My nieces’ smiles were impossible to resist unless you were completely heartless. Which was why I was walking into my first rehearsal for the damn reality show at eight in the morning when I should be enjoying the rare opportunity to sleep in during the start of the off-season.
However, the spring in my step wouldn’t have been there if the producers hadn't paired me with Lisa Morisette. We didn’t get to choose our dance partner, but we could make a request and hope they’d grant it. So when the show brought us together for a meet and greet, to see who had good chemistry—a necessity when it came to getting better ratings—and I saw the gorgeous ballerina, I pulled Sal aside. He was the head producer, whom I’d known from when he did an in-depth look at the life of a Nighthawks’ wide receiver.
We’d stayed in touch, and I was willing to bet every penny I had that he’d been the one to instigate the bet. And that gave me a little leverage when I subtly requested he give me Lisa as a partner. I told him my nieces would cry if he didn’t…and I’d bring them to his house to do it. He caved, and I got what I wanted.
I opened the door to the dance studio and was struck speechless as I watched a body glide through the air and land on her feet as if she were a feather floating to the ground. Lisa was around five-foot-six with long, graceful arms and legs, and an elegant neck, beautifully displayed because her long, dark hair was twisted up into a bun at the back of her head.
Her body was slender, but it was obviously strong and toned, a weapon she wielded on stage to make the audience fall in love with her. Although, I’d fallen for her with one simple smile. Even though it had been oddly strained, her full, pink lips had brought incredibly dirty fantasies careening into my mind. Her cerulean blue eyes had watched me warily, but I’d chosen to chalk it up to the fact that I was practically drooling over her.
In fact, I’d been so tongue-tied that I only managed to croak out a hello before she was distracted by one of the other dancers. I wanted to bang my head against the wall for being such a pussy, but I consoled myself with the knowledge that I would have another chance to make a new-ish impression.
It wasn’t starting out well, though. Lisa did a spin, then stopped abruptly when she spotted me. And I stood there, staring and silent, like a fucking idiot. I fought to keep my eyes from sweeping down her delicious body in a black sports bra and skintight, black, stretchy shorts. The outfit was hot as fuck, although it pissed me off when I thought about her wearing it around her last partner.
“I hope you’re ready to work,” she sighed as she walked over to a stereo and fiddled with the controls.
“Um, yes. Of course. Sure. I’m Hale, by the way.” I stumbled through my answers and wondered where the hell the badass football player—who was known for always being calm and collected—had gone running off to.
“Yes. I know.”
Right. We’d been introduced.
I finally walked all the way into the room and headed to a table in the far corner that held all of her things. All while lecturing myself to get my act together. I dropped my duffel bag next to hers. I was already wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and basketball shorts, so I bent down to remove my socks and shoes.
“I’ve finished choreographing our first number,” she announced, her tone sounding tight and frustrated.
I glanced over my shoulder and grinned when I caught her staring at my ass before she quickly turned away. Not before her face turned crimson, though.
She’s not immune to me.
Once I was ready, I moseyed over to stand next to her while she read over a sheet of paper on a clipboard. I put my mouth close to her ear before saying, “I’m ready for you.” And though I wanted to, I knew it wasn’t the time to point out the multiple meanings in my statement.
A tiny shiver wracked her body, and I couldn’t help grinning again.
“The first night is Disney-themed,” Lisa said in a voice that was pitched higher than before and took a few steps away.
She told me the song's name, then launched right into an explanation of the various moves and steps. Since I didn’t want to make a fool of myself, and I wanted all that money donated to charity, I put my attraction aside by paying extremely close attention to what she was teaching me.
Four hours later, I was starting to wonder if I’d dreamed all the workouts I did to keep in shape. However, Lisa looked a little impressed, so I did my best to keep from panting and bending over to catch my breath.