The next morning, Stone’s driver took him to a different rehearsal space. He was hooked up with a lav mic before he even went into the room, and a camera guy followed him in.

Inside, he found Natasha waiting for him.

“Guapo.” Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she went over to give him a hug. “This is going to be fun.”

“The way you said that makes me nervous.”

She laughed like a cartoon villain. “You should be. I won’t go easy on you.”

“What’s our dance?”

“We’re doing the salsa. Lucky for you, you have some experience with that one.” She winked.

“Yeah, a little.” Memories of dancing in the salsa club with Gina flashed through his mind. He’d almost kissed her that night. How different would things be now if he had?

It didn’t matter. He’d still be here with Natasha for Shake It Up Week.

“We’re going to do a very traditional, very sexy ballroom salsa,” Natasha said. “And no shirt for you. I don’t know why Gina’s been waiting to do that. Give the fans what they want.” She snapped her fingers and pointed to the center of the room. “We’re going to do a lot of lifts, too, and those require a ton of practice to make them look smooth. Let’s get to work.”

For the rest of the day, Natasha ran him ragged, ordering him to go over every move repeatedly until he had it right. She was like a drill sergeant, but he was surprised by how much fun they had together. Natasha joked and teased, keeping his spirits up even as she wore his body down.

By the end of the day, he was exhausted, and missing Gina with a keenness that scared him. He liked dancing with Gina, and had thought she was the root of his enjoyment. Natasha showed him that dance could be fun even without Gina, which was a strange realization.

Donna showed up right at the end of their rehearsal, after they’d removed their mics. She dismissed the camera crew and sat on a folding chair while Stone wiped his face with a towel. The producer’s expression was far too calm. He didn’t trust it.

Natasha gulped down a bottle of electrolyte water. “What’s up, Donna?”

“How was rehearsal?” Donna directed the question at Stone.

He shrugged and focused on rearranging things in his gym bag. “It was fine. I’m learning the steps.”

Natasha laughed. “He doesn’t want to say I’m like a dictator, but it’s okay. I know I am.”

Donna nodded. “Any chance I convince the two of you to act like there’s something going on here for the rest of the week?”

Natasha blinked, then cast a look at Stone from the corner of her eye. She shrugged.

Stone frowned, pretending not to understand. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do.” Donna gave him a patronizing pat on the arm. “It’s called a showmance. You two got along great today. Just play it up a bit more, act like there’s some attraction here. The viewers like sexual chemistry—they speculate all over social media—and it gives the gossip rags something to blather on about, all of which equals an increase in ratings. This episode marked the halfway point of the season, so we could use a bump.”

Stone shot a glance at Natasha, who waited with her hand on her hip. Her eyes were wide and intense, like she was trying to tell him something, but he didn’t know what. “Uh, I’d rather not,” he said, trying not to look at either woman as his face heated.

Donna sighed. “I thought you’d say that. What if I offered you a bonus? You said you’re here to help pay your mom’s hospital bills, right? This could help you get there faster.”

The outright manipulation chilled him to his bones. It was exactly the kind of shit he hated about Hollywood.

“I mean, you get more money for every episode you’re on, and a big bonus if you win, but let’s face it.” Donna tilted her head and her tone turned nasty. “You’re up against an Olympic figure skater who’s already gotten a perfect score. You’re not going to win.”

Rage burned in his gut. He clenched his jaw against it. “I’ll take my chances,” he said, grinding out each word between gritted teeth. Then he grabbed his bag and got to his feet. “Gotta go. My car’s waiting. See you tomorrow, Tash.”

Seething, he left the room, cursing The Dance Off, Hollywood, and the entire entertainment industry.

* * *

Even though there was no elimination during Shake It Up Week, the showrunners made all the dancers stand in their mixed-up pairs at the end of the broadcast. Gina stood with Jackson, who kept an arm around her shoulders in a friendly gesture. She smiled for the camera while tapping her foot in impatience.

“Anxious?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Excited.”

“Can’t wait to get back to Stone?”

She suppressed a smile. She’d managed all of two seconds alone with Stone backstage, but during that time, he’d leaned in and whispered, “I miss you” in her ear.

Simple words, but from him, they were everything.

Jackson laughed and shrugged. “Girl, I mind my own business. Besides, you got me a ninety for that salsa, and I don’t think Lori could have done it. You’re my favorite person right now.”

A trickle of guilt diminished her mood. She and Jackson had gotten along swimmingly, and they’d received a higher score than Stone and Natasha’s eighty-four.

Nothing about it had been the same, though. The easy camaraderie and good humor, Jackson’s willingness to learn and grow—and drive to win—were all traits Gina had hoped for in a partner at the beginning of the season. She should have been happy to work with Jackson.

Instead, all she wanted was to get back to Stone. When she danced with him, she felt more alive. She had to work harder, sure, since Stone didn’t have any dance training. And to say the man didn’t emote naturally was an understatement.

Except the challenge made every smile she pulled from him feel like a reward in and of itself. His quiet delight when he nailed a move warmed her jaded heart.

Jackson was polished and professional. When he looked at her, it was with friendly interest, the way an eager student turned to a teacher as if to ask, “What next?”

When Stone looked at her, it was with fire in his eyes, and barely leashed control of the conflagration. If she got too close, she’d be burned up and consumed.

After a week away from him, she was ready to be consumed. So fucking ready.

Once the cameras had clicked off and everyone filed backstage to change out of their costumes, Gina searched for Stone.

Natasha caught her arm. “I’m going out with Kevin and Joel and some of the others,” she said. “You want to come?”

Gina shook her head. “I’m tired. You go.”

Natasha gave a nod. “Later, chica.”

Stone was head and shoulders taller than most of the cast, and easily spotted. Gina’s heart gave a little leap when she saw him. It was ridiculous, really. She’d known him for a couple months, and they’d only been apart a few days. Yes, pros became attached to their partners quickly, and vice versa, but she’d never experienced this pull toward one of her partners, as if an invisible string connected them.

She let herself be drawn toward him, picking up speed until she was almost running. Around them, other couples were reuniting, and no one paid them much mind as she threw her arms around his neck.

He scooped her up, enveloping her in the scent of clean Alaskan air as he held her to his bare chest. He was sweaty, but so was she. His hair was loose, and she pressed her face into the warm mass. Inside, her heart settled, but the butterflies in her belly danced a fast cha-cha-chá.

“I missed you, too,” she whispered in his ear.

When she pulled back, their cheeks slid against each other and the corners of their mouths touched. She almost turned her head to kiss him before she caught herself.

Not here. They were surrounded by cast and crew. She had to act casual.

“That was a great salsa,” she said brightly.

“Natasha’s a great teacher.” His eyes flashed, and he lowered his voice. “But she’s not you.”

Well, damn. The man sure knew how to get her pulse thumping. “Come over tonight.” The words were barely a whisper.

He nodded, his lips parting to mouth, “One hour.”

“Great,” she said, louder. “See you tomorrow, bright and early. Next week’s theme is Broadway.”

They parted ways to continue saying goodbye to the rest of the cast.

Meanwhile, Gina was ready to burst with excitement. And longing.

Tonight, she would throw caution to the wind.