Page 45 of Take the Lead
Gina had seen it work in the past, before she’d joined the show. Hernando Gomez, a telenovela star, had captured the audience’s hearts and lust with his masculinity and chivalry. Even though he hadn’t been the best dancer that season, he had shown tremendous growth and won Lori the trophy.
“I’ve got it,” Gina said. “We’re telling a story of raw desire. Carnal magnetism.”
She leaned in and pressed her palms to his chest, demonstrating the moves as she spoke. “We want each other, but it isn’t good for us. I walk away from you.” She spun away dramatically and froze with her head and shoulders thrown back. “You keep pulling me back in, and I want it, so I stay.” She twirled into his arms again. “Finally, I run away, out into the rain.” She ran across the room, leaving him gaping after her.
“Into therain?”
She dropped character. “They can make it rain on the stage.”
He scratched at his beard. “This is getting complicated.”
“Don’t worry, they can do it. And you’re interrupting my flow.”
“My apologies. Proceed, dance master.”
She sent him a smirk, but continued. “I run across the stage, but you don’t follow. You dance halfway, then stop with your arms open, waiting for me. Before I’m offstage, I turn and run back. Then we do the remainder of the dance in the rain.”
His eyebrows drew together. “Won’t it be dangerous to dance on a wet stage?”
“Dangerousanduncomfortable. But it doesn’t bother us, because when you want someone like that…” She gave a wistful sigh. “You just want them. Nothing else matters. We’re appealing to the baser instincts of the viewers. Lots of people can relate to that kind of desire.”
She sure the hell could. Every time she looked at him, he tempted her to throw caution to the wind and drag him into a private corner somewhere. On second thought…
“And at the last moment, right before the song ends, I break hold and run off the stage.”
Stone shrugged. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Imagining it in her head, that ending destroyed the emotional quality of the dance, but even in character, she needed to keep her distance. Okay. Deep breaths. No more thoughts of Stone in dark corners. “Footwork and hold. Let’s go.”
Three hours later, Gina’s frustration levels were through the roof. Stone was managing the footwork and form, but there was a hesitancy to his movements that was ruining the routine. If their chemistry was going to set the dance floor on fire, she had to demolish the boundaries between them.
Her mind issued a warning in her mother’s voice.Cuidado. Esto es peligroso.
Yeah, it was dangerous. But it was the only way.
“Take a break,” Gina said, after countless trips back and forth across the room. “This isn’t working.”
His brows creased, and for a second he looked hurt. “What do you mean? I haven’t done a step wrong for the past half hour.”
“I know. You’re doing great with learning the moves. It’s not that.” She uncapped a bottle of water and chugged it.
“Then what is it?” He came closer and stood with his hands on his hips.
She huffed and tossed the bottle back into the cooler. Her next words were bound to end up in the behind-the-scenes footage, but they needed to be said. “You’re not going to break me, Stone.”
“I’m—what?” His voice rose in bewilderment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She waved at him impatiently. “Get in hold. I’ll show you what I mean, and why the tango is a hard dance for week two.” She stepped into his arms, then gestured at the way he was holding her. “See? It’s this. I’m not made of glass. Tango is a forceful dance. You can’t be afraid to grab me.”
“I’m not—”
“You are. Do you trust me?”
His eyes narrowed. “Yes…”
“Then give me your hands.” When he held them out to her, she grabbed his wrists and yanked his arms around her. He didn’t resist, but when she clapped his hands onto her butt, his whole body jerked in surprise.
“Gina, what—”
