Jivin’ Tango
By Connie L. Smith
Release Day: May 18, 2015
Lila and Austin have known each
other since she befriended his younger brother when she was a toddler. In fact,
since her parents moved from her hometown, Lila’s lived with Austin’s family.
The two are friends, though more of the teasing, taunting breed than the BFF
variety.
other since she befriended his younger brother when she was a toddler. In fact,
since her parents moved from her hometown, Lila’s lived with Austin’s family.
The two are friends, though more of the teasing, taunting breed than the BFF
variety.
But all it takes is one moment for
everything to change…
everything to change…
For Austin, that moment comes when
Lila performs a rumba in the school’s auditorium to qualify for the state dance
competition, the young woman on stage so far-removed from the little girl in
his memories.
Lila performs a rumba in the school’s auditorium to qualify for the state dance
competition, the young woman on stage so far-removed from the little girl in
his memories.
For Lila, the moment is a
reflected image of Austinpreparing
mirror hardly resembling the child that spent so much of his youth pestering
her.
reflected image of Austin
mirror hardly resembling the child that spent so much of his youth pestering
her.
Will they find a way to admit to
themselves and their families that their feelings are deeper than friendship?
And can Lila focus on this building relationship – and deal with her unstable
ex – and still win the dance contest?
themselves and their families that their feelings are deeper than friendship?
And can Lila focus on this building relationship – and deal with her unstable
ex – and still win the dance contest?
“I kind of have a
thing for this other girl.”
thing for this other girl.”
She smiles a bit.
“Anyone I know?”
“Anyone I know?”
“Yeah, you know
her.” I lean closer to her, not moving my stare from her face. “She’s
beautiful, and smart, and funny, and quirky. The sad thing is, I didn’t notice
any of those things until about a week ago.”
her.” I lean closer to her, not moving my stare from her face. “She’s
beautiful, and smart, and funny, and quirky. The sad thing is, I didn’t notice
any of those things until about a week ago.”
“What happened a
week ago?”
week ago?”
“Well, she did this
dance. One she hates, by the way.” I pause to let her laugh. “She wore a blue
dress, and her hair was flowing down her back. She was elegant, and gorgeous,
and I couldn’t look away.” Reaching out, I play with a strand of her hair
that’s fallen forward, one that’s dripping water from her shower. “And I couldn’t
push the attraction back. I tried, because it was so confusing.
dance. One she hates, by the way.” I pause to let her laugh. “She wore a blue
dress, and her hair was flowing down her back. She was elegant, and gorgeous,
and I couldn’t look away.” Reaching out, I play with a strand of her hair
that’s fallen forward, one that’s dripping water from her shower. “And I couldn’t
push the attraction back. I tried, because it was so confusing.
“You see,” I
continue, “I’ve known her since she was just a pesky girl who hung around
mostly for my kid brother, and being attracted to her took some getting used
to. But I had to deal with it, since I couldn’t look at her the way I used to
anymore. Once I saw her as the beautiful woman she’d grown into, I couldn’t
step back from that.”
continue, “I’ve known her since she was just a pesky girl who hung around
mostly for my kid brother, and being attracted to her took some getting used
to. But I had to deal with it, since I couldn’t look at her the way I used to
anymore. Once I saw her as the beautiful woman she’d grown into, I couldn’t
step back from that.”
“Austin—”
I put a finger to
her lips to stop her comments. I need to get all of this out. Now. “I tried, Munchkin.
I tried to keep myself from wanting you, but I can’t. I figured that out at
prom. You’re what I want, what I need, and the one girl I have to be with. If
you don’t want to be with me like that, I’ll take friendship. I’ll take just
about anything because you’re the one part of my whole life I can’t let go of.”
her lips to stop her comments. I need to get all of this out. Now. “I tried, Munchkin.
I tried to keep myself from wanting you, but I can’t. I figured that out at
prom. You’re what I want, what I need, and the one girl I have to be with. If
you don’t want to be with me like that, I’ll take friendship. I’ll take just
about anything because you’re the one part of my whole life I can’t let go of.”
She reaches up so
she can move my finger away from her mouth. “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I
didn’t want to be with you.”
she can move my finger away from her mouth. “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I
didn’t want to be with you.”
Relief fills me,
and I let out a long breath. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
and I let out a long breath. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Connie L. Smith spends far too much time with her mind
wandering in fictional places. She reads too much, likes to bake, and might forever
be sad that she doesn’t have fairy wings. And that she can’t swing dance. Her
music of choice is severely outdated, and as an adult she’s kind of obsessed
with Power Rangers. She has her BA from Northern Kentucky University in Speech
Communication and History (she doesn’t totally get the connection either), and
is currently working on her MA.
wandering in fictional places. She reads too much, likes to bake, and might forever
be sad that she doesn’t have fairy wings. And that she can’t swing dance. Her
music of choice is severely outdated, and as an adult she’s kind of obsessed
with Power Rangers. S
Communication and History (she doesn’t totally get the connection either), and
is currently working on her MA.
Nadene's addiction to reading began at an early age, when a family friend gifted her a copy of Wuthering Heights. From that moment she was never without a book. She will read anything as long as the material is compelling enough to hold her attention. She gained many experiences through the pages of the books she had the opportunity to read. She created this blog to share her love of books with like-minded individuals, hoping that in sharing reviews of the books read, visitors to the blog will discover their next addictive read. When not reading, Nadene enjoys cooking, listening to music, and watching television.
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