They traversed the platform onto the main dance floor, their movements crisp, sure, as precise as when they’d practiced this routine the fifty times or so this week. A shimmy to represent a fish, the high kicks for walking, then some lifts and spins that were the crowd-pleasers, before they came together again in a similar move to the samba, their arms held straight up, her back to his front as they rotated their hips side to side. He didn’t care who saw them. This moment was about pleasing Bailey and getting everything right. They might not win—anyone could see Coco and Jason were the best—but Luc was giving everything.
He pulled her into another lift, drawing up her knee behind his neck which turned into a cartwheel across his back, before she hooked her knee over his and slid down. They stepped around, one more lift, another shimmy, then another progression of tango movements Bailey had insisted were necessary, then the last spin, like their ice-dancer move on the ice weeks ago. He drew her up and lifted her onto his hip, before she slid down as the words “next to you” were sung, one hand on his chest, the other holding his other hand as he dipped her low, then the last bar saw her snap upright again with their arms held high, her nose touching his, their breath heaving in and out, her lips a touch away.
The crowd was screaming, he knew he’d hit every beat, and as Bailey’s eyes shone up at him, he lowered a fraction further and touched her lips with his, grazing then possessing them more fully in the sweetest moment of his life. She was softness, sweetness, a delicious concoction he only wanted to drink more of.
Until he felt her shock, then lowered their hands so he could hold her more closely, ending the kiss as the noise from the crowd said they’d finally seen what they’d come to see.
“Luc!” Her eyes were so wide.
“Bails.” He kissed her cheek and hugged her, picking her up off the floor and twirling with her, hugging her close to his heart, wishing he could keep her there forever.
She pulled from his grasp, sliding to the floor. Then stroked his cheek and smiled up at him. “That was perfect.”
His steps or the kiss?
But there was no time to find out as Jenna was gesturing them near, fanning herself. “Oh my goodness you two. Is it getting hot in here or what?”
The audience cheered. He didn’t think the kiss was that hot. He’d save that type of kiss for when Bailey was expecting one. Which he hoped would be as soon as they left here tonight. If not before. But now it didn’t matter that their relationship was out in the open.
“Wow, Luc Blanchard, when you said you had moves, we weren’t expecting that, were we? But maybe we were hoping, am I right?” she asked the crowd.
The audience whooped more loudly.
Sweat trickled down his back. He hoped Bailey was okay. She might be smiling big, but he’d seen how good she was at pretending.
“So, let’s throw to the judges. Marco, what do you think about that performance?”
“If we’re talking about the kiss then I’d say it’s about time! Bailey is one hot tamale and Luc, you might be the man of ice but you set this floor on fire tonight! Your best dance ever.”
Really? He smiled as Bailey wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. He kissed her forehead.
“And you know I don’t say that lightly. Not when your contemporary was so beautiful before. Wow. When I think back to your very first routine and now seeing what you’ve accomplished tonight, I applaud you Luc, and especially you Bailey. It’s wonderful to see what this show can do.”
He glanced down at Bailey, at her shining eyes sparkling up at him. Sure was.
“I have to agree with Marco,” Cynthia said. “A really strong and sexy routine, and I totally bought the theme of James Bond seeking his golden Bond girl. And while I’m not always a fan of PDA on this show, I’d say you definitely knew when to bring it.”
But that hadn’t been why he’d kissed her. He’d done that spontaneously. He hoped Bailey knew that. He’d hate her to think he’d cheapen their first kiss out of some crass need for more votes. He hugged her tighter as Jenna poked the microphone in his face.
“Was that a rehearsed kiss?”
“Not at all.” A man couldn’t rehearse perfection.
Jenna nudged Bailey. “So, you had a surprise tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I guess this makes you an official couple. Let’s hear what our final judge has to say about your final dance in this year’s competition. Over to you, John.”
He leaned back in his chair, not looking at his notes. “I could say a lot of things, like how good it was to see you nailed the technical elements, to say Bailey I have really loved your choreography this season and I hope you’ll be coming back next year—”
Whoa. That was a possibility? She hadn’t mentioned that to him.
“—to say that was everything I want to see when I see a tango, so well done, you two. But I’m not gonna say that. I’m just going to say this. That you, Luc, are what this show is all about. I know I’ve been hard on you in the past and called you a lump of wood and worse, but the transformation we’ve seen from someone who said he didn’t dance to what we saw here tonight is exactly what dancing shows like Dance Off Canada are all about. So well done to you, well done to you Bailey, and whatever this is between you two,” he waved a hand at them, “good luck with that too. But I hope you will be doing more dancing in your future, Luc. You need to. You’re that good.”
Wow. Words he’d never thought he’d hear John say.
“Any final words you wish to share, Luc?” Jenna asked.
“I’m a little overwhelmed, to be honest. And like I have said a million times before, I couldn’t have done this without Bailey.” He held up her hands. “She is the best. I’m so impressed by the talent and compassion and beauty of this woman. And I’m so, so grateful that I’ve had this chance to be with her and get to know her and get to know how good dancing is.”
“Hear that everyone? You heard it here first, Luc Blanchard is a fan of dance!” Jenna winked. “And a fan of Bailey, too. Sorry ladies, looks like this man is off the market. And now you two had better skedaddle on up to the skybox and join the others up there.”
He exhaled, pressing a kiss to Bailey’s hand, then pointed and waved at his family and friends as they hurried past them to the stairs. Then they were swooped on by Fiona and the other previously eliminated contestants, save for Coco and Jason, who were dancing last, as Peter struggled to push past and thrust the microphone in their face.
“Wow, Luc, Bailey, that was some performance, eh? Way to finish on a high.”
“I’m so glad we got the chance to dance one last time,” Luc said. “I told you I had moves left in me.”
“You certainly did. That kiss at the end? Call the fire brigade. Whew!”
That wasn’t what he’d meant, but okay.
“Are you ready for the judges’ scores?”
“Bring it.” He smiled down at Bailey. It didn’t matter what the scores were. He’d won no matter what. And judging from the way she gazed back up at him, she felt the same.
He suddenly had an almost overwhelming urge to steal her away for some privacy so they could continue what he’d started before.