“Who said that?”

“Come on, Aaron. You know I look nothing like the other dancers.”

“You never have, Kat. They’re just jealous because you actually have curves like a normal woman.” He grinned. “You look the same as you did when we danced together and... did other things.”

Anna blushed and looked back down at her plate.

After lunch, Vincent took her and Justin and several of the other principals into a smaller studio to pair them up and see who they danced best with. Vincent paired her with several men to see how the chemistry worked. Some she felt more comfortable with than others. When she danced with Aaron, though, it felt like coming home.

“You two have danced together before, correct?” Vincent asked.

Aaron nodded. “Not as much as I’d have liked, but yes.”

“You work well together. Probably because you trained at the same school.” Vincent looked them up and down, nodded, then walked away to work with Justin and his partner.

Anna didn’t know if it was good or bad, but Aaron assured her it was okay.

“Where are you going on Sunday?” she asked softly.

“The Netherlands. The whole company’s going. We go on tour every few months.”

She shook her head. “I can’t go. I can’t leave Manhattan.”

“I remembered that after you looked at me when Vincent mentioned it.” Aaron chewed his lip and glanced at the ballet master. “Don’t worry. I’ll let him know after we’re done.”

Vincent wasn’t happy about Anna not being able to travel, but he understood. “We’ll be gone all week. I can talk to the school if you want to dance there.”

Anna shook her head. “I can practice on my own. I don’t want to be a bother.”

Vincent glanced at Aaron. “How long will the restriction be in place?”

Aaron shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Vincent pressed his lips together and nodded curtly. “Alright.” He turned and walked away.

Anna looked at Aaron. “He’s upset.”

“You’ve only been here a day and you’re gonna miss a tour. It’s okay. He knows why and would rather you be here and not tour, than not be here at all.”

Vincent continued pairing Anna and Justin with other dancers for a couple of hours, as the other dancers could come in between their rehearsals for the tour. When they finished, Justin went to join a rehearsal for a ballet he’d danced in before he’d moved to California, so he could perform on the tour, and Anna gathered her things to go home. There wasn’t anything for her to rehearse yet.

As she was leaving, Vincent walked back into the room with a tall dancer she hadn’t met yet. The dancer’s black hair was cut very short and his mahogany skin looked so smooth Anna wanted to run her hand over his clean-shaven cheeks. A dimple appeared when he smiled at her, and his eyes were a light brown that reminded her of topaz. He was older than her, but she couldn’t tell by how much. Mid-