Searching for Perfect (10 page)

He stiffened, but the perky brunette bounced to the center stage and spoke into her earpiece. “Is everyone ready to ZUMBA?”

The crowd roared. “Yes!”

“Well, let’s turn it up, people!”

The music boomed from the walls and ceiling, wrapping them in a Latin-type rhythm that perked up the heartbeat
and warmed the blood. Kennedy concentrated on their model, enjoying the back-and-forth steps of the warm-up, and watched Nate in the mirror under half-lidded eyes. He stomped back and forth with deliberate movements, his nose wrinkled in concentration. She knew it would be a big test for him to admit he may not get the steps, but it was important to dive beneath the control barrier he kept up. No woman wanted a perfectionist as a mate, or someone judgmental. She needed to scratch past his rigid mental structure and get him to
feel
.

The warm-up transitioned to grinding hip-hop. Kennedy missed many of the steps, but made up for it in enthusiasm and the swing of her hips. Another glance in the mirror showed the gleam of sweat on Nate’s brow, the slip of his glasses down his nose, and the frustrated grimace of his lips. She almost caught the smoke from his head steaming out as he tried to mimic the instructor’s rapid pace. As soon as he nailed one routine, she switched to another rocketing foot dance that seemed to have no rhyme or reason. It was exactly what Kennedy wanted him to experience.

“Let’s work the hips, people! One, two, and three. Slide on four. Bump and grind, baby, that’s what I’m talking about!”

Forty minutes into the class, Nate Ellison Raymond Dunkle surrendered.

It was a fascinating breakdown to watch. Kennedy knew the exact moment he decided he couldn’t do it. No matter how hard he tried, the dance slipped away from him, always out of his grasp, leaving only the raw tempo of
music, the scent of sweat, and the stamp of feet on the bare floors. The lights spun and threw him into a greenish silhouette.

Kennedy prided herself on breaking down the male species. Arilyn usually helped target the exact hurdle her prey needed in order to strip down boundaries. Kennedy wasn’t educated as a counselor, but she enjoyed witnessing growth in a person. Lord knows she’d dealt with tons of angst in her own past. Still, pain built character. Growth helped love. Being stagnant and fearful only blocked any of the good vibes in a healthy relationship.

At least, that’s what she always believed.

He stopped dancing. Stared at the move of bodies, flowing and ebbing, some in tempo and most not. She never stopped in her own routine. This was his journey, and his choice. She could only lead him in the right direction. Kennedy turned, bent, then did a rotation, a hip thrust that made her feel naughty and powerful. Again. And again.

Nate narrowed his gaze, taking in the scene, and did the one thing she’d swear the man was incapable of.

He danced.

He spun, lowered, rotated, and thrust. Worries over looking stupid, or not copying the exact movements, or the horror of his high school gym class all seemed to drift away. He missed most of the steps but never stopped. He gave up and gave in, and his body took over.

She couldn’t tear her gaze from him in the mirror. His cotton shirt slipped up and she caught a glimpse of a nice rack of abs. The innate stillness he owned radiated outward into a flow of almost poetic grace, his feet sliding across the
floor, his hips rocking with a power that left her a bit breathless. Like a caterpillar catching flight as a butterfly, in that instant he dove into the moment and owned it. An almost sexual energy emanated in waves and mixed with the earthy tempo, turning him into a man radiating sheer command. For one second, her skin tingled and her breath caught. For one second, she was completely and utterly attracted to him.

The music changed; slowed. Cool-down began, with gentle glides and simple arm movements. The moment passed and faded, already seeming like a weird dream. Class ended and students lingered to guzzle water, chat, and speak with the teacher. A proud grin curved her lips as she walked over to her profusely sweating client.

“What do you think?”

He adjusted his clothing, took a sip of water, and studied her over his glasses. “Tell me this is a one-shot deal.”

She shook her head. “We Zumba every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You’ll enjoy it more each time.”

“I think I’d rather see Benny or Ming.” His gaze pierced hers. “Do you torture all the men at Kinnections before getting them their happy ever afters?”

She laughed. “Love and relationships are work. We always say learn to do the labor beforehand, and it will become a habit and lead to a more successful relationship.”

