MAKAYLA DIDN’T BELIEVE in magic. Not since she’d watched a show backstage as a ten-year-old and discovered the magician was merely good at fooling people into believing what they wanted to believe.
But someone had sure sprinkled a handful of fairy dust over her today because she’d never danced so well. Rehearsal had started at five p.m. Monday and she’d been at it for two hours. Feet flying, legs kicking, arms spinning. Nailing every single move. The dancers around her were good—it looked as if Hudson only hired the best—but today, she was better.
She didn’t get it. Usually when she landed a new role it took her a day or two to pick up the rhythms, to trial the steps, until it clicked. Today, from the moment she’d stepped onto the studio stage at Embue and the choreographer had outlined the major moves, she’d been on fire.
Now, with sweat pouring off her and her damp leotard clinging to her skin, she slumped onto the nearest bench and reached for her drink bottle. Maybe it was something in the water. Or maybe it was dancing for the man heading towards her, admiration making his eyes glow indigo.
‘Wow, that was impressive.’ Hudson sat beside her, his thigh almost brushing hers, and she forced herself to relax. ‘You’re good.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ she said, raising her water bottle to him in a mock toast before downing half of it.
He chuckled. ‘What do you think of the show?’
She was paid to dance, not give an opinion, but she liked the fact he’d asked. ‘It’s great. High energy, good tempos, catchy songs.’
‘I’ve been working part-time in local theatre, behind the scenes mostly, for a while. It’s something of a hobby.’ Concern pinched his mouth, at odds with his usual confidence. Even as a guy in his early twenties doing whatever it took to survive he’d had a cockiness about him, a self-assurance that she’d wished she could emulate. ‘Tanner’s never done anything like this at Embue before. He took a chance on my idea. I need it to rock.’
‘It will,’ she said, instinctively patting his thigh in reassurance before belatedly realising she’d made a dumb move.
Being attracted to her boss was one thing. Touching him entered a whole other stratosphere of stupidity.
His muscle flexed beneath her palm and she snatched it away before insanity prevailed and she slid her hand higher.
‘With your talent, why haven’t you had any long-term roles?’
She appreciated his switch back to business-like. That impulsive gaff with her hand had been beyond embarrassing. ‘Not for lack of trying.’
She picked up a towel, draped it across the back of her neck and dabbed at her face with it. ‘I bust my butt attending auditions. I get countless call-backs. But the big roles seem to elude me.’
‘But you’re phenomenal.’ He sounded a tad awestruck, confusion creasing his brow, and she smiled.
‘Thanks.’ She bumped him with her shoulder, wishing she could hug him for his rousing endorsement. ‘I’m hoping being the primary dancer in this show will lead to bigger things.’
‘Like?’
She hadn’t articulated her dream out loud to many people for fear of being laughed at. But Hudson had connections. She’d done some online research after she’d landed the lead dancer role and discovered he did a lot of theatre stuff in addition to his management job here at the club that ensured he’d meet a lot of influential people. If he had contacts in the industry, he might be able to help.
But before she could say anything, he snapped his fingers. ‘How could I forget? You always wanted to be on Broadway. Is that still your goal?’
Heat flushed her cheeks that he’d remembered something so trivial and she nodded. ‘Sounds far-fetched, huh? But it’s been my end goal since I started dancing as a kid. I want the bright lights. The big stage. In the most happening city in the world...’
She trailed off, lost in her musings as she usually was whenever she thought of New York City and how utterly fabulous it would be to visit, let alone live and perform there.
‘From what I’ve seen today, you’re good enough to get there and then some,’ he said, staring at her in frank admiration. ‘You’ve got the moves, kid, the kind that could take you all the way.’
She resisted the urge to preen under his praise; that and fling herself at him in gratitude. Usually, she didn’t need other people inflating her ego; she was a realist and knew she had talent that could flourish given time, effort and the right environment. She’d been lucky enough to have two of the best dance teachers in the biz growing up and they’d never minced words. Giving praise when it was due. Kicking her in the butt when she needed it.
But having Hudson praise her meant something and she knew why. She’d always valued his opinion. Had sought it out, from his views on her latest lip-gloss colour to upcoming pop bands. Despite their five-year age difference, he’d never made her feel stupid or inept. He’d listened to her; truly listened, then offered sage advice. Yet another thing she’d missed when their friendship ended, not having a sounding board she trusted.
‘Hey, did I say something wrong?’ He touched her arm, a brief impersonal touch that sent a jolt all the way down to her toes.
‘No, just thinking how much I appreciate having your input again.’ She grabbed the end of her towel and swatted him with it. ‘But careful, I might get a big head with all that flattery.’
‘You’re too grounded for that, always have been,’ he said, batting away the towel. ‘I think that’s one of the things that drew me to you back then. Low tolerance for BS, you saw the world how it was yet it didn’t get you down.’ Something akin to darkness, a fleeting shadow, clouded his eyes. ‘Growing up in the Cross was tough but you took it in your stride and didn’t let it taint you.’
‘Yeah, I did,’ she said, remembering the one night when she’d succumbed to the seedier side of Kings Cross and why.
She could’ve let the memory of that degrading night drag her down but she hadn’t. She’d taken the money and walked away without looking back.
She could’ve taken the easy option and done more strip shows. That one night, she’d earned more than dancing two months’ worth of gigs. The owner had offered her a sizeable pay, enough to set her up. But she’d knocked it back for the reason Hudson had articulated: she hadn’t wanted to be tainted by the kind of life she didn’t want.
She’d never regretted it but she couldn’t help but wonder at times how much easier her life could’ve been if she’d had that kind of money as a nineteen-year-old.
Hudson stared at her, a host of unasked questions hovering between them, before he blinked and glanced away. ‘I don’t do anyone favours unless they deserve them but if what I saw today is any indication of what you can do on stage, I’ll keep my ear to the ground. Let you know if I hear of any big opportunities here in Sydney, maybe even overseas, okay?’
‘Thanks, that would be great.’ This time, she didn’t hesitate in wrapping her arms around him in a grateful hug. It felt right, comfortable, and nothing like the tension-fraught comforting hug last week. ‘Anyone ever tell you you’re the best boss ever?’
‘Only every single day,’ he said, his smile bashful when she released him. ‘Speaking of work, I better get back out there otherwise Tanner will fire my ass for slacking off on my management duties.’
‘And I’ve got an appointment for a one-off show.’ She glanced at her watch and leapt to her feet. ‘Crap. I didn’t know rehearsal ran overtime. I’m going to be late.’
She glanced at her drenched workout gear and grimaced. ‘No time to head home for a shower. You don’t have one around here that staff can use, by any chance?’
Hudson hesitated, a flash of something indefinable in his stare, before he huffed out a breath, as if he’d come to some momentous decision. ‘I live in the apartment over the club. You’re welcome to shower there if it makes things easier for you.’
A ripple of awareness made her skin prickle. She couldn’t turn up for a dress fitting for another show sweaty and flustered; or worse, late. But taking advantage of Hudson’s generous offer meant getting flustered in another way entirely.
Standing in his shower stall, imagining him in there, soapy and slick and naked...
‘Uh, thanks, that would make life easier,’ she said, clearing her throat when her voice sounded a tad high. ‘I appreciate the offer.’
‘No worries,’ he said, waiting until she gathered her stuff before heading for the door.
Easy for him to say, she thought as she followed him. Because getting a glimpse into Hudson’s home life, getting naked in his bathroom, getting ideas into her head that she shouldn’t, had her very worried indeed.