“How’s your first rehearsal going?” Donna asked.
Gina flashed the camera a big grin. “Our first rehearsal is going great,” she lied. “Even though Stone has never danced before, he’s willing to learn and picking up the steps quickly.” Also false. “It’s really the best you can hope for in a partner with no previous dance experience.”
“What do you have in mind for your first dance?”
“I’ve never danced with someone this big before.” Gina raised a hand over her head to indicate Stone’s height. Her football player the previous season had been a quarterback, and smaller. “We’ll do something to show off his form, strength, and skill, with an element of fun. I want to give the viewers a side of Stone they’ve never seen before.”
Donna’s shark-eyed gaze intensified. “And what do you think about his looks?”
Gina smiled through the urge to grit her teeth. How was she supposed to answer that?Of course he’s good-looking, damn it!“Don’t worry, the viewers will definitely see Stone shirtless, although not for the first dance. It wouldn’t be appropriate for thefoxtrot. But keep voting for us, and we’ll be sure to show you the goods.” She winked at the camera.
Donna crossed her arms. “It seems like you two have a lot of chemistry.”
Did it? Shit. Gina played it cool in her response. “We’re still figuring out our dynamic. I’m sure our connection as dance partners will grow the longer we work together.”
Donna’s lips twisted like she was disappointed in the answer, but she let Gina get back to work.
Gina met Stone in the center of the room. His forehead was furrowed, and he looked as annoyed as she felt. Jordy had probably grilled him on whether he thought she was pretty or not. She’d have to warn him the questions would only get more invasive as the weeks went on.
She jerked her head to the side to indicate the crew. “You okay?” she whispered, even though the mic would catch it anyway.
Now he rolled his eyes full out. “Are those interviews really necessary?”
“Channel it into the dance. Anything that’s happening, in any part of your life, channel it into the dance and let it be transformed.” She shrugged. “At least, that’s what I always do.”
Stone held her gaze for a long moment, his expression clearing. When he nodded, she nudged his elbows. He snapped to attention, his form perfect. She gave him an approving nod. “Good. Now we focus on footwork. Ready?”
He sighed. “Ready.”
She counted down and they took off across the room.
Five
Gina had claimed the foxtrot was similar to walking—one foot in front of the other. It wasn’t. Hours of learning moves like the promenade, ad lib, and Park Avenue step left Stone once again rethinking his decision to join this stupid show.
Dancing washard.The basic steps had been one thing, but learning choreography was a whole different beast. His muscles ached from staying in hold, his feet hurt from the shiny black shoes, and he was starving. When he complained that he was hungry, Gina tossed him a protein bar and told him to “take it from the top.”
And it was all being filmed. Every stumble and misstep, Stone’s curses when he slipped, Gina’s innocuous touches.
How was he supposed to concentrate on learning to dance with Gina’s light, capable touch a constant source of distraction? Quick touches, barely there and then gone. A fingertip on his chin to change the angle. A nudge with her wrist to raise his elbow. Even her small feet kicking his to get them to move the right way.
Were all dancers like this? Whose brilliant idea had it been to stick him with someone so touchy and talkative?Or so pretty. This wasn’t what he’d signed up for.
And despite Gina’s earlier assurances, he still felt bad aboutscaring her in Alaska. It hadn’t been right. Pretending to see a bear in the woods was a dick move, and he shouldn’t have gone along with it.
Worst of all, the producers interrupted him for interviews left and right. OnLiving Wild,his family and the crew knew he was a terrible liar, and he participated in fewer individual interviews than his siblings did.The Dance Offwas supposed to be about dancing. Why did they want him to talk so much?
Stone stepped wrong again, nearly losing his balance. “Sorry.”
The corners of Gina’s mouth turned down and she threw her hands up. “Don’t be sorry. Be serious.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
She strode over to the cooler and grabbed a bottle of water. “You’re not taking this seriously.”
The accusation burned in his gut, and the words spilled out before he could think them through. “How much more seriously do you want me to take it?” He followed her and grabbed another protein bar from the box next to the cooler. “I’m here, wearing these ridiculous shoes—” He lifted one foot and gave it a disgusted sneer. “—and doing everything you’ve asked of me.”
“Everything,” she said, in a tone that sounded suspiciously agreeable, “excepttake it seriously.”
