Chapter Two

When Amara Perez entered Allegro, she saw her boss, Jasper Vonderleith, dancing around the room to an oldie by the Pointer Sisters. He sang along in a piercing falsetto and was nearly floating on air. When Jasper noticed her, he hurried to her side and clasped her hands in his. He very nearly vibrated with excitement.

“I’m so excited,” he said. His pitch soared on the last word. “Can you believe what’s happened? Amara, darling, it will be such amazing publicity for this studio.”

Jasper owned Allegro, the dance studio located over Bud’s Buds, the island’s original flower shop. Jasper was…unique, and even that was an understatement. Amara took in his black work-out pants paired with a bright lime green tank top and matching leg warmers. The tips of his golden blond mohawk had been dyed hot pink, giving him the appearance of a neon preppie.

Before she could ask what had happened, Jasper squeezed her hands tightly and launched into the answer.

“Remember that charity ballroom contest I told you about last month? The one at the resort and spa on the north end of the island?”

Amara nodded, recalling Jasper’s elation over Allegro’s inclusion. Since Jasper owned the studio, he would be the dancer who represented it, and Amara hadn’t even tried to think up an argument for why she might be the better representative for the studio.

“I just can’t believe it. I mean, it’s amazing. I couldn’t have imagined this in my wildest dreams. Nothing like this has ever—”

“What, Jasper? Nothing like what has ever happened?” Amara interrupted, exasperation filling her tone.

He sobered slightly. “Oh, yes. We’ve been given three spots in the ballroom contest. Three. So you, Glynnis and I will all be dancing on the sand next month at Casa Blanca Resort & Spa.” His voice rose in pitch with each word so that by the end of his sentence he was in a range that would shatter crystal or attract dogs. Or both.

Of course, she understood his enthusiasm, but held back the urge to twirl around the studio herself. She had begun dancing when she was six years old and had discovered ballroom at age ten. Ballroom competitions were a regular weekend event for her until she began attending college at the University of Florida. She had tried to combine competition and college but there weren’t enough hours in the day and college won. Her current position on the English faculty at Mimosa High School didn’t pay an enormous salary, but the percentage of ballroom dancers who made the big time – and the big salaries – was low. She had never regretted giving up the chase to be a full-time professional dancer.

After answering an ad for dance instructors in the local paper, she had begun working at Allegro a year ago to pay off the last of her student loans. She graded essays on Chaucer and Shakespeare by day, and several nights a week plus Saturdays she taught budding ballroom stars how to shine on the dance floor.

She frowned. “How will I fit the rehearsals into my schedule? I mean, I can’t give up paying clients for—”

“Don’t worry, sweets,” Jasper interrupted. “I’ve already spoken to your students and for the next month, I’ll cover your salary for the classes you have to cancel. The publicity will more than make up for it. I just want you focused on the contest.”

She gave Jasper’s hand a little squeeze.

“I already know what I’ll do with the prize money when I win,” he began.

“When you win? What about me? Or Glynnis?” Glynnis Chappell Wells was Allegro’s newest instructor. Somewhere in her sixties, she had been a competition ballroom dancer with her late husband. After his death earlier in the year, she had approached Jasper about teaching in order to fill some of the empty hours in her life.

“You know what I mean,” he said with a wave of his hand, the nails of which had been painted the same green as his tank top. “The new free clinic here on the island can use all the money it can get. What about you? What would you do with the prize money? The grand prize is ten thousand dollars and is split between the two dance partners.”

Amara didn’t have to think twice. “The adult literacy program at Hope Presbyterian Church. That’s why I can’t teach on Thursday nights. I teach there once a week.”

“Good for you,” Jasper complimented. “It’s important for us to give back to our little island.”

For all his crazy appearance, Jasper Vonderleith had a heart of pure gold. She knew he volunteered regularly at Hope’s soup kitchen and also taught line dancing at a retirement home on the mainland.

“Do we know anything yet about who our dance partners will be? Or what dance we’ll be performing?”

“We do,” Jasper said. “I’m dancing the samba with Libby Monroe. With her yoga background I believe she’s going to be an amazing partner. And Glynnis is doing the paso doble with Nino Rossi.”

“Uncle Nino? He’s dancing?” Amara asked, surprised that the octogenarian was on the roster. He worked with his grandson, Gabe, for McBain Security, which was headquartered on the grounds at Casa Blanca Resort & Spa, and he was well-known for his unbeatable Italian cooking. Uncle Nino would be fun to watch, but easy to beat. She was sure she and a partner would dance circles around him.

“Who is my partner?” she asked.

“You got Ryan Kidd.”

“Who’s he?”

“Who? Honey, I may look like the village freak, but even I know who Whiz Kidd is.”

“Whiz Kidd,” she said flatly. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?” She hoped he wasn’t a music video star or some billionaire bad boy who frequented the island’s exclusive resort.

“Hotshot Major League Baseball pitcher? Rookie of the Year seven years ago? Ladies’ man extraordinaire from what I hear.”

“Wow,” Amara said as she rolled her eyes. “Sounds like just my kind of guy.” Sarcasm poured off her in waves.

“I’m not asking you to date him. You just have to teach him to tango well enough to place second.”

“Second?” She slapped Jasper’s arm playfully. “In your dreams, mister. I always aim for first place.”

Jasper’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Even if it means showing up your boss?”

She put her hands on her hips and jutted out her chin. “Especially if it means showing up my boss,” she stated.

Jasper said nothing, then his mouth broke into a wide grin, revealing a gold tooth. “That’s my girl. Athletes usually do quite well on that TV ballroom show. So this guy should catch on quickly.”

“But will he be able to practice enough to learn a tango routine? What about his ball games?”

“He’s not a player any longer. A shoulder injury sidelined him. He’s a pitching coach now, and the team’s management has promised their full support,” Jasper explained. “Just so you know, he’ll be here at eleven o’clock for your first practice. Be thinking about the music you want to use so I can line it up, though you know I’m very partial to dancing the tango to the Pussycat Dolls.” Jasper bent his fingers like claws and hissed. “By the way, I have to go home, change clothes and run several errands. Keep your checkbook handy so you can post bail for me since I have to go to the Super Min, and you know how I loathe that woman. I’ll be back before my noon student gets here.”

Almost everyone loathed Charity Grambling, but it was difficult to avoid the woman on such a small island. “You can count on me, but if bail is too high, you’ll have to give me a raise.”

Five thousand dollars. What a difference that could make to the literacy program. Amara couldn’t imagine not being able to read, but every week she encountered adults who, for various reasons, could not. She taught them, encouraged them and applauded them for taking the steps to overcome illiteracy.

Her grandparents and her father had struggled with the language, too. Thankfully her grandparents had been able to attend adult programs that taught English as a second language, and her father had picked up the language in school.

Her abuela often stated how proud she was of Amara. And Amara had no doubt her abuela would be proud of her participation in the dancing contest – especially if she won.