Everything in Between Read Online Free PDF Page B

offered his hand. Not to be outdone, Zae executed a graceful curtsy, then stepped into Chip’s arms.
    “There’s about a dozen fellas out there who wish they were me right now,” Chip murmured through a smile. “Never thought I’d see my warrior woman turn into a queen.”
    Zae hadn’t been fond of her gown, at first. The silhouette was similar to Cinder’s, only instead of a bow at the waist, the back of Zae’s dress featured a fantail pleat that flowed from hip to heels. The skirt of her gown moved prettily as Chip waltzed her over the gleaming marble floor. His grace surprised her, although it shouldn’t have, given his control and strength in the dojo.
    Chip’s casual movements usually reminded her of those of a large friendly dog, a Labrador or a Golden Retriever. On the dance floor, he was smooth and strong, firm yet gentle. And he had rhythm.
    “You cut quite a handsome figure yourself, soldier,” Zae remarked. “You should wear a uniform more often.”
    “This ol’ thing?”
    He smiled lazily, and Zae responded with one of her own. “I haven’t danced in so long. This is wonderful.”
    “You’re awful good at it, professor.” He smiled.
    “As are you.”
    “Why so surprised? I’m a man of many talents.”
    Zae happened to glance at the onlookers rimming the dance floor. A good number of women stared at Chip. “Is that so?”
    He tucked her hand under his chin and closed the gap between them with gentle pressure at the small of her back. Zae settled more comfortably into the dance, gazing into his face. “If I’d known you were so light on your feet, I’d have dragged you to a club once in a while instead of MU guest lectures.”
    “I like the lectures I go to with you. I learn lots of stuff.”
    “Stuff?”
    “The lecture on the birth of the Tudor dynasty was almost as good as watchin’ that program on Showtime.”
    “I’m sure Professor Porterfield Whitney-Bloodworth, who—if you’ll remember—is a distinguished scholar at Oxford, would love to hear you compare his life’s work to a cable program.” Zae snickered.
    “The five-dollar version of the story on cable helped me understand Prof. Bloodworth’s twenty-dollar version,” Chip explained. “How’s that?”
    “Fair enough.” Zae laughed. “For what it’s worth, I think you’ll make a fine schoolteacher someday. Teaching is an endangered profession.”
    “I think it’s noble.”
    “Is that what attracted you to it?”
    “I want to do something useful.”
    “You could become a doctor or a nurse.”
    “I want to do something useful that doesn’t involve blood, needles or sick people,” he clarified. “I had enough lifesaving in the service.”
    The DJ called for everyone to join the newlyweds in a dance, and the floor quickly filled. Zae maneuvered toward a less-crowded corner.
    “Would you mind if I led for a time?” Chip asked. “I’m not used to being steered ‘round the dance hall.”
    “Sorry.” Zae grinned. “Colin wasn’t much of a dancer. I’m used to leading.”
    Chip bowed his head toward Zae’s, his chin brushing a soft swoop of her complex updo. Tempted to rest her head on his shoulder, Zae closed her eyes and surrendered to the strains of the music. It was hard to speak of Colin with anyone else, but it came so naturally with Chip. Zae would have mused on that, reasoning out why, had a tap on her shoulder not stalled her train of thought.
    “Excuse me,” started a chipper, feminine voice behind the tap. “May I cut in?”
    Zae turned in Chip’s arms. The spa lady.
    Mindful of Cinder’s working relationship with the woman, Zae smiled. “Absolutely not,” she said and settled back into Chip’s frame.
    “There’s plenty of me to go around, professor,” Chip chuckled once Cinder’s client was out of earshot.
    “She can have some of you later,” Zae said. “For right now, you’re all mine.”
    With many more guests on the dance floor, the DJ sped up the music, playing