Winning Moves (Stepping Up 3)

She hesitated only an instant. “This doesn’t mean I’m in.” And then she was up, heading to the stage.

He laughed. She was so “in” and they both knew it.

“Just what exactly is your relationship with Kat?” Lana asked, ever the nosy one.

Jason had no intention of hiding his relationship with Kat, but he wanted everyone to see she was so special before he explained. He already knew. “My relationship with Kat isn’t what matters,” he said, motioning toward the stage. “Her skill is. Watch her and you’ll agree.”

Jason turned his attention to Kat, watching her put on a headset.

“Okay,” she said the instant she had sound, to the group of twenty dancers, ten male and ten female. “One more time and make it good. Number seven, front row.” The young girl gaped, looking stunned and frightened rather than excited by the notice. Jason didn’t see what Kat saw in the girl, but he trusted her judgment.

The music started and Kat watched a minute, focused on number seven, and he smiled as she started to sway, slowly easing into the routine. Suddenly, she turned and stepped into the row of females, just slightly behind number seven. And his little KandyKat danced like she’d practiced the routine a million times. She was nothing shy of spectacular.

Darla and Lana both leaned forward to look at Jason. “What have I missed?” Darla asked.

“Yeah,” Lana agreed. “Has Kat been working with Ellie the past few days and we weren’t told?”

“Nope,” Jason said, his words laced with the pride he’d always felt for Kat’s skill. “Kat has this unreal, almost freaky ability to watch a routine and then perform it perfectly.” Yet, she couldn’t remember their hotel name, he added silently with a private smile. Of course, neither had he.

“Wow,” Darla said. “She is just…wow.”

“I’m officially impressed,” Lana said. “And I don’t impress easily.”

Ellie stood on the sidelines and gave a thumbs-up sign to Jason.

Jason settled back in his seat to enjoy the show. “You ladies haven’t seen half of what she’s about yet.”

“Stop!” Kat yelled into her headset and walked to number seven, flipping her mic away from her mouth and settling her hands on the girl’s shoulders. The girl listened in earnest and then Kat flipped her mic back and said, “Everyone stand aside except for me and number seven.” She glanced at the girl and smiled. “I mean Shannon.” The dancers split half to one side of the stage and half to the other. Kat signaled and the music started again. She gave Shannon a nod.

Shannon started dancing and Kat watched all of twenty seconds. “Face me,” she ordered, taking Shannon by the shoulders again, but she didn’t turn off the mic this time. “If you stop now you’re going home. Is that what you want?” The girl shook her head. “You’re letting fear beat you. I know skill when I see it but I can’t do this for you. You have to deliver.” Kat stepped back and started dancing. The girl joined her and Kat shouted, “Attitude. Give me attitude.”

Jason smiled as suddenly Kat and that young girl owned the stage, and with every step Shannon transformed. Kat was gorgeous, a goddess on that stage. No one who ever met her and worked with her understood why she wanted to be behind the camera, not in front of it. But he did. Kat loved to dance, but ultimately saving number seven defined who she was as a person. She loved mentoring. She loved helping people achieve their dreams.

Darla leaned close to Jason. “Ah, Jason?” She pointed to the male dancer making a lewd gesture to another male dancer that seemed to have something to do with Kat’s stellar backside. And it was stellar. “You want to go kick that kid’s ass or do you want me to?”

“Neither,” Jason said, knowing his Kat all too well. “Kat can handle herself.” And she’d be ticked if he didn’t let her anyway. He’d barely made the confident declaration when Kat did exactly what he’d expected. She handled it. Taking the kid off guard, and proving she was ever-aware of her dancers, she stopped dancing and turned suddenly, walking up to the male dancer. She got up close, toe to toe with him.

Jason laughed, “And here comes the fun. Kat runs a tight ship. She’s fair but tough.”

“You see something you like?” Kat demanded of the kid with her microphone loud and clear for all to hear.

“Ah, yeah,” the kid said. And he was a kid. Maybe eighteen or nineteen with dark curly hair and dark skin tones.

“Try again,” Kat said.

“Ah, no?” he asked.

“That sounded like a question. I’m looking for an answer. The right answer.”

“No, ma’am!” he shouted so even the judges heard loud and clear. “No, I do not.”

Lana and Darla burst out laughing. “Oh, she so has to take this job,” Darla insisted. “You have to sign her, Jason.”