Dancing Lessons — R. Cooper

Hiding away in a tiny town among the coastal redwoods, Chico Silva is trying to recover from an emotionally abusive relationship. Chico is talented, sweet, and devoted to his family, but his ex spent years convincing him that meant nothing, then dumped him for someone else. Now Chico’s days and nights are a blur of depression and ice cream until his cousin drags him out of the house to volunteer for an event at a local dance school.The dance school, run by the renowned Winters family, is the last place Chico should be able to help anyone since he doesn’t know anything about dance. Throwing him even more off-balance is the fact that Rafael Winters is kind and charming—exactly the kind of man to make Chico feel again. But Chico is scared of falling and losing the confidence he is only starting to regain. He’ll leave his crush as just that—a crush—and try not to get pulled further into the world of small-town ballet and the arms of handsome dance instructors.But Raf is a patient teacher, especially with a skittish partner. As the recital approaches and Chico starts to rediscover his passions, he finds himself drawn closer to Raf, the school, and the town. Chico’s temporary refuge might become a home if he can find the courage to try for it. All he has to do is take the first step.