And the crowd was going to love the next move.
The Kaye Dip wasn’t a particularly sexy finish, but there was body contact, and ending in a dip was always a crowd pleaser. Besides, he’d take any excuse to hold Jess in his arms.
Nik stepped his leg around Jess, popped her up onto his back, then swung her legs outward, bringing her to rest on his opposite hip in their ending pose. The music faded, and the hosts rushed them, clapping and gushing praise.
Nik swung Jess out from the aerial, and after she was steady on her feet, he released her hand, even though all he wanted to do was hold on. She turned away to smile and wave for the camera, and he reminded himself to be patient. After all, he still had two more dates with her.
The show broke for commercial, and they were ushered backstage while the next activity was set up.
“In the next segment, you’re going to decorate wreaths with the hosts,” a production assistant explained as the makeup crew hurried over to pat the sweat off their faces and reapply powder. “Any pine allergies?”
Jess balked. “Any what?”
“We’re fine,” Nik assured the PA.
When they were alone, she muttered, “I didn’t realize pine allergies were a thing. I’m so using that next year to get out of doing this kind of shit. From now on, yes, I do have pine allergies.”
He laughed, and it took everything in him not to hug her right then. Holding her while they danced had been wonderful, but it wasn’t enough.
Jess’s agent, Lorena, bustled over then. She was five feet if she was an inch, and carried a shoulder bag approximately the size of a small car.
“Jess, honey, I have some great news.” Lorena brandished her phone, but the screen was off. “I just got a call from the Heartflix Channel—you know, the ones who make all those romantic holiday movies?”
Nik had a feeling he knew where this was going. He smothered a smile as Jess rolled her eyes.
“I’ve heard of them,” she said. “But I definitely don’t watch those movies.”
Lorena waved that away with a flick of her hand. “They saw the video of you two dancing in the mall and they think you’reperfectfor a guest spot in one of the movies they have coming out next year. They’re even willing to fit you in before the next season ofThe Dance Offstarts.”
Jess’s eyes went wide with horror. “Wait, they want me to be in one of theirChristmasmovies?”
Nik turned his laugh into a cough. When Jess glared at him, he schooled his features into an expression of solemnity.No laughing over here.
Lowering her voice, Jess leaned in toward her agent. “Lorena, you know I hate Christmas. And those movies are just dripping with overblown sentimentality.”
“Those movies get millions of viewers and repeat airings,” Lorena pointed out. “And there’s a lot of overlap between their viewers and people who watch—and vote for—The Dance Off.”
Jess pursed her lips like she wanted to argue, but couldn’t.
Lorena gave her a motherly pat on the arm. “Just think about it, okay? And then say yes. Ciao!”
She scurried off, leaving them in a cloud of gardenia-scented perfume.
“Don’t laugh,” Jess grumbled.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Nik pressed his lips together hard to hold back a chuckle.
A PA hurried over to collect them, and after the wreaths were made—and they’d washed pine sap off their hands—they took photos with the crew, filmed a couple segments for the show’s social media channels, and rushed off to the next interview.
And then it was more of the same.
“So, are you two dating?”
“Show us some dance moves!”
“What are your personal holiday traditions?”
During those moments, when Nik talked about his family, it seemed like Jess was watching him intently, as if she were soaking in these details about his life.
