Page 39 of You're the Reason

“Is that him? You only said he was cute. You didn’t mention that he had one of those deep husky voices. Turn the camera toward him.” Why did the speaker seem twice as loud as it had a minute ago?

She tapped the button to take it off speaker, but it was FaceTime, so it refused. She grabbed her earbud and shoved it in her ear. “I was just talking to my friend.”

Seth’s head tilted to one side. But then he seemed to think better about whatever he was going to say and took a step toward his door.

“Ask him,” Mallory nearly shouted in her ear. “This isn’t about him or you. This is about you getting your own article in Chicago Arts.”

Mallory was right. All personal feelings aside, this was about her career. She hurried to her feet. “Seth?”

Seth paused with his hand on the apartment door, his brow wrinkled when she didn’t go on. “Yes?”

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Mallory spoke into her ear again. “This is seriously painful. Just ask him.”

“I need your help,” she finally blurted.

“I thought I was helping you.”

“No. Not just with weight training. I need help dancing.”

Seth let out a loud laugh as he opened the door. “You don’t want me to help you dance. Trust me.”

“Wait.”

He stopped with his foot on the first step.

“Not dance with me. I mean you would be with me but not dancing. Helping me dance. It’s easy.”

“For the love, land the plane, Grace,” Mallory nearly screamed in her ear.

“It’s called a supported adagio. And I dance and you just keep me balanced. No actual dancing required from you.”

“When?” Seth’s stance relaxed, but he remained in the doorway.

“Whenever. I mean if now works or?—”

“I have an hour now. Is that enough time?” He folded his tie in his hand.

“That would be great.”

“Let me go change, and I’ll be down in five.” With that, he disappeared up the steps.

“Grace. Grace. Grace.” Mallory’s words were laced with compassion. “Maybe having a guy that’s a friend is good for you. Show you there’s more to life than dancing.”

“Goodbye.” Grace ended the call as Mallory’s laugh traveled though the line, then set the phone aside. There wasn’t more to life for Grace right now than dancing. There couldn’t be.

Seth appeared in the door moments later. How did he make basketball shorts and a T-shirt that had seen better days look so good? “Where do you want me?”

Want? She’d never thought about what she really wanted. She just did the next thing that would help her succeed.

“Grace?” His brows rose, waiting.

Perfect, now she looked like an idiot. Wants were dangerous, but she needed his help. There was no denying that. “I need you to support my waist.”

He stared at her a moment, then at her waist, then back at her face. He didn’t say anything, just stretched his neck to one side and then the other, then stepped up behind her. “Where do I put my hands?”

Had his voice just gotten lower?

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