Finding Her Rhythm (Backstage Pass Series) by Dani Wade Page A

definitely not my scene.” She strode toward the locker rooms, leaving Taylor to face the music.
    She turned a wide-eyed gaze toward the rest of the party, which was rapidly dividing itself by groups of two. Even the teenagers. Her stomach started to churn, faster and faster , like a merry-go-round gaining speed.
    She stayed put, sort of a n “ if I’m very still, no one will notice me” move. After all, no one had so far. But she should have known her luck would run out.
    Not two minutes later Michael detached himself from the group and swam in her direction. Oh, that hot dog had been a mistake. She just might puke in the pool.
    No. No no no. Please don’t make me do this. The last thing she wanted was for Michael Korvello to try to lift her. She could just imagine the stoic grunt as he realized just how much she weighed. Not to mention having to do it in front of a handful of women shaped like twigs. With boobs, of course.
    His head lifted above the water with slick grace, the wetness somehow deepening the smoky blue of his eyes. “I need a partner, Taylor.”
    She swallowed hard. “No, thanks.”
    “ Come on. You wouldn’t leave me hangin’, would ya?”
    Her expression must have showcased some of her “you bet I would, mister” sentimentality, because the laughter in his ramped up. “Come on. Just a friendly game of chicken .” His emphasis on the word notated his challenge.
    Just like he challenged her every day. Drawing her out, coaxing her to take the leap. But this time she had fear of taking her towel off in front of thirty-some-odd people on her side.
    “ Not happening.” She shook her head to drive her point home.
    Above the slosh of people in the pool , a voice suddenly rang out. “I thought you said she was a cool nanny?”
    A quick glance revealed the teens looking her way, and not a single soul left out of the pool, except one woman wrangling two toddlers.
    And her.
    So much for outgrowing peer pressure. Her “okay” got everyone back to their preparations and their eyes off her, thank God. But not Michael’s.
    He watched with a raised brow as she stood next to her lounger. Her legs shook with the desire to run back to the locker rooms and hide. How could she p ossibly do this? But some teeny-tiny spark inside insisted she could ramp up that sexy glint in his eyes.
    Fake it till you make it.
    Sucking in her stomach, she let the towel drop to reveal her new swimsuit. His gaze traveled down the teal one-piece with interest, lingering where it dipped low over her cleavage. Turning, she draped her towel over her lounger. A totally unnecessary maneuver, but his quick intake of breath told her he’d seen the heart-shaped cutout right over the dimples at the small of her back.
    Did he like them?
    Remembering when those dimples had been the subject of ridicule rather than an intimate secret between lovers, she approached Michael with a touch of caution. When she was within a few steps of him, he breathed, “Damn, woman.”
    Ah, victory.
    A few deep breaths got her through the indignity of climbing onto Michael’s muscled shoulders. Thankfully he didn’t moan or stumble over her weight. The only thing that eased her self-consciousness was the feel of his wet skin against hers. His hands warming as they curled around her thighs. The flex of his arms as he balanced her securely.
    Oh, she was so going to hell for her thoughts.
    Luckily no one else seemed to be paying her any attention as one of the men yelled, “Ready. Set. Go!”
    She fought to keep her balance as the free-for-all ensued. Then she unabashedly clamped her thighs around Michael’s neck and held on for dear life. They both laughed so hard that she was distracted from the overt sexual nature of her position.
    They weren’t the last couple standing, but they made it into the top five, at least. McKayla and the sixteen-year-old boy who was dazzled to have her on his shoulders came out the winners.
    Matthew complained, “They just went