Winning Moves (Stepping Up 3)

“We aren’t going to be able to feature more than a couple of these dancers,” Ellie said of the hundred they had for call backs. “We need sixty total dancers, and the twenty-four finalists and winners from the first two seasons of Stepping Up have to be your stars.”

“But we’re talking a long-running show, or so we hope,” Kat said, the idea of a permanent gig starting to excite her. “We need people who can fill in for anyone who gets sick, hurt or drops out. They have to be just as good as the stars.”

Ellie rubbed her stomach. “Or knocked up.”

Kat laughed. “Yes. Or knocked up.”

“Speaking of knocked up,” she said. “What’s up with you and Jason? Jason was quick to approve you for an interview but I had no idea you two knew each other as well as you do.”

“Why does your pregnancy somehow create a connection to me and Jason?” She glanced down. “Are you trying to tell me I’ve packed on some pounds or what?”

“No, silly,” she said. “And you know it. You’re tiny. The electricity between you two is intense, sweets. That’s what I’m talking about. And electricity is what got me in trouble.” She smiled. “The good kind of trouble.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kat fibbed, sliding paperwork into her folder. “Jason and I were hardly even around each other this afternoon.”

“Not much,” she agreed. “And that’s how combustible you two are. It’s how you look at each other, even from across the auditorium, especially when neither of you know the other is looking. So, what’s the scoop? Exes? Almost lovers?”

“I think we are both just shocked that our paths have crossed,” she said. “We went to college together. And don’t go spreading the word that I’m involved with Jason. I’m not. If I’m going to take over this show, I need respect, not casting couch gossip.”

“Anything you say to me, stays with me,” Ellie assured her. “And I understand why you want it that way.”

Kat glanced at her watch and grabbed the excuse to leave, which wasn’t made up. “Gotta go. I’m late. I’m meeting my agent in the restaurant.” She pointed at Ellie and then stuffed files into her bag. “You go to your room and rest. I’m glad that husband of yours is coming in next week. Someone has to slow you down.”

“I’m pretty sure the baby on board is going to force that issue. I’m exhausted and I’m not even showing yet.” She motioned her away. “Scoot. Go get to it.”

Kat took off toward the typical twenty-four-hour basic restaurant every Vegas hotel sported for all-nighters, complete with gambling cards on the table. A quick scan didn’t produce Michael, so she flagged a hostess who immediately led her to the back section behind a wall, and that was when her heart fluttered in her chest. Jason sat in a booth across from Michael. It was not only unexpected, it was a bit awkward.

“Why couldn’t you get a table?” she murmured under her breath, before inhaling and sitting down at the booth. She tried to steel herself for the moment Jason’s gaze lifted. She failed. The instant those clear, knowing eyes met hers, she felt weak in the knees.

She dropped her bag on the floor next to Michael, who, as usual, looked his best, his blond hair neatly groomed, and his suit perfectly pressed.

“You were right,” Michael grumbled, and slid a hundred dollar bill across the table toward Jason.

Kat grimaced. “Right about what?”

“Who you’d sit next to,” Jason explained, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “He said you’d sit next to me. I said you’d sit next to him.”

“You bet on where I’d sit?” she asked, gaping at both of them.

“Yeah, we bet all right,” Michael admitted, pulling out a folder from his briefcase resting between them. “You know me. I bet on people, not games of chance. I thought you’d want to prove you weren’t intimidated by your past.”

“I thought you’d want to avoid me enough not to care,” Jason added.

A waitress stopped at the table. “Coffee for me,” Kat said, glad for the diversion. She didn’t know what to say to his perceptive comment. Jason was right. She was avoiding being close to him.

“Make that two coffees,” Michael said.

Jason held up three fingers and turned back to the conversation, his eyes dancing with amusement, seeing too much, and answering the question she had yet to speak. “I’m here because Michael invited me.”

“And I didn’t tell you because you didn’t answer your phone,” Michael said. “Which has become a very bad habit, by the way. I’ve drawn up the amendment you and I talked about on the phone, Kat, before you stopped answering, but Jason has been our go-to person on this. He’s negotiated with the studio, in my place. I thought we should do him the courtesy of explaining what we’ve added. So to start…”