“You feel so good,” he murmured. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Her hands curled on his chest. “I can’t believe you’re here. You weren’t supposed to be here until much later.”
“I finished filming last night and I grabbed an early flight,” he explained. “God. You have no idea how much I was looking forward to this, how much I needed to know it still felt this good.”
“Me, too,” she said quickly. “Oh, me, too.” Her hands laced around his neck. “I can’t believe you were thinking the same thing. I was afraid it wouldn’t feel the same in person as before—as if I’d imagined it.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed his forehead to hers. “It feels better than before. Every time I think I can’t get more crazy about you, I do. I cannot wait to get you alone. I’m not sure I can wait until tomorrow night when we’re in Washington.”
Her hand flattened on his chest. “We agreed to be careful. The judges are always on the same floor.”
“I know,” he said. “But—”
“No buts.” She kissed him. “We wait until tomorrow.”
He sighed and leaned against the wall. “I don’t suppose this means you’ll reconsider the webcam?”
“No,” she said tightly. “I’m not—”
“Going to have webcam sex,” he finished for her, laughing. “So you told me three times before. But a guy has to try. So phone sex it is, then.”
“We aren’t—”
“Oh, yeah, we are,” he said, holding her close. “And that’s just for starters. There are so many things I want to do with you, Darla. You have no idea.” And one thing he realized right then and there, he’d already done. He’d fallen in love.
* * *
IT WAS NEAR TEN O’CLOCK that night when Blake joined the rest of the cast and crew—a good twenty-five people—in a large room for the big unveiling. Meagan stood at the front of the group beside what looked like a sheet covering a large piece of art on a stand.
“Blake and Darla,” Meagan called. “Can you both come up here, please?”
Blake moved to the front of the room, his gaze connecting with Darla’s as they both took center stage, so to speak. He could feel the room fill with silent questions and curiosity, as he took a spot on the opposite side of the sheet-covered stand from Meagan. Darla crossed to stand beside him.
“I’m sorry to do this so late,” Meagan said to the room. “I’d planned a little party, with cake and champagne, which will now be served on the flight to Washington, if you’re awake enough to enjoy it. I have some exciting announcements about this season. Last season we had the curse that haunted the set and boosted ratings.”
“And a tornado,” someone shouted.
“Yes,” Meagan agreed. “And a tornado. It almost makes you believe we really did have a curse. Except that the ‘curse’ turned into a ratings blessing. I have to admit that I hated that curse at first, and I wanted the show to stay about the dancers. But the truth is that because of that extra enticement, it brought viewers to tune in and gave the dancers the attention they deserved. So. That brings me to this season. Reality shows have become more common now, and the competition is steep. We have to have that extra something that makes each season unique. This season we have Blake and Darla who, as we all know, are competitors in daytime television. So we are going to use that as our gimmick. ‘Will they kiss each other or kill each other?’ is the concept that will be promoted on billboards and in television spots. Also, the big news that I’m sharing for the first time with Blake and Darla right here and now is that the studio rented Times Square ad space.” She pulled the sheet off the display and the room broke into one huge gasp.
Blake and Darla both moved to get a better view of the mock billboard that read The Competition Is Turning Up The Heat On This Season of Stepping Up. And there was no question—the picture was hot. It was one of Blake’s favorite shots of Darla on top of the desk with her long, gorgeous leg extended, her skirt hiked well above her knee, and her heel pressed to his chest.
Meagan slid between them and slipped her arms around their shoulders. “What do you both think? Pretty cool, right? Times Square, here we come.”
“I think I’m blushing,” Darla murmured.
“I think I’m blushing,” Blake said, scrubbing his jaw.
“I know I am,” Meagan agreed. “You look hot, honey. Hot!” Meagan darted away and called out to the rowdy, excited room. “Okay, folks. Quickly, so we can get to the airport. We want the press and the viewer to speculate about Darla and Blake. Friends, enemies—”