Chapter 36

© Copyright 2013 by Elizabeth Delayne



Being a tourist in Tyler’s city would have to wait. There were schedules and plans set in place, and despite Felicity’s enthusiasm the night before, Jamie knew that shopping would be just as orchestrated as the dance lessons they were about to take. By the time they left the hotel both Tessa and Felcity had shared the details they’d gleaned from a little effort and research they’d put in just this morning.

Apparently, Esmerelda was some big dancing guru to the stars. Her studio was located in the SoHo section of Manhattan. She was known as being strict, with a gaze of steel--one star said he feared she could see through walls--but she was also simply known as the best ballroom instructor around.

But ballroom dancing paled in comparison to the city that was New York.

“I just saw the pinnacle of the Empire State Building, somewhere over there,” she twisted around and tried to see it again, “and the Statue of Liberty as we were heading over .... it was over there,” Jamie pointed to her right, “but I’m taking dance lessons.”

Tyler laughed. “You would have seen the Statue of Liberty in that direction,” he pointed in the opposite direction and reached passed her to take the door Cameron had just swung back and entered.

“Well, maybe it was a sign, but, I’ve never seen it. It’s all right here, so close. I’m closer than I’ve ever been to the Statue of Liberty and I don’t even get to see it.”

“We’ve got some time tomorrow,” Tyler watched as the rest of their team disappear inside, but he held back. It was different now, since Dallas, and he wanted a moment to enjoy the difference, even if it was being filmed.

“You’ve never been to New York?” he asked.

“You make it sound like I’ve never been anywhere.”

He chuckled. “How can I? We’ve just crossed the United States.”

“When I was in college, some friends and I traveled down to Hollywood,” she said as she walked in to the narrow hallway that was halfway taken up with a narrow flight of varnished wooden stairs. “How long did you live in New York?”

“Somewhere in and around Brooklyn for the first twelve years of my life. Then I came back here for college,” he said, following her up the stairs.

“You don’t have a Brooklyn accent.”

“Not anymore. My mom wasn’t a native New Yorker to begin with, so she moved back home to Blanton Grove-“

”Blanton Grove?”

“Small Virginia town outside of Newport News,” he explained as they reached the aged door that said dance studio and looked more like one of those classic Private Eye doors. He put a hand to the handle, but didn’t open it.

“Named after famed tobacco planter, or so the story goes. Unfortunately, he’s not too famed. More a local legend. Swindler, ghost-“

Jamie grinned at him. She couldn’t help herself. “You are full of surprises.”

“I moved around quite a bit after that. Full of stories.” Jamie laughed, and Tyler smiled appreciatively. “Can I just say... I like this side of you?”

“What side?”

“The one giving me a chance.”

“Stop that--stop it right now,” she turned on the stairs to face him even as she laughed. ”You don’t have to charm me. Stop trying to make it seem like this ... chance, as you say, is ... special. It’s just...”

“Why can’t it be special? It seems special.”

She rolled her eyes at his exaggerated, impish grin.

“Are you sure, because I’m detecting a hint of acceptance?”

“You’ll have to look past the content facade. This fair maiden just spent an hour in an exclusive Italian shoe store and walked out with a pair of amazing highly expensive heels that she didn’t have to pay for, even though she is drooling over a magnificent designer bag that she sadly had to part with. Really, I would think the drooling would be a little unattractive for you.”

“I didn’t peg you for a girl in need of shoe therapy.”

Jamie laughed as he opened the door for her. “You don’t know everything about me yet.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he murmured appreciatively.

“I see we have a distraction,” said a deep feminine Gypsy like voice that just rolled off the tongue of a sprite of a woman. Her dark curly hair was peppered with white and held back with a scarf. Her eyes, dark as night, were part of a wise old face, with deeply etched crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes and mouth.

“You-“ she pointed at Tyler. “With her. And you with him.” She clapped her hands. “Now arrange yourselves.”

