Follow My Lead (Stepping Up 2)

“Talk to us?” he asked, a warning alarm going off in his head.

“Meagan,” Darla said, appearing in the doorway and going white as a sheet as soon as she spotted Blake. She was as worried as he was that this was about them.

“You needed me?” she asked Meagan.

“Come in,” Meagan encouraged. “And pull the door shut.”

“I’ll get it,” Blake offered quickly. He closed the door and stepped in between the two women so he could gauge both of their facial expressions as this—whatever it was—went down. “Since Rick isn’t coming back—” Meagan started.

“Rick isn’t coming back?” Darla asked, her tone rippling with shock.

Meagan’s gaze flicked Blake a “you didn’t tell her?” look, before she replied, “No. He’s not. He’ll be recuperating for a while. As you know, Blake is filling in for Rick today, but I’ve thrown his name in the ring for a potential long-term replacement.”

Darla gaped, her attention jerking to Blake’s with accusation. “You’re taking over for Rick?”

Could he get any more sideswiped? “I’m just rolling with the punches,” he assured her, darting Meagan a warning glance. “I’ve agreed to nothing but helping out today. Maybe a few audition shows forward, if needed. Beyond that, nothing is even somewhat final.”

“About your future with the show,” Meagan said. “I just hung up from a conference call with your agent—who wants you to call him—and one of the studio executives.” She glanced at Darla. “Right after I had a conversation with your agent and one of your studio executives.”

Blake’s spine stiffened and he could feel the tension emanating from Darla. He could almost hear her suck in a breath at the same time he did, waiting for what was about to come next, no doubt, thinking what he was thinking.

Was one or both of them about to be fired?

13

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND,” BLAKE heard Darla say in a strained voice, her ivory skin pasty white. “Is there some sort of a problem with me being on the show because Blake is now potentially the host?”

“Because if there is,” Blake said sternly, praying that he hadn’t misjudged the situation. “Count me out of the show. I’ll head home and stay there.”

Meagan looked between the two of them, a keen expression on her face. “You’d walk away from a huge paycheck because it puts Darla in jeopardy?”

“Yes,” he said at the same time Darla said, “No.”

“No, you will not,” Darla added, frowning at Blake. “This is your studio, not mine. You belong here.”

“You both belong here,” Meagan interrupted.

“I’m perfectly happy doing just my show.” Blake focused on Darla. “The big Hollywood scene has never been my thing. Stepping Up works for me, not because of the big prime-time format, but because of the fans and the contestants. Those things hit the same hot buttons as my show.”

“This is money and opportunity, as well,” Darla said, being humble and generous, as he’d expect of her. But when she curled her fingers inside her palms, he could see she was shaking. She wanted this. She wanted it bad, and still she added fiercely, “You can’t walk away from this.”

“I’m not invested in this like you are,” he reasoned. “I can walk away. And I will, if it has to be one or the other, you or me. It’s the right thing to do.”

“It’s not,” Meagan said firmly, drawing their attention. “This is a great opportunity. You’re right about that, Darla. A great opportunity for both of you.”

“What?” Darla asked. “I thought…so, wait. There’s not a problem with Blake and I working together?”

“I never said there was,” Meagan informed her. “You two just took a piece of what I was saying and ran with it. Nobody has a problem with the two of you working together. At least, not now that they’ve heard my plan. In fact, they’re thrilled with the plan I’ve suggested. It’s the two of you that I have to convince now.”

Darla cast Blake a cautious look. “So,” she said contemplatively, “let me just be sure I understand. My show being on a competing network, in a competing time slot with Blake, isn’t an issue?”

“It’s a bonus,” Meagan asserted, “and the key to my team’s plan to boost ratings this season.”

“What are we missing here, Meagan?” Blake asked skeptically.

“Everyone at the bar last night noticed the combative chemistry the two of you have and they found it entertaining. Add to it the past history with the shoe incident, and people are interested to see how you might clash, or not clash, again.”

“Oh, wow,” Darla murmured. “Were we that obvious last night?”

“You say that like it’s a problem,” Meagan chided. “It’s not. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s magical, and a way to make this season unique. That’s what we need—a way to keep the show from becoming repetitive and boring. Last season we had the curse. This season, two competing television personalities.”