Free Lieutenant (An Ell Donsaii story #3) by Laurence Dahners Page B

“Raquel, are you OK?”
    Ell nodded, though she kept her eyes on the floor and her cheeks heated again. She wondered to herself why she felt so awkward in situations like this. Her training from the Academy stood her in good stead when dealing with people in her usual circumstances. She could handle her superiors and subordinates in the Air Force. But when the situation called for her to interact with strange men in what might become a romantic encounter she got all shy and started acting crazy.
    Cody said, “I’m not sure what just happened there? You sure fooled me with that, ‘don’t know how to dance line though.’ Where did you learn to dance?”
    Ell said something but he couldn’t hear it over the music. He leaned closer, “What?”
    Ell said, “I’m a gymnast. I really don’t know much about dance, but I can follow pretty well.” She hoped that would satisfy him.
    “You can’t fool me.” Cody said with some exasperation, “I study dance at UNLV and I have never danced with someone who could follow like you. The way you were able to pick up on everything I did, it, it was like we’d been dancing together for months!”
    Ell didn’t say anything and after a long pause Cody said, “Can we dance again?”
    Suddenly Connie showed up on Cody’s other side. “Come on Cody; let’s show your little friend how it’s really done.” She tugged at his elbow. Connie had been stunned at the graceful style that the slender brunette had displayed while dancing with Cody and then shocked and hurt at the way everyone stared at them. The crowd hadn’t even paused to watch Connie dance with Cody earlier. She’d realized that Cody and the girl hadn’t done anything really hard, they’d just done it very well. Connie wanted to show everyone in the bar what she and Cody could really do.
    Cody allowed himself to be led away, but not before calling back to Ell, “Raquel, wait for me ‘til after this dance. Please?”
    Ell shrugged, then leaned up against the wall where Cody’d been leaning before. Amy gave an exasperated snort and walked back out to her beer. After a moment Ell slowly followed.
    The band was playing another fast song and with a whirl Connie burst out onto the floor, then trailed her hand back to Cody, starting a routine they’d perfected for a dance contest a few months ago. They swung around the floor whirling through flips, Charlestons, lifts and other aerials, finishing in a pose that brought the bar to its feet clapping. They took a bow and walked back off the floor toward Amy and Ell’s table. As they approached Ell stopped clapping and raised her glass of Coke in a salute to them.
    Connie sashayed past, acknowledging Ell only with a muttered, “Top that, bitch!”
    At first Ell’s temper flashed with the intent to do exactly what Connie had requested, top her dance with one leavened with gymnastic moves, but she relentlessly tamped down her anger. She’d caused too many problems in the past, putting obnoxious people in their places. This time she was determined that she would just let it slide.
    Cody came back to Ell’s table, “Ignore Connie! She can be a real ass. She’s just jealous of how well you danced when we didn’t even have experience together.”
    Ell shrugged, then offered her crooked smile, “Connie’s a great dancer. Give her my compliments.”
    “Would you dance again?”
    “Take out my friend Amy here. She could use a turn around the floor with a really great dancer.”
    “You could probably do even better on a second dance; don’t you want to show Connie what you can really do?”
    “Nope!” Ell grinned, “I want you to show Amy what it’s like dancing with a truly excellent dancer.” She gave him a little shove.
    He laughed and held out a hand to Amy who took it with a grin. Soon they were out on the floor, creditably swing dancing, though without the grace and athleticism that Cody and Ell had displayed.
    Ell and Amy stayed at the bar a little longer.