Waiting for You (RightMatch.com Trilogy) by Kathryn Shay

Dana, making her grin. “We won?”
    “Yes, you’ve been chosen as the number-one small, private studio in the country.”
    “Oh, God,” she said, clapping her hands. “Even with all those New York and California schools competing?”
    “Even with that. Congratulations.”
    Dana allowed a swell of pride to fill her. The renowned dance award was given to small studios at the apex of success. She’d been able to achieve this despite her circumstances, and the fact thrilled her. Her studio had become the center of her life, and the recognition meant more to her than this man could ever know.
    Edmonds continued talking. “A lot comes with this designation, Ms. Devlin. First off, the recognition will be a boon to your business. We’ll be offering publicity for you in the upstate New York area, and you may even get some out-of-state students for the summer workshops. We were very impressed by the depth and focus of the ones you offer.”
    Ruth frowned. “Oh, dear, we’re full to capacity as it is.”
    “Then you’ll have to think about expanding. Perhaps you can use the space next door? I see it’s for sale.”
    “We’d talked about that,” Dana told him. “But we never got around to pursuing it.”
    His smile was broad. “Well, good luck with that. Now, I’ll need to set up interviews with you, your instructors and your business partner. Our website will run pages on you all year long.”
    “I’m so honored, Mr. Edmonds.”
    He smiled, broadly. “Building the kind of school you have is an impressive feat.”
    His eyes dropped briefly to her chair. What he was probably too politically correct to say was that it was a feat, particularly for someone in her condition. For a moment, the high of success dimmed. Oh, she knew her disability wasn’t why she’d gotten the award; they’d entered for five years running. But the thought bothered her regardless.
     Hell! Dana wasn’t going to spoil the terrific moment with reminders of what she didn’t have. Building a successful studio that would get national recognition gave her a boost in self-esteem like no other. And that she could take pleasure in this success also meant she was evolving from the days when nothing meant much to her because of her lost dance career.
    After Edmonds left, Ruth crossed the room and hugged her. “Congratulations to us!”
    “Yep, to both of us.” Dana had only one fleeting thought— that she’d like to share this with JoeyD.
    o0o
    Despite his wishes that he was more like Cole, Joe couldn’t simply jump into a relationship with Dana. So he decided to give himself a week to think about dating her. Since he could drive the day after he’d met with her, he got in his car and went to the police station to check on his group.
    The familiar and routine buzz of phones ringing, the murmur of cops talking and the smell of strong coffee soothed him. The guys were in the bullpen area near his office.
    “Hey, if it isn’t the hero,” one of them shouted. “Thought you had two weeks off.”
    “I do. I’m here to make sure you clowns are behaving yourselves.”
    “Shelly’s a hard taskmaster.” His partner was filling in for him as sergeant, as she did whenever he took vacation. “Easier on the eyes, though, than your ugly mug.”
    “Screw you.”
    Laughter and more questions, comments. Some sincere inquires. Every single member of the squad he oversaw had visited him after his injury, and it was good seeing them again. “Where is Shell?”
    “In your office,” the guy nearest him said.
    He headed back and found her sitting at a small table with the chief. The space was about twelve-by-twelve and crowded with a desk, conference table and filing cabinets.
    “What the hell are you doing here?” Chief Cummings asked. “You’re supposed to be recovering.”
    “I know. I’m checking in, is all.”
    Shelly glanced at the chief then back to Joe. “I think,” she said, “we just found somebody to make the last of the contacts