Romance: Dance with Me (California Belly Dance Romance Book 2) by DeAnna Cameron Page B

soft knock on the door before it opened. She dropped the suitcase she had stuffed down beside the bed, out of view.
    “Oh, it’s you. Is the coast clear?”
    Taz shut the door and shook his head in disbelief. “That was incredible.”
    She posed and bowed. “Did you enjoy this evening’s performance?”
    “I have never seen Gina speechless before. It was great. It was better than great. She’s really going to hate you.”
    The comment should have made her happy. That was the point, right? “Happy to oblige,” she said. “It’s why I’m here. Where is she now?”
    He jutted his chin toward the door. “Down in the kitchen, getting reacquainted with Spike. I think she’s pissed the dog doesn’t seem to remember her. It’s kind of hilarious.”
    “You’re harsh,” Melanie said.
    He rolled his eyes. “Believe me, it’s nothing close to what she dishes out. You’ll see.”
    “Anyway, she won’t come back up any time soon, so I think you’re safe for now. Come down when you’re ready. Actually, she’s probably hungry from her flight and will want something to eat.”
    Melanie was still comfortably full from their early dinner. “What about your soup? I’ll bet they didn’t serve anything that good on her flight.”
    “She doesn’t eat leftovers, and I’m really not in the mood to put something together. I’ll just take her out.”
    “Or I could make something,” Melanie offered. Wait, what? She didn’t cook. Unless you counted mac and cheese out of a box.
    He shook his head. “It’s nice of you to offer, but we’re trying to make a bad impression, remember?”
    “Right. Bad impression. So what should I wear?”
    “Whatever you want or nothing at all. That’d suit me just fine.” He smirked.
    She pulled a wad of clothing from the pile she had stuffed beneath the sheets and hurled it at him.
    He grabbed it in mid-air and let the two tank tops and pair of yoga pants fall to the ground. Still in his hand was her laciest black bra. He lifted it and gave it an approving look. “Yeah, now this is what I’m talking about.” He tossed it back on the bed. “Definitely wear that.”
    “Go!” She pointed to the door and gave him her sternest, most reprimanding look.
    He laughed. “See you downstairs, sweetheart,” he said, sarcasm dripping from the word, and he shut the door behind him.
    She dropped back against the pillows and stared at the white, coffered ceiling. What in the world had she gotten herself into?

 
     
     
     
     
     
    | 17
     
    “We’ll follow you to the restaurant,” Taz told Gina as he left the house with Melanie in tow.
    Gina shook her head. “I rented an Escalade. There’s plenty of room for all of us.”
    Taz stared at the white behemoth parked in the driveway. He shook his head. It was just like her to show up in a monstrosity like that.
    “Couldn’t you get anything bigger?”
    “Keep your sarcasm to yourself,” Gina shot back. “You know I hate that tiny toy car you drive.”
    “A Porsche Carrera is hardly a toy.”
    Gina twirled her finger in the air. “Fine. It’s a flashy car. I get it. Does that mean Garrett is paying you what you’re worth, or are you just driving around in what was left of Mommy and Daddy’s money?”
    It didn’t take long for her to revisit that old sore spot.
    “I paid for that car myself, and you know it.” It might be the only thing of value he’d been able to buy on his own, but damn it, he’d done it. The car was his and his alone. Still, the insinuation burned within him.
    He looked back at Melanie, whose gaze was trained on the gray cobblestones in front of her. She was probably thanking heaven she was an only child all over again. He held back till she caught up to him. “You okay?”
    Her head shot up. “Yeah, of course,” she said then lowered her voice to a whisper. “Is she always like this?”
    “Pretty much,” he whispered back.
    At the vehicle, he opened the passenger door and held it for Melanie to get