The dance ended with Stone holding Gina against his chest. His heart pounded so hard he couldn’t catch his breath.

He didn’t want to let her go. Not now, not ever.

Gina covered her face. Her shoulders hunched and her body shook.

“Gina?” Stone turned her, cupping the back of her head.

“I’m fine.” She pulled away from him and wiped her eyes carefully. “Come on.”

They moved toward the judges’ table to receive personal comments. The judges looked concerned. It was like a flashback to last week, after the damning footage from Alaska.

Juan Carlos stepped in and urged Gina closer. “How are you doing, Gina? You all right there?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry. It was a very emotional dance, and an emotional journey. I can’t believe it’s over.”

“This is your last dance with Stone.”

She bit her lip and nodded. “I know.”

Helplessness washed over him, along with the need to comfort her. She was hurting, and he wanted to soothe her, even though he was hurting, too.

Instead, he just had to stand here, watching as she struggled to control her reaction. It fucking sucked.

All of it sucked. He was tired of holding back from her. But a gap had opened between them and there was no easy way to cross it.

Dimitri Kovalenko went first.

“I don’t really know what to say.” He flipped his pen in the air. It landed on the desk and rolled off. “That was perfect.”

Juan Carlos grinned. “High praise, from that guy. Mariah, tell us your thoughts.”

Mariah Valentino, a classically trained dancer, pop singer, and choreographer, dabbed at the corner of her eye, then leaned in, giving the camera a look down the front of her skintight dress and golden cleavage.

“You two have danced well together all season, but this was the most connected I’ve ever seen you. It was like you were one being in two parts, bound by an invisible cord and a telepathic bond. Truly a stunning, emotional dance. And Gina, I think this is the best rumba choreography I’ve ever seen on this show.”

Blinking hard, Gina pressed her hands to her chest and mouthed, “Thank you.”

Juan Carlos extended a hand toward Chad Silver, all the way to the left. “Chad?”

Chad turned a kind smile on Gina. “I know the past few months have been an emotional roller coaster, but you’ve both handled every challenge with grace and determination.” He turned to Stone, eyes intense. “Stone, you’re the underdog, but you’ve approached each dance with trust in your partner and a commitment to getting it right. Maybe you never danced before coming here, but I hope you’ll continue after you leave. You’re a force to be reckoned with, and we’re so very glad to have you here.”

Chad’s words hit hard. Stone swallowed, and nodded. “Thank you.”

Sensing vulnerability, Juan Carlos leaped in with his microphone. “Stone, do you have anything to say about that?”

Aside from the fact that it was the kind of thing he wished his father might someday say? “Ah, well, it means a lot to me to hear that. I respect the judges for their experience, so, it . . . it means a lot. Thank you.”

“All right, you two crazy kids. Go meet Reggie to get your score one last time.”

Stone didn’t try to hold Gina’s hand or put an arm around her as they ran back to the Sparkle Parlor. She looked as fragile as he felt. Nothing had prepared him for the overwhelming emotion of this night.

Reggie awaited them with the microphone. “Come over here, you guys.” She made room for them in front of her camera. “That was such a romantic dance. I was back here in tears. Thank goodness for the makeup department, am I right? Stone, what was it like for you to hear comments like those from the judges, after months of critique?”

This was easy to answer. “It’s all thanks to Gina,” he said. “She’s been the most amazing teacher and partner, patient and giving. If not for her, I never would have made it this far, and I’d still just be an emotionally stunted wilderness nut.” Everyone backstage laughed, but Gina looked over her shoulder at him, tears shimmering in her eyes. He said the next words directly to her. “I’m very . . . very grateful, for all she’s done for me.”

Now, he did put his arm around her, and she gave him a squeeze in return.

“Thank you.” Her voice was soft, as was her expression.

“So sweet.” Reggie grinned and turned back to the camera. “Let’s get your scores.”

Colors swirled on the screen. His heart pounded. At his side, Gina tensed.

A giant, sparkly one hundred appeared.

Reggie cheered. “Another perfect score!”

Stone hugged Gina fiercely. She was so little and strong, so inspiring and maddening. When the cameras cut away, he let her go. He wanted to kiss her but didn’t dare. Her eyes still looked watery.

She took a step back, averting her gaze. “Come on. Let’s watch Lauren and Kevin’s rumba.”

“It won’t hold a candle to ours.” Pride—for her, for their dance—made him feel ten feet tall. Kevin and Lauren wouldn’t be able to match them, especially since the rumba was a dance of love, and he was totally fucking in love with Gina. He’d been falling for her since the moment she’d walked into the Nielson HQ clearing and taught him the waltz on the back porch. He’d fought it for a while, but he couldn’t lie to himself any longer.

Damn, and his mom and four of his siblings were in the audience. They would say something, for sure. He was in for a lot of shit-talking when he got back to Alaska.

The thought of going back home should have cheered him up. It didn’t. Going back to Alaska meant leaving Gina.

They watched Lauren and Kevin’s dance on the Sparkle Parlor’s screens. Technically, their rumba was perfect. Kevin was a great choreographer, and Lauren did every move with precision. But Stone had been dancing long enough—and watching the others every week—that he could see how their rumba differed from his and Gina’s.

There was something forced about the way Lauren conveyed feeling. As someone who’d been faking emotion on camera for four years, it was glaringly obvious to him. She made the faces, smiling when she should smile and scowling when the dance style called for it, but she was acting, not feeling.

