Page 12 of Take the Lead
He scratched the back of his head. “Six-seven.”
“Shoot.” Gina cringed. “Sorry. It’s just… you’re even taller than my initial estimate. I’m five-foot-six, and it’s a challenge to choreograph a dance in hold when the partners have such a huge heightdifference.” She grinned to put him at ease, like her nervous babbling was normal. “Don’t worry. I’m an excellent choreographer, and I wouldn’t have gotten this far if I were afraid of high heels.”
He eyed her feet and his brow furrowed. “Are those… high-heeled sneakers?”
She lifted a foot to show him the side view. “They’re wedge high tops.”
“You can dance in those things?”
“Dude, I can dance in anything.”
“I’m not sure I can.” He cast a skeptical glance down at his own feet, clad in shiny black dance shoes.
Gina bit her lip, searching for a reply that couldn’t be misconstrued in editing. Ballroom dance required intimacy, and they didn’t have long to form a bond as partners. As much as their initial meeting had unsettled her, she was the expert here. It was up to her to make him comfortable, even though just looking at him gave her butterflies.
Fucking butterflies.Jeez.
“How are you settling in?” she finally asked. “Did you have a good flight?”
He shrugged, the fabric of his T-shirt pulling tight over his muscles. “Uneventful flight. The hotel is nice. Different from what I’m used to.”
She sent him a teasing grin. “I can’t imagine a bear is going to pop out from behind the ice machine.”
Instead of a laugh, he pressed his lips into a firm line and looked away. His brows knit together like he was angry.
As if sensing deep emotions, Jordy crept closer with the camera.
Gina ignored the field producer and put a hand on her partner’s arm. “Stone? Everything okay?”
“Areyouokay?” he shot back, startling her.
“Sure.” The butterflies picked up the pace, dancing a salsa. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
His fingers tapped a nervous rhythm against his thigh. “The last time I saw you…”
Gina rubbed her hands over her face. “Yeah, about that. Look, I’m sorry for the way I overreacted. First the seaplane, then the wilderness, then the bear… It was a shock, to say the least, and not at all what I was expecting.”
Stone cocked an eyebrow. “What were you expecting? Not a bear, I’m guessing. Or me.”
Should she answer? She didn’t want him to think she was disappointed to have him as a partner. “I don’t know, a ski lodge, or something.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled like he was amused. “You think all people in Alaska do is ski?”
“How should I know? I’m not what you would call ‘outdoorsy.’”
Stone’s gaze darted to the camera before he leaned closer and lowered his voice to a deep rumble. “I’m sorry I scared you, Gina. I don’t want you to be afraid of me.”
Oh, sweet man. All this time, she’d feared she’d ruined her credibility as a teacher, while he’d been worried about whatshethought ofhim.If he were any other partner, if it were any time other than their first rehearsal, she would have given him a hug. He seemed to need the reassurance and she believed in giving affection freely.
Except the camera was too close. Jordy’s eyes held a gleam of anticipation. No matter what she did—a hug, a pat on the shoulder, a squeeze of his hand—it would be twisted to create a story where there wasn’t one.
Gina nudged Stone’s arm with her shoulder and whispered, “I wasn’t scared of you.” It would have to be enough.
“We should really get right into learning the dance, but first let’s talk strategy.” She turned him so his profile was reflected in the wall of mirrors. Big and strong he might be, but he went where she led him. It was a good trait, since she might have to drag him around the dance floor while making it look like he was the one leading.
She peered up, taking in his height and bulk. On second thought, there would be no dragging this man anywhere.
“You have perfect posture,” she said, running a hand down his spine. The bumps of his vertebrae, embedded in thick cords of muscle, invited her fingers to linger and explore. She snatched her hand away. “This is going to come in handy. When you’re dancing in hold, keep your spine straight and your shoulders back and down. Not up near your ears.” She demonstrated by hunching her shoulders in an exaggerated fashion. “There’s nothing graceful about this.”
