“Hello Whitney.”
Whitney Edmonds looked her up and down, her smile broadening as she took in Corinne’s ripped and faded jeans and the Walmart tennis shoes. “I’d heard you were back in town.”
“For a while now.” Everything in her urged her to run, but Corinne didn’t move. “I heard you got married.”
“I did. To Garrett Harrington.” Her hand flexed on the strap of her Gucci bag, flashing the huge rock on her left hand.
“Congratulations. Seems like life has been good to you. I’m glad of it.” And that was the absolute truth. There was nothing Corinne regretted more than what she’d done to her former best friend when they’d started high school. After the hell Whitney had endured during those years, she deserved something good.
Whitney looked her over again, faux sincerity pasted firmly in place. “Not so good to you, has it?”
I owe her the cheap shot, Corinne reminded herself. She said nothing.
Whitney’s smile turned sharper, her words sugar-coated poison. “How does that feel? That no matter what you did in high school, no matter how hard you tried, it’s me who has the life you wanted?”
Like justice. But Corinne didn’t say that either.
“What’s the matter? Cat got that sharp tongue of yours?”
“Look, I’m not here to cause any kind of trouble. We’re both here in the name of raising money for a good cause, and I think the meeting is about to start.”
Whitney sniffed. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“There you are.”
They both turned at the sound of Tucker’s voice. He strode down the short hall, an easy smile on his face. But something in his body language telegraphed anger. Corinne tensed as he approached.
“Hey Whitney. I’ve gotta steal my partner away. We’re about to get started.” He laid a hand at the small of her back, a gentle touch, at odds with the fury she sensed pumping off him.
Not directed at me. Her limbs went rubbery as relief flooded her system.
“Your partner?” Whitney asked, surprise cracking the mask.
“Corinne’s dancing on behalf of the diner. C’mon. I want to get good seats.” When he nudged, Corinne moved automatically.
Tucker didn’t drop his arm, instead keeping contact with her back to steer her through the thinning crowd. “You okay?” he murmured.
She jolted. He was still pissed...but on her behalf. How long had he been standing there? And why did he even care?
“Fine,” she muttered.
They took seats on the second row of bleachers as Norah called everybody to attention.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming out tonight and for volunteering to make Dancing With Wishful a success. I’d like to introduce you to our dancers. We have Tyler Edison and Cam Crawford as Team Wishful Nursery and Garden Center. Brody Jensen and Adele Daly as Team Mudcat Tavern. Tucker McGee and Corinne Dawson as Team Dinner Belles. Tara Honeycutt and Daniel Palmer as Team Daily Grind, and Charlotte Ballard and Chad Phillips as Team Wilton Memorial Hospital.”
Corinne turned her head to peer into the stands. Chad Phillips was the hottie ER doc everyone at the hospital had been buzzing over this year. She wondered if he had an in with the hospital board.
“Now, as we have five couples, we’ll have four nights of competition, eliminating one couple each week, until we are left with the grand champions. Winners will be determined by a combination of a judges’ panel and popular vote, both by the live audience and online through the competition website. The Babylon is hosting the event and costumes are being provided by Brides and Belles—thanks Babette.”
Norah continued to lay out the specifics, but Corinne was only half paying attention. She was too aware of Tucker sitting close enough beside her that she could feel the heat of his thigh alongside hers. There was more than enough room in the stands, so his actions made it seem like he was staking a claim of some kind. Did he even realize what he was doing? He didn’t need his reputation tarnished by people believing he was involved with her.
But she didn’t edge away. Her nerves were too raw from her encounter with Whitney, and having him sit there, all big and strong and between her and everyone else made her feel...safe for the first time in a long time. Even if it was purely an illusion, she wanted to revel in it. For just a few minutes.
“Okay, now that everybody knows how this is going to work, let’s have our dancers come draw their dance out of a hat. Each couple will be performing something different, to the music of their choice.”
Norah called them up, one at a time. When Tucker rose to go take his turn, Corinne felt exposed without his body as a shield. He plunged his hand into the top hat and came up with a slip of paper. A broad smile lit up his face as he read what was on it.
“Jive!” He did some kind of step ball change with a hip wiggle that had the crowd hooting. He looked up at her, his expression clearly inviting her to join in his fun.