Page 118 of Take the Lead
Instead, he had to stand there, watching as she struggled to control her reaction. It fucking sucked.
All of it sucked. He was tired of holding back from her. But a gap had opened between them and there was no easy way to cross it.
Dimitri Kovalenko went first.
“I don’t really know what to say.” He flipped his pen in the air. It landed on the desk and rolled off. “That was perfect.”
Juan Carlos grinned. “High praise, from that guy. Mariah, tell us your thoughts.”
Mariah Valentino dabbed at the corner of her eye, then leaned in, giving the camera a look down the front of her skintight dress.
“You two have danced well together all season, but this was the most connected I’ve ever seen you. It was like you were one being in two parts, bound by an invisible cord and a telepathic bond. Truly a stunning, emotional dance. And Gina, I think this is the best rumba choreography I’ve ever seen on this show.”
Blinking hard, Gina pressed her hands to her chest and mouthed, “Thank you.”
Juan Carlos extended a hand toward Chad Silver, all the way to the left. “Chad?”
Chad turned a kind smile on Gina. “I know the past few months have been an emotional roller coaster, but you’ve both handled every challenge with grace and determination.” He turned to Stone, his dark eyes intense. “Stone, you’re the underdog, but you’ve approached each dance with trust in your partner and a commitment to getting it right. Maybe you never danced before coming here, but I hope you’ll continue after you leave. You’re a force to be reckoned with, and we’re so very glad to have had you here.”
Chad’s words hit hard. Stone swallowed, and nodded. “Thank you.”
As if sensing vulnerability, Juan Carlos leaped in with his microphone. “Stone, do you have anything to say about that?”
Aside from the fact that it was the kind of thing Stone wished his father might someday say? “Ah, well, it means a lot to me to hearthat. I respect the judges for their experience, so it… it means a lot. Thank you.”
“All right, you two. Go meet Reggie to get your score one last time.”
Stone didn’t try to hold Gina’s hand or put an arm around her as they ran back to the Sparkle Parlor. She looked as fragile as he felt. Nothing had prepared him for the overwhelming emotion of this night.
Backstage, they joined Reggie in front of her camera.
“That was such a romantic dance,” the host gushed. “I was back here in tears. Thank goodness for the makeup department, am I right? Stone, what was it like for you to hear comments like those from the judges, after months of critique?”
This was easy to answer. “It’s all thanks to Gina,” he said. “She’s been the most amazing teacher and partner, patient and giving. If not for her, I never would have made it this far, and I’d still just be an emotionally stunted wilderness nut.” Everyone around them laughed, but Gina looked over her shoulder at him with tears shimmering in her eyes. He said the next words directly to her. “I’m very… very grateful, for all she’s done for me.”
Now, he did put his arm around her, and she gave him a squeeze in return.
“Thank you.” Her voice was soft, as was her expression.
“So sweet.” Reggie grinned and turned back to the camera. “Let’s get your scores.”
Colors swirled on the screen. Stone’s heart pounded. At his side, Gina tensed.
A giant, sparkly one hundred appeared.
Reggie cheered. “Another perfect score!”
Stone hugged Gina fiercely. When the cameras cut away, he let her go. He wanted to kiss her, but didn’t dare. Her eyes still looked watery.
She took a step back, averting her gaze. “Come on. Let’s watch Lauren and Kevin’s rumba.”
“It won’t hold a candle to ours.”
Pride—for her, for their dance—made Stone feel ten feet tall. Kevin and Lauren wouldn’t be able to match them. The rumba was a dance of love, and Stone was totally fucking in love with Gina. He’d been falling for her since the moment she’d walked into the Nielson HQ clearing and taught him to waltz on the back porch. He’d fought it for a while, but he couldn’t lie to himself any longer.
Damn, and his mom and four of his siblings were in the audience. They would say something, for sure. He was in for a lot of shit-talking when he got back to Alaska.
The thought of returning home should have cheered him up. It didn’t. Going back to Alaska meant leaving Gina, which had somehow become the last thing he wanted to do.
