Page 42 of Master of My Heart

She gasped and then pressed her lips together as she looked away, wondering what he would think of her excitement. “You sure you don’t mind dancing with me? I haven’t partnered in years.”

Jayson’s smile broadened and her heart fluttered. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Sabrina?” A woman in scrubs stood by a door in the corner of the room.

Jayson helped her to her feet and Sabrina followed the woman into the back, thinking about her role. Never in a million years would she have dreamed of dancing with someone like Jayson Reynolds. Someone who’d been featured in a dance magazine!

As Sabrina sat on the exam table, the nurse lifted an eyebrow at the bruises from the train, and Sabrina scrambled to come up with a believable lie. She ended up telling her she’d been attacked back home, but the man had been arrested. When she saw that the nurse was still not convinced, Sabrina hurried to say it was the reason she left Arizona.

After several x-rays and an examination, the doctor determined it was just a bad bruise on her ribs. It would heal enough in a couple days to be able to dance, but she wasn’t supposed to push it. He gave her a prescription for some pain medicine and told her to return on Monday if she didn’t feel any better. After working out a payment plan with the front desk for the bill, they went to the pharmacy, then back to Jayson’s apartment.

Liz was there when they arrived. She grinned at Sabrina. “Congratulations.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Liz looked at her brother and frowned. “You’d better treat her right.”

Jayson rolled his eyes. “I’ve never treated a partner badly. What’d you get?”

“Mirliton.” Liz grinned, eyes sparkling.

“Congrats, sis. That’s great! I know you’ve been wanting that for years. Did you call Mom and Dad?”

“Yeah. Told them you were the prince. Again. Can’t say they were surprised.” She laughed. “You feeling better, Sabrina? You got a little pale toward the end.”

She nodded. “My ribs are bruised, but they’ll be better in a couple days. I took some pain medication, so I don’t feel anything now.” It was odd, knowing she should be in pain, but wasn’t. Ramon never gave her any medicine. He wanted her to feel everything.

Jayson studied her. “You still need to rest. Why don’t you go take a shower, then we can grab some lunch?”

Sabrina nodded and headed to the bathroom. When she was clean and dressed, she went back out to the living room.

Jayson looked up from the TV and smiled. “Martin called. If you’re feeling up to it, he said you could go sign your contract this afternoon and he’d give you an advance on your salary. He knows you don’t have any money.”

“He did?” She had forgotten there were kind people in the world. Her heart felt as if it would burst with happiness. It felt like a dream, being around kind people again. It had been so long. “Wait? Salary?”

Jayson arched a brow and laughed. “Yeah, we get paid to dance. How else would we be able to survive?”

Sabrina felt her cheeks warm. She hadn’t thought about the fact that joining the company was a job. On some level, she knew, but it was more of a dream-come-true than anything. That she would get paid to do what she loved more than anything in the world took her breath away.

Jayson treated Sabrina to lunch at the deli they’d gotten their lunch at the day before, then they walked to the studio.

“Feeling better, Sabrina?” Martin asked as she and Jayson took seats across from his desk. “You have color back in your cheeks.”

She nodded. “Yes, thank you.” The pain medication she’d taken had removed most of the pain. It was strange to know she was still hurt but not feeling it.

“Good. I’m glad it was just a bruise. Rehearsals start Monday, and I don’t want anyone doubting my decision.”

“I’ll do my best, sir.”

“I’m sure you will.” Martin sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of his face. “I called Larry after your audition yesterday. Just to find out what the hell he was doing with you in that tiny town.”

“He had to—” Sabrina began, but Martin waved his hand.

“I know, Sabrina. He told me what he knew about you from the last few years. He was deeply grieved that he didn’t realize the situation you were in and said he was happy you’d found a place out here.” He smiled. “I promised him I’d take good care of you.”

She nodded, not knowing what to say.

“Is Chase around?” Martin asked Jayson, glancing at Sabrina. She was certain her face had gone pale. Martin had to be talking about the same person she’d met so long ago. And if he was asking about it... Jayson’s best friend had to be the same person, too. She swallowed and looked down at her hands, which were clasped tightly in her lap.

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