Follow My Lead (Stepping Up 2)

Darla’s eyes met his for an unintentional instant that both made her heart flutter and made it clear that he was asking several silent questions. Did she want him to stop her, to interview her? She gave a discreet shake of her head. She didn’t want to create more speculation about the two of them or risk Lana getting jealous over the camera time.

Blake gave an equally discreet nod and stepped toward Ellie. “Ellie, can you give me a quick sixty-second remark for the camera?”

Darla took a spot in front of the panel that Lana and Jason were already standing in front of, thinking that only a day ago, she would never have thought Blake would be so considerate of her wishes.

“Ellie!” the photographer, a young, spiky-haired, punk-rocker-looking dude, shouted. “I need you in front of my camera, not his.” Clearly, the photographer either knew Ellie, or he was just plain cranky in general. Ellie ignored him and kept talking to Blake, which escalated the photographer’s demand. “Ellie! I only have a few minutes and I’m good, honey, but even I need everyone in front of the camera.”

Ellie grimaced and turned toward him. “Take a chill pill, Frankie, will ya? We’re filming and we’ll be here all day.”

“You might be, but I won’t,” he assured her. “I have another shoot I’m flying out to in two hours. So unless you want to be excluded from these promo shots, get your butt over here.”

“Well, why didn’t you say something?” Ellie objected, making fast tracks to join them.

Frankie threw his hands in the air and muttered, “Right. Why didn’t I say something?” He flagged Jimmy. “I need Meagan and Rick in ten minutes.” He turned back to the group and spoke to one of his assistants, who arranged Darla and the other judges like flowers in a vase. Darla, then Ellie, then Lana, with Jason positioned behind them to offset his six foot-plus height. Frankie fired off a good two dozen camera shots, and then glanced around the room, waving a hand in Jimmy’s direction. “We need Meagan and Rick here now.”

“Meagan,” Jimmy said, rushing forward as he punched his headset and spoke into it. “You’re late. We need you here now or we can’t get the—”

“I’m here!” Meagan yelled, rushing into the room, clearly flustered. Darla noted Meagan’s white jeans and white Stepping Up shirt. Meagan’s casual attire was a reality check for Darla. She was making herself insane, obsessing over the craziest things, like clothing, when the rest of the judges weren’t even dressed up. Evidently, the pressure was getting to her more than she’d realized.

“We have one of two,” the photographer complained. “Where’s Rick?”

Rick. Darla heard the name and was glad for it. She was really ready to get on with the auditions and the kids with their dreams. She loved casting. She loved that this show let her toe that water again.

“Rick isn’t coming,” Meagan announced. “He had an emergency and he won’t be here today at all.” She turned and called out, “Blake! We need you for photos. Hop on over here.”

Blake? Darla thought. Why would Blake be in the photos?

“Why is Blake in the photos?” Lana asked, thinking the same thing.

“I’m supposed to have Rick in the shots,” the photographer corrected quickly. “I don’t see anything about Blake.”

“Blake is filling in for Rick,” Meagan explained. “I need promo shots for the first show. I want Blake in these shots.” She glanced at the group. “And before you ask, I have ideas to spin this Blake and Rick switch-up for ratings. That’s all I’m at liberty to say now.”

Blake stepped to the side of the set, to Darla’s direct right. “You sure about this, Meagan?” he asked, looking as puzzled as the rest of the group.

“Absolutely,” Meagan said, using the same word Darla had earlier with Blake. “Details will be discussed when I don’t have a thousand people waiting on us outside a hotel.” Blake glanced at Darla and then back to Meagan. “The women on this show sure like that word.” He shrugged. “I’m easy. I can go with the flow. Where do you want me?”

Frankie motioned to Blake, “Next to Jason.”

Blake headed toward the group. Darla quickly turned away, afraid her desire for this man was written all over her face. He stepped behind her and her nostrils flared with the scent of him, warm and spicy, so richly male, so familiar. His hand slid discreetly to her waist and she barely contained a gasp of surprise at what most would consider a casual touch, a posing stance. No different from the way Jason had his arm draped over Ellie’s shoulders. Darla knew, though, that Blake’s touch wasn’t any more casual than the desire sizzling through her.

Meagan rushed forward and squeezed in between Darla and Ellie. She leaned into Darla and touched her head to hers. The camera flashed. “How you doing, sweetie?” Meagan whispered.