He pondered the words and tilted his head. “Do you follow your own advice?”

The question took her off guard, but she made sure to recover quickly. “Yes. I’ve done a lot of hard work with myself. I think that’s helped me form better relationships.”

Nate nodded. “When was your last one?”

“My last what?”

“Long-term relationship.”

Irritation bristled her nerves. She forced a casual smile. “Oh, not too long ago. But I’m ready and open for the next.”

“You said you didn’t do long term.”

She took a slug of water so she didn’t have to answer. He waited her out anyway, his gaze probing for truth. “Long term means something different to everyone. Yours is marriage. Mine is a few months.”

Students chatted, mats were dragged out for the next class, and his voice reached her ears, deep and dark and caressing. “Maybe you deserve more.”

She opened her mouth to set him straight, but a sweet, female voice interrupted. “Hi. Just wanted to welcome you to Zumba. It’s so great to see a man here. Most don’t have the guts.”

Kennedy took in her high ponytail, bare midriff, and interested gaze. Whoa. She was really interested, her sly gaze sliding up and down his body. Fresh meat was always welcome at the gym. Nate didn’t move. Didn’t respond. Kennedy cleared her throat and bumped his shoulder. This was a perfect opportunity to watch him handle a first meet. Maybe he’d learned a few lessons from the disastrous speed dating and their time together. “Umm, Nate, I’ll be right back.”

She moved away to give them a bit of privacy, and fiddled with her iPhone.
Come on, dude, you can do this. Talk. Say anything. No, scratch that, say something that’s not stupid
.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Nate.”

Kennedy slumped with relief. Perfect. Maybe she should school him just to be direct from the get-go. No bad pick-up lines, body-related comments, or probing questions. Just direct information.

“I’m Heidi. Haven’t seen you at the gym before. First time?”

“Yep, I’m a golfer, but figured I’d try something different. Hey, you have a great—”

Kennedy squeezed her phone in a death grip.

“Smile.”

She let out her breath. He’d listened! Maybe this would be easier than she thought. Was he ready to be sent out? They had the wardrobe makeover coming up, and of course the role-play session with Arilyn and Kate, but she always saved that for last. A mixer would definitely work. Plenty of options.

“Thanks so much. I’m heading for a shake at the health bar. Wanna join me?”

“Sure.” He glanced over at Kennedy. She gave him a subtle thumbs-up sign. He gave a slight nod in acceptance and began walking out. Their voices drifted through the room. “What do you do, Heidi?”

“I’m in school. Studying to be a nail technician.”

“You need to go to college to learn how to paint nails?”

Heidi paused and swung her head around. “Nails are serious business. Why, what are you? A rocket scientist?”

He stiffened. Kennedy winced. Oh, no. No, no, no, no . . .

“Actually, an aerospace engineer. They don’t call it rocket science anymore.”

She cocked her head. “Are you serious, man?”

He gave her
the
look. Filled with derision and judgment. “Of course. Listen, I don’t think this will work between us for a long-term relationship, but I’m completely open to having a short affair. What do you think?”

Ah, shit.

Heidi gasped. “You’re an asshole.” She stalked off, ponytail bouncing, and disappeared through the smoked-glass door.

Nate blinked. The lines of his face were stamped with complete surprise. He turned back to Kennedy with his palms upturned. “What did I do wrong?”

Okay, no mixer. Not for a while, anyway. Why the hell didn’t he respect the woman’s career path? Any work in this economy was a thing of pride. How dare he evaluate anyone’s choices just because he was successful? Disappointment flooded her. She marched over and jabbed her finger against his chest. The scent of male sweat, cotton, and a hint of musk hit her nostrils. “Too many things to go over in a few minutes.”

“I was honest and direct. Women appreciate that, right? I wasn’t rejecting her, just changing the course, since I knew right away marriage was never going to happen.”

“I don’t want to hear it right now. Follow me.”

She led him toward the back stairs. “Where are we going?”

“Out the side door. I think it would be best to avoid the shake bar until Heidi calms down. Don’t you?”

He didn’t answer. They popped out into the cool evening. She walked off her temper and into the diner where they had their first coffee date. Sliding into the red booth, she ordered a cup of black coffee.