Then there was the fact that she and Kevin had absolutely no sexual chemistry

Dance was about flirtation, sex, and intimacy. His training with Gina had shown him that, and not just because of their physical relationship. Gina had insisted he show emotion and vulnerability, which had been hard at the beginning, but he had to admit it made a difference. A good dance told a story of two people who connected on a level deeper than words.

Kevin and Lauren didn’t have that. At all. So, while Lauren didn’t miss a step, she also didn’t stir any sort of emotional reaction within him, and she wasn’t likely to do so with the judges, either.

The dance ended. Stone clapped, watching closely while Lauren and Kevin went to receive their comments from the judges. He bit back a smug grin as Mariah pointed out that their dance didn’t make her feel anything.

The scoreboard flashed, showing the combined scores for the night for all three couples. Stone’s heart leaped. He was on the top, with a perfect score. Jackson was three points below, and Lauren was in third place, with ninety-four percent average.

Holy shit. Maybe they could win this.

Gina appeared at his side. “Viewer votes from last week,” she said in a low voice. “That’s what will make or break us.”

“I believe in us.”

She didn’t reply, but her lips pursed. The unspoken I don’t cut deep.

It all came down to Donna’s gamble. Would airing the kiss turn the viewers against them, as Gina thought, or would it draw the audience into the love story?

When he’d arrived in Los Angeles, he’d sworn to avoid the drama and the media circus at all costs. Now he was neck deep and playing to win.

Was it worth it, though? Even if they won the trophy, he’d lost Gina. He’d hoped they could try some sort of long distance relationship, but after his misstep with the kiss footage, she’d made it clear they were done.

One of the ubiquitous stage managers appeared to usher them to the stage. They’d gone through it in dress rehearsal. The third-place winner would be chosen first, then they’d break for commercial, then the first-place winner would be named, and the hideous glittery trophy would be bestowed on the season fourteen champion.

If he won, someday he’d have his own house and place the gaudy thing on his mantle, front and center.

On second thought, it would only remind him of Gina. His mother could have it.

They took their place on the stage under the spotlights. Stone put an arm around Gina’s shoulders from behind, holding her against him. Was she as nervous as he was? While Juan Carlos talked, Stone closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to Gina’s hair. He filled his nose and lungs with her tropical scent.

“Gina?”

“Not now.”

“When?”

She didn’t answer. Did that mean never?

Juan Carlos threw out an arm toward the stage. “And that makes our third-place winner . . .” He drew it out. The music turned low and menacing. “Jackson and Lori!” The music lifted and soared, the crowd cheered, and Gina and Stone shifted to give Jackson and Lori hugs before they ran off the stage.

“I told you,” Gina muttered when they took their places again. “It was always Lauren and Kevin.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Don’t give up on me now.”

Her shoulders tensed, and her voice came out breathy and raw. “Please don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

When the show cut to a commercial, Gina broke away from him to hug Lori again.

This time, when the spotlights came back up, he rested his hands on Gina’s shoulders, needing to anchor himself. “I’m not trying to make this harder for you. I just—I’m nervous, okay?”

She put her hand over one of his and squeezed. “Don’t be. No matter what, you’re going to walk away from this a star.”

“Not if Lauren destroys my show.”

“You’ll recover. Men always do.”

She was talking about them, and the impact their relationship might have on her career.

The music lowered once again. Juan Carlos called out, “And the first-place winner and champion of season fourteen of The Dance Off is . . .”

The cameras were right on them. Stone closed his eyes and gripped Gina’s shoulders tight.

“ . . . Stone and Gina!”

Stone’s eyes flew open.

Under his hands, Gina jerked. “What?”

The word was echoed from their left, where Lauren stared at them with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“You won!” Kevin yelled.

Gina appeared to be in shock. Everyone rushed them while Juan Carlos shouted for Lauren and Kevin to join him for an interview. Stone lifted Gina in his arms. She clung to him, gasping for air.

Her voice shook. “Did I hear that right? Did we win?”

“We won.” He kissed her temple.

When she pulled back, her smile was sad. “You were right. Congratulations.”

Shit. He didn’t want to be right. He wanted her.

The others reached them, showering them in hugs, kisses, and congratulations. It was overwhelming. Everywhere he looked, another smiling face. He lost Gina in the crowd. After a minute, he heard Juan Carlos yelling for him.

“Gina?” Stone searched for her amid the sparkling, glittering mob. Wading in, he grabbed her hand and tugged her off the stage. As they passed Kevin and Lauren, they paused to wish them well. Lauren grabbed his ass. He reared back, startled, and she gave him a saucy wink.

“Congrats,” she said, pouting her painted lips. “Enjoy the spotlight it while it lasts.” Then she was swept off in the crowd and he was at Juan Carlos’ side. In the host’s hands was The Dance Off’s trophy.

“You two have earned this,” Juan Carlos said. “Congratulations!”

Stone took the gold trophy, which was encrusted with mirrored rhinestones forming the silhouette of a dancing couple. It was disgusting. He’d treasure it forever.

“Here,” he said, turning to Gina. “Hold this.”

Her face lit up when she took it, but the light was still tempered by sadness. Once she had the trophy, he gripped her by the waist and lifted her up to sit on one of his shoulders. She let out a startled giggle, then, smiling wide, she raised the trophy over her head and let out a cheer.

It should have been beautiful. It should have been the most beautiful moment in his life, to have delivered this win to the woman he loved, and to help her achieve her dream.

Instead, this was the end.