“Maybe.”
He leaned closer. “Definitely.”
She patted his chest. “We’ll see.”
He wrapped her hand in his, keeping it firm against his chest. “What would it take for you to say yes?”
She tilted her head. Then smiled.
“What?”
“You mean apart from winning the final?”
“Bribery and corruption, huh?”
“I prefer to call it motivation to do well.”
“Hey, I know all about that. I’ve seen the stash of chocolate treats you keep for the kids in your studio. I still think it’s unfair you haven’t offered one to me.”
“To bribe you?”
He smiled, drawing closer still. “I prefer to call it motivation to do well.”
She laughed. “Well, if winning the final is too hard to get me to a game, maybe we could aim for something a little more achievable.”
“Like what?” Would them intentionally spending time together in a non-rehearsal way count as a date? Did this count as a date? He’d give anything to get to know this woman more. To spend more time in her company. “You name it, and I’m there.”
In the echo of that, he had a funny realization that he’d said something very similar not too long ago. And look what had happened since.
“A movie,” she said.
“You want to watch a movie with me?” That had to count as a date, right?
She nodded. “Get through to the next round, and we’ll watch a movie, and I’ll come to one of your games.”
He held out his hand. “Put it there. You got yourself a deal.”
She took his hand, her small hand looking absurdly small in his large rough one.
“I can’t wait. When and where?”
Her smile grew. “If we get through next week’s round, then I’ll tell you. How is that for motivation?”
He grinned. “Perfect.”
CHAPTER 11
Toronto
It was funny how the nerves still ate, even though she’d been here before. Maybe that was the knowledge that Luc’s family were out there in the studio audience and she was meeting them after tonight’s performance. She’d asked her family to wait until next week, provided they got through. At least she had a far greater confidence that Luc would get the steps right tonight, and if he did what he’d done during rehearsals, then they were in with a good shot.
“How are you feeling?” Coco asked, as they waited in the wings to take their positions for the show’s opening pro performance.
“Slightly more confident than last week.” She slid a hand down her satin skirt. “I’m grateful that I’m wearing something shorter tonight.”
“Hmm. I bet Luc is too.” Coco winked.
“What?”
“Come on. Everyone could see from the way that man keeps looking at you in rehearsals these past few days that he’s halfway to being in love.”
“What?”
“You don’t think so?”
“No. He’s not that way at all.” Her chest tweaked at the lie. Okay, so maybe there’d been a time or two when she’d thought he liked her a little more than as a friend, but she hadn’t encouraged it. Well, apart from saying that almost-flirty-sounding thing about watching a movie together. And smiling and laughing so much with him. None of that had been wise. Besides, “We have contracts forbidding that kind of thing.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. People usually just keep things on the down-low until the show is over. And I get that he might not be used to women with your kind of sweet and bubbly personality, so maybe that’s part of it too. I’m just saying, you need to be careful.”
Coco went on to share a scandalous story about a dance pro and an actress that twisted Bailey’s heart. She could understand how easy it was for two people spending so much time together, touching and holding each other, in each other’s personal spaces, even breathing each other’s air, to develop feelings simply based on proximity, not on anything real. That had happened before, when she’d realized it was only one-sided on her part, and she’d determined after Mark had made her feel like a fool that she’d not leave her heart unguarded again.
But Luc with his funny mix of vulnerability and kindness had somehow tiptoed around that, to the point that seeing him was fast becoming the highlight of her day. She enjoyed practicing with him because she enjoyed him. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. And all the hand-holding and hugs of this hothouse of a dance environment only seemed to force feelings to grow faster. But what would happen when this show was over, and they went back to hockey star and dance nobody? He was in this for his own motivations, just like her. He wanted to prove himself as captain-worthy material, while she’d agreed to do this for the money. It wasn’t real. She needed to remember that.
She nodded. “Thanks for the reminder.”
She snuck a look at where Luc stood with the other celebrities, waiting, watching. He gave her a thumbs-up, which she acknowledged with a nod and a smaller-than-usual smile. She didn’t want to change who she was, but Coco’s words had put a damper on tonight. Maybe meeting his family wasn’t such a great idea after all.