“And you, sir?” the waitress asked.

“Do you serve humble pie? My gut is telling me I may need it for something.”

“Excuse me?”

He waved a hand in the air. “Never mind. Tea with lemon, please. And a Clorox wipe.”

The waitress shot him a look. “You kidding?”

“No.” She rolled her eyes but returned with one, and he carefully wiped down the table. “The amount of germs at public eateries is staggering. Do you know many restaurants just use a wet cloth to wipe the tables clean after each patron? No soap or disinfectant.”

Kennedy practically spit in fury and launched into her tirade. “Must be nice to make judgments on people who are trying to figure out what they want to do in life.”

He blinked. “Huh?”

“Why do you think a nail technician is beneath you?”

He jerked from the direct hit. “I don’t. I may not understand it, but I’m sure there’s training involved. She said she needed schooling. It’s honest work. That wasn’t my problem.”

“What was?”

“Connor said women in the beauty industry are unfaithful. I can’t marry someone who won’t be loyal.”

She placed her palms flat on the table and leaned forward. “Wait. Your brother thinks all women who are cosmetologists or hairstylists will cheat?”

“Yes.”

“For God’s sake, why?”

The waitress plopped down their mugs. He took a moment to examine the rim of the cup for traces of lipstick before he seemed comfortable enough to take a sip. “He had a girlfriend once who worked at a beauty shop. She cheated on him and broke his heart. Later, he found out that all the women in the salon had encouraged her to do it. I’ve never seen him that upset over one woman before, and after that, he swore off any long-term relationships. Connor warned me never to get involved with anyone in the beauty industry.”

Frustration steamed out of her ears. She opened her mouth, shut it, shook her head, and tried again. “Your brother had a bad experience with a specific woman—not everyone in the cosmetology world. How would you feel if I told you a rocket scientist—”

“Aerospace engineer.”

“—aerospace engineer cheated on me and now I’d never even speak with anyone involved in the industry? Or anyone who taught physics? How would that make you feel to be judged right away without being assessed on your individual ethics?”

She pictured his mind completing a series of clicks as he processed the information. “I wouldn’t like it.”

“Exactly. A whole group shouldn’t be punished for one person’s wrong deeds.”

“Agreed. It’s just—” He broke off and sipped his tea. She waited, sensing something bigger beyond the unsaid words.

“What?”

“I don’t want to hurt my brother. If I came home with a cosmetologist, it may bring up bad memories.”

“Maybe he needs to work through it. You can’t let your brother’s issues keep you from opportunities that may work for you. That’s not fair to anyone.”

“I guess.”

He drank his tea and grew pensive. She studied the graceful planes of his face and serious eyes while he pondered the liquid in his mug. It was a good time to back off, partly to keep her resolution to put some distance between them. She’d discovered his true motives, and though it didn’t make what he had done right, she understood more now. The man needed major socialization, and she knew exactly what to do about it. But for now, the best thing was to leave. Pay for the coffee, wish him good night, and go home. They’d meet for the next round in the clear day with barriers resurrected.

Ah, hell. There was pain in his eyes, and her heart couldn’t take it. “How old were you when your mom left?” she asked.

Most people wouldn’t respond. Nate just told the truth. “Ten. I knew she was unhappy, because she cried a lot, and fought with my dad. My father worked construction like my brother, so we didn’t have much. Mom liked pretty things. Clothes, jewelry, parties. She tried to drag Dad out a lot, but he only wanted to stay home in front of the television.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter. Kennedy knew different. “I got up in the morning and she had her bags packed. Made me breakfast, and told me she was going on
a trip for a while. Kissed my forehead. I was in a mood so I grumbled something at her and left for school. I never saw her again.”

Her stomach tightened. She never understood why there was so much cruelty in the world, and why so many bad things happened to good people. “You don’t blame yourself, do you?”

“Nah, she had one foot out the door a long time ago. I just regret not saying anything heartfelt or meaningful when I had the chance. My last memory of her is bacon and eggs frying, her black suitcase on the floor, and my own pissed-off resentment of having to go through another crappy school day while she goes off having fun.”

“Your father didn’t handle it well, I take it?”