Jamie walked over to George as Tyler moved obediently over to Thessa. She set her shoe box on the floor and switched out her shoes for the amazing black heels that were now hers. It would have been better, she thought, to buy the dress first, then the shoes, but Esmerelda had a tight schedulle. The exclusive shoe store would send over another pair that matched whatever dress she chose later.

“Hello, I’m distraction number two and I will be your partner today.”

“Number two?” George repeated.

“He will always be distraction number 1.”

At the wrap of wood on wood, Jamie turned guiltily to the front. Esmerelda stood there holding a thick wooden stick, with her hawk like eyes looking directly at Jamie. Across the room, Tyler winked.

“Now, let us begin.”

* * *

After close to three hours of dance lessons, the group was separated again, off to shop for clothes. Jamie found herself in a dress shop full of designer labels and personal shoppers. She tried on the dresses brought to her, and sighed when she pulled on the fabrics.

“This is absolutely amazing,” Jamie said as she turned in the mirror. The red, floor length gown’s halter top strapped around her neck with mother of pearl buttons. It showed off her shoulders and most of her back, but the sales associate had done a great job leaning toward her wishes.

She opened the door with and found Felicity standing on the platform in front of the three way mirror. The teal dress looked great with her skin.

“Whatever this is that they gave me to go under this dress is absolutely amazing,” Jamie said as she ran her hands over her torso. “It makes the dress look ...”

“Made for you,” Felicity stepped back. “What do you think of this?”

Jamie watched as she spun around. The skirt seemed to magically lift into a wide umbrella. “That would make Madam Esmeralda proud.”

Felicity giggled. “I wasn’t the one that needed to impress her.”

Jamie turned to the mirror. “It’s Tyler’s fault.”

“You two had across the room flirtation down to an art,” Thessa said as she walked out of her dressing room. “I got distracted by it.”

“Wow,” Jamie admired Thessa’s dress. It was two layers, the satiny black fabric skimmed just above her knees, with a sheer black falling fluidly around it. The bodice and straps were a glimmering bronze.

Jamie stepped down from the platform as Thessa spun around. “That looks so good with your skin tone.” “You’re glowing,” Felicity said.

“It might just be the fiancé,” Jamie murmured.

Thessa laughed. “So you think this is the dress?”

“Definitely,” Jamie agreed. “What do you think? This one or the black one.”

“The black one,” Thessa said, with a certainty that made Jamie laugh. “We at least have to see it.”

“Then I can’t wait to see what this thing they gave me to go under it all does to the black dress, ” she walked into the dressing area and pulled closed the curtain. The black dress had been the more practical choice. If they truly got to keep the clothes, as Tyler said they did, then it would be something she could wear out to other places.

It was a little fancier than what she would have chosen, but it was still very classic and demure. The piping along the top and the wide straps was white. It fit down the bodice and then fell to her knees in a smooth fall into a tulip skirt.

She pulled it on, still amazed at how the expensive undergarment made the dress look on her. She smoothed the dress over it as she stepped into her heels.

“So, what do you think?” Jamie asked as she stepped out of the dressing room.

“I like this one, but the red one was fire. Amazing. Too bad you can’t get both,” Thessa said, lifting her eyebrows in appreciation. “Tyler’s going to be charmed.”

Jamie rolled her eyes as she stepped onto the platform. “And that was definitely the goal,” she said dryly.

“Maybe I should get them to give me one of those under things.”

Jamie looked at Felicity. “As if you need it.”

“I will,” she said. “When I get old like you. Might as well be prepared.”

“Oh really,” Jamie stepped down from the podium and laughed as Felicity squealed and ran into the dressing room. Shaking her head, Jamie followed.

“Maybe if we get out of here soon, we can catch a nap before hair and makeup.”

“That’s unlikely,” Thessa called out. “I spotted the limo driver in the lobby. It must be time to go.”

“Then our cat nap will have to be on the move.”



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