I focused on finishing my meal. His last statement may be true, but I don’t always enjoy the attention they give me. I’m used to his regular students who flirt, but it’s all in good fun. But some of the women at the certification classes were pretty persistent about wanting to spend time with me. I’m not interested in a fling, especially with someone under thirty, which describes every student in the first two classes.
Except Sophie.
I heard her mention to another student that her daughter is in college, so she must be closer to my age. And there was definitely something between us. If I was looking for female companionship, she’s someone I’d be interested in. But I’m not.
I ignored Elliott’s gaze burning into me as I dredged the last of my roll through the gravy, popped it into my mouth, and chewed.
“Huh, so I was right,” Elliott said. Then he looked at Josh and nudged him with his elbow. “I told you there was an electric connection between him and Sophie Baxter.”
I opened my mouth to deny what he said, but instead of speaking, I sucked in a breath, which lodged the roll I’d been chewing in my throat. The conversations stopped as everyone around the table looked at me.
“Jamie, are you okay?” Maggie asked.
Despite the fact I continued to cough violently, I nodded. The last thing I need is one of them trying to Heimlich me.
Their concerned images blurred as I finally managed to swallow the roll. I picked up my glass and took a couple gulps of water. Everyone continued to stare at me as I got my breathing under control.
“Sorry about that,” I said. “That last bite of roll went down the wrong pipe.”
Totally unimpressed with my near-death experience, Elliott picked up right where he left off.
“Admit it. You’re avoiding Sophie,” he said. “That’s why you didn’t come today.”
I groaned when Eileen asked, “Who’s Sophie?”
“Sophie Baxter is a student in all four certification classes and sparks were flying between her and Jamie on Sunday and Monday. But he chickened out and didn’t come today.”
Maggie’s always trying to set me up, so her ears perked up at Elliott’s words.
“If she’s nice, you should ask her out,” she said. “You’ll never know if there’s a real connection if you don’t give it a try.”
“Yeah, you’ll never know if you don’t give it a try.” Elliott smirked after repeating her words. “So you should come to class tomorrow.”
“I’m actually heading up to White Plains tomorrow to look at some houses.”
“Why up there?” Ed asked.
“My realtor is originally from there and she sent me some houses that would work well for a flip.”
That led to a short discussion on the Brooklyn housing market and how I haven’t found anything flippable recently. It’s been a year since I sold my last house and if I don’t find another project soon, I’m going to go crazy.
“Well, if you get back in time, you can always pop by the studio,” Elliott said.
“I’ll be sure to do that.”
Whether I make it back in time or not, I plan on avoiding the studio like the plague. I have no interest in exploring the electric connection between Sophie and me, and if I show up there, Elliott will make sure that’s exactly what happens.