Page 206 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

His brown eyes turned intense as his voice softened. “I’ve really liked getting to know you these last few weeks.”

“Me too.” Step away, Anna. Don’t let him?—

They gazed into one another’s eyes for a long moment before Anna realized their faces were only inches apart. He stroked her cheek with his thumb and leaned forward to kiss her.

Chapter 95

After the performance was over and the dancers had taken their final bows, Anna hurried to her dressing room to get ready for the party. Nate wanted to walk out together and Anna had agreed, but she’d also told him she needed to visit with some friends that had come from Germany to watch her dance. He was understanding of her obligations.

Nate knocked on her door and walked in after she called.

She smoothed the purple satin dress over her hips as he walked in. He grinned at her. “You look beautiful.” He looked very handsome in his navy-blue suit and tie.

He took her hand and they made their way through the building toward the lobby. Before they opened the door, Nate pulled her to him and kissed her again. “Wha?—‍”

Nate gave a bashful shrug. “You said you were going out of town for a week. I wanted to make sure I kissed you goodbye.”

She brought her fingers to her lips and stared at him. Oh, she shouldn’t have let him kiss her! But she liked it. Especially after Alex...

He squeezed her hand, then released it as he opened the door to the bustling lobby. “I’ll see you later, Nate.” She gave him one last smile, then went in search of Wilhelm and Kurt. She finally spotted them near the statue of her parents.

“Anna, you danced so beautifully.” Kurt kissed her cheek. “My heart broke when you died.”

“Thank you, Kurt.” Anna smiled. The first act of the ballet ended with Giselle literally dying of a broken heart.

The two of them circulated for nearly an hour. She received many congratulations from the company dancers she knew, including Jenna, Aaron, and Travis.

“Anna.” Isaak walked up to where she and Kurt were talking with Aaron and Jenna.

“Hi, Isaak.”

“Come with me. I have someone I want to introduce you to.”

Anna and Kurt followed Isaak across the lobby to where Nate was speaking with an older man with gray hair and the bearing of a dancer. When Anna approached, he smiled broadly at her.

“Anna, I’d like to introduce you to Vincent Marsellis. Vincent, this is Anna Perkins.” Isaak looked at Anna. “Vincent is the Ballet Master in Chief for the New York City Ballet Company. He and I danced together in New York when we were much, much younger.” The two men chuckled.

Anna stared at Vincent. What was the ballet master from New York doing at a student performance in San Francisco?

Vincent shook her hand. “I enjoyed your performances this evening. Isaak had told me he had some incredible dancers and I quite agree with him.”

Anna looked at Isaak, then back at Vincent. Why?

“I would like to extend an invitation to both you and Nate to dance for me in New York. I would love to have you in my company.”

Anna’s jaw dropped. The ballet master wanted her and Nate to come to New York? To dance in New York?

Nate grabbed her and hugged her tightly as she stared at Vincent, processing his words. “Oh, Anna. How awesome would that be? We could dance in New York together.”

Anna grinned as the idea sank in. How wonderful! Her heart soared at the idea of leaving San Francisco.

Nate released her. “I have to go tell my parents.” He kissed her cheek, then hurried away.

Kurt hugged her. “That is wonderful news, Engel. It would be good for you to get away.”

Isaak nodded, looking satisfied.

She spotted Devin near the bar. She would be able to tell him that the classes had paid off! And now she would dance in New York. She excused herself from Kurt and fairly skipped over to Devin.

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