Page 72 of Take the Lead
Earning a 100 percent lit a fire in Stone. He and Gina amped up their rehearsals and their off-camera time. One night, they were almost caught by Natasha, who’d come home while they were cuddling in post-coital bliss. In a whispered argument, Stone reasoned that Natasha had probably already guessed they were together, but Gina had handed him his shoes and shoved him out the door the second they heard the shower turn on.
The next week was Silver Screen Night. They danced an upbeat, lighthearted waltz to a classic movie musical, designed to showcase Stone’s hold and improved footwork.
Amazing how falling for someone like Gina lightened his step.
They wore matching gray and ice blue formal wear for their traditional waltz. It satisfied the judges, who gave him ninety percent and certified him a contender for the semifinals, but they still claimed they wanted to see more.
Meanwhile, one couple was sent home every week. On Broadway Night, Beto and Jess went home. Then, on Silver Screen Night, to everyone’s surprise, Dwayne and Natasha were eliminated.
And then there were six: two Olympic athletes, two hot young TV actors, the rock star, and the reality TV survivalist.
Stone still had two eliminations to survive before the finals, including the double elimination after the semifinals, and he was the least famous celebrity left on the show by far.
He wanted Gina to win. She was the best, as far as he was concerned. Not that he was biased.
Okay, he was biased, but he cared about her, and he didn’t want her to lose her job because he wasn’t good enough.
And it bugged him that he couldn’t turn his mind off from the idea of the showmance. Not that it would be just for show, of course. There was genuine affection between them, even though neither had voiced it.
That wasn’t exactly true. He thought back to their first night together.
I like you, too, Stone.
Well, the feeling was mutual. And the word “like” was woefully inadequate for all that he felt for her.
Twenty
“He’s going to be so surprised.” Natasha grinned and reached for the bag of plantain chips Gina held.
Gina washed her chips down with seltzer. The night before, Natasha and Dwayne had been voted off the show, so Tash was fair game to join their trio dance for next week’s episode. “He said you were a good teacher, so now he gets to experience the joy of being coached by both of us at the same time.”
“Double-teamed,” Tash said with a laugh.
Gina shot a glance at the camera and covered her mouth to suppress a snort. “That doesn’t mean what you think it means.”
“Maybe it does.” Tash raised her eyebrows suggestively.
At that moment, Stone walked into the rehearsal room, and Gina dissolved into giggles.
He froze. “Wait, am I dancing with both of you next week?”
“Were you asleep when Juan Carlos explained that this is Team Up Week?” Tash teased.
“I just…” He looked back and forth between them. “Shit, I’m in for it, aren’t I?”
Tash nodded and pranced over to him. “We have a samba, too.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s a fun dance,” Gina explained. “Party atmosphere. It’s originally an Afro-Brazilian dance, but ballroom samba is different.”
“Lots of bouncing,” Tash added.
Stone bounced on tiptoe, like he was about to shoot a basketball. “Like this?”
“Sort of. You’re pushing forward on your toes, but it’s about the rise and fall.” Gina beckoned Tash over and held her hands. Gina counted and they demonstrated a few moves, bobbing up and down as they danced across the floor.
Stone raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think I can do that.”
