Moving in Rhythm Read Free Page B

asymmetrical pigtails. She looked something like Pippi Longstocking, if Pippi had stuffed a beach ball down the front of her shirt. “Pete always said Ruth wasn’t your type.”
    Mark dropped his foot and stared at her. Switching to stretch his other quad he asked, “And what does Pete think is my type?”
    She shrugged. “He didn’t say. But not Ruth.”
    “Right.” Mark looked around at the room full of women in shorts, sports bras and tights. He hadn’t been anywhere with this many people since school. But if Pete could do combat medicine, the least Mark could do was to face a few of his fears and humor Lisa. “Are you sure this class is okay for you?”
    Lisa grinned. “It’s just dancing and the doc says it’s fine to keep doing it for now.”
    A woman in faded sweats and a tee shirt turned around and looked at Lisa. “Wow, it looks like you’re due soon.”
    Lisa laughed. “I’ve still got a few months. He’s a big boy.” She grinned at Mark. “Probably inevitable. Big babies run on both sides.”
    “You probably didn’t mean that the way it came out.” The woman included Mark in her smile.
    He shifted uncomfortably. It was happening way too often—people kept mistaking him for Pete. Even people who’d met Lisa and Pete before. Understandable, as both brothers looked remarkably like their dad and like each other, but still…
    Before he could say anything more the woman focused on Lisa. “I’m Claire. I’ve seen the two of you around the neighborhood. It’s nice to finally meet you. This is a great class. I hope you like it. This isn’t your first Zumba class, right? I mean, you’ve been doing it all along?”
    Lisa nodded. “Sure. I’ve been going to the afternoon class with Marsha but this fits Mark’s workout schedule better. I told him I’d be fine on my own but…” She shrugged.
    Claire smiled at Mark. “She should be fine but you’re a good sport for coming.” She turned her attention back to Lisa. “Listen, Seth has this hop-kick-hop sequence in one of the middle songs. You probably want to skip that. And avoid serious bouncing. Keep moving but with both feet on the floor. “
    “Maybe you shouldn’t—” Mark started.
    “My doctor says it’s fine,” Lisa said, waving him off. “If something doesn’t feel right I won’t do it. Now quit worrying. Women have been having babies for a very long time. This isn’t the Victorian age. I don’t need to settle into bed for my confinement.” She grinned at Claire. “I’m Lisa and he’s Mark.”
    “Good to meet you.” The other woman gestured toward Lisa’s belly. “And a pleasure to meet the little one too.”
    Some sort of Latin music started. A tall, lean man with curly brown hair stood in front of the class and clapped his hands in rhythm. All chatter stopped as everyone focused on him.
    “That’s Seth. Now don’t forget to keep your feet on the ground.” Claire whispered to Lisa before turning to face forward.
    Seth grinned broadly at the class. He had a beautiful smile. Seth called, “This is a salsa so it will be one, two, three, one, two, three. And we’ll start with a front step, back step, front…” He whirled so his back was to the class and began moving with the music.
    Mark swallowed hard. The man looked as beautiful from behind. To keep from drooling, he focused on following the Seth’s feet and stumbled over his own.
    “Now left, two, three, side, two, three and back, two, three, twirl…”
    Mark looked around. Nope, no one else looked quite as clumsy, except one old woman in the corner. She could probably claim arthritis as an excuse. He felt lumbering, like some large dim-witted animal. Whereas Seth looked—the only word Mark could think of was lithe. Seth’s feet seemed to glide across the floor and his body undulated in a fascinating way.
    Seth moved sideways in graceful arcing steps. “Traveling grapevine.”
    What the hell did that mean? Mark stumbled sideways, trying to stay with