A Moment To Dance Read Online Free PDF Page B

resting on Ella’s shoulders increased as the mention of her beloved grandfather awakened feelings of loss. He had been the peacemaker. The glue that held the family together. After his death in her early teens, things became strained with her grandmother, who would never let Ella forget that she’d lived while her mother and brother hadn’t.
    “This cabin, is it where you live now?”
    Ella nodded. “I moved in a little more than a week ago, and I did my best to clean the place, but there’s a ton of repairs to be done. Things I can’t even begin to do myself. After those high winds the other night, there’s hints of daylight visible in the roof. And I…I don’t have anywhere else to go.” She couldn’t bring herself to admit just how bad things were with the back taxes hanging over her head.
    “Oh my. So that’s why you’re anxious to enter the contest?”
    “Yes. Do you know if anyone still needs a dance partner?”
    “I really want to help you, but once people found out the details of the dance competition and the prize money, we sold out in a couple of days.” Carlota eyed her carefully. “Although my son has a couple of tickets. Perhaps Tony needs—”
    “I need what?” Tony stepped inside the back door. When his gaze zeroed in on Ella, his eyes widened before a frown settled over his tanned face.
    His mother turned. “Ella, you’ve already met my son, Tony.”
    Ella gave him a stilted smile. “Hello again.”
    He didn’t move from the doorway. “Howdy.”
    The drawl of his deep voice made her insides quiver with excitement. When his brows lifted as though to question why she was staring at him, she lowered her gaze to her cup. But curiosity got the best of her. She glanced up to see if he looked half as good as she remembered.
    While mother and son exchanged pleasantries, Ella took in his faded jeans and flat abs. She swallowed hard, telling herself she should look away. Against her better judgment, she continued her perusal of his broad chest and shoulders before settling on the solemn expression on his handsome face. Her empty stomach fluttered with a nervous energy.
    He didn’t budge. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorjamb. His poker face masked any hint of his thoughts. Had he known she was going to be here? She doubted it. If he had, she wondered if he would have shown up. She highly doubted it. They’d gotten off to a very rocky start.
    Tony’s gaze met hers. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon.”
    “Your mother invited me.” He surely didn’t think she’d come to see him, did he? Well, he was partly right. Now that she knew he had tickets to the dance competition, he was exactly who she needed to talk to. Not letting the chance to get a ticket slip through her fingers, she sent him a smile. “I’d like to discuss something with you before I leave.”
    He frowned. “Does this have something to do with yesterday? I told you, I’ll handle things with Johnny. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention the incident to anyone. This town thrives on gossip.”
    Ella’s mouth gaped. This was the same man who’d made a scene, accusing her of mistreating his nephew for anyone in Whistle Stop to hear, and now he wanted a favor from her? He was worried people might find out? She had a feeling he was a bit late worrying about keeping the incident hush-hush after he’d practically shouted at her in town.
    “Of course she won’t say anything,” Carlota said, filling the awkward silence. “How is the puppy?”
    Tony continued to hold Ella’s gaze, as though waiting for her to confirm his mother’s assumption, but she wasn’t feeling so generous at this particular moment.
    “Tony,” his mother prompted, “we’re waiting to hear about the puppy.”
    “After a couple of baths, we finally got the little fella cleaned up. He’s out in the tack room until we find him a home, but he doesn’t have much of an appetite. The vet says nothing more