Free Boarded by Love by Toni Aleo Page B

as bright as the sun. She is so beautiful.
    “Jude Sinclair, you better give me a ten,” Skylar then calls at me and I laugh.
    “We will see,” I say and she grins before her music starts, but like with everyone else, I can’t watch her, and when she’s done, I have to copy Jayden’s score, which is a nine. Skylar seems to be pleased, which is good, but I just couldn’t watch her.
    I can’t do anything when Claire is the room. She’s the only thing I see.
    Once Rachael announces that the tryouts are over, I hightail it toward Claire, reaching for her wrist to get her attention. She looks back at me and grins as she pulls a sweatshirt over her head, much to my dismay.
    “So I heard you want to dance with somebody,” I say teasingly.
    She laughs. “Maybe. You the man for the job?”
    I find myself nodding like a fool. “I could be the heat you’re looking for.”
    Shaking her head, she looks away. “Didn’t I say you were trouble?”
    “You did,” I say and I take a step closer. “But I think you are going to ignore that and take advantage of me.”
    Before she can respond, the brunette is beside us and asking, “Claire, who’s your friend?”
    Taking a step back, Claire swallows as her cheeks fill with color. “Reese, this is Jude Sinclair. The current trouble in my life.”
    Reese smiles as she holds her hand out for me. I take it, flashing the smile my mom says is my moneymaker before I say, “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
    “You too,” she says and I know she’s eyeing my arms. Most moms don’t like my tattoos, my mom included, but I love them.
    “This is my mo– Holy crap, Reese, I almost called you my mom! My bad!” Claire laughs, but I can see that Reese doesn’t mind at all.
    Wrapping her arm around Claire’s shoulders, she says, “It’s fine. I would love nothing more than to be your mom, Claire. You know that.”
    “I know, but you’re too young to have a nineteen-year-old hellion.”
    “Maybe, but you’re mine nonetheless.”
    Claire beams at her before looking over at me. “Reese is my soon-to-be aunt/mom/dance teacher/best friend.”
    I smile over at Reese. “That’s some title.”
    “It’s one I wear proudly,” she says before placing a kiss to Claire’s head. “Okay, I gotta run before I start crying again.”
    Claire laughs. “What is up with all the crying?”
    “Leave me be. Jude, nice meeting you. By the way, I love your name, very old-school.”
    I grin. “Thank you.”
    “Hope to see you again,” she says, her eyes leaving mine to send a direct look to Claire, but all she does is glare before shaking her head.
    “Hush, Reese,” she says and Reese laughs.
    “You’ll see me soon, with Claire. I’m trying to convince her to date me.”
    They both look at me and then Reese says, “Oh Claire, I like him. He reminds me ever so much of someone I love very much.”
    Claire is still glaring as she says, “No, he doesn’t, plus, don’t let him fool ya, he only wants to sleep with me.”
    “That’s how it started with me and my man,” she teases.
    “Ew, don’t talk about my uncle like that.”
    She laughs but then sets me with a look. “Don’t hurt her, or I will send my fiancé after you. He is scary.”
    “Not sure who we’re talking about, but I have no plans of hurting her,” I say quickly and Reese’s grin is back.
    “Good. Later, kids.”
    And then she’s gone.
    When I look back over at Claire, she’s pulling up a pair of sweats. When she meets my gaze, color fills her cheeks again before she looks away. “She’s sorta crazy. I love her, though.”
    “I think she’s awesome. Reminds me of my mom.”
    She smiles, her top teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Taking a step toward her, I want to do the same, but before I can, she says, “You know that you don’t want to date me.”
    I shrug. “That’s up for debate. I thought I only wanted to have sex with you, but for some reason I just can’t get you out of my head. I still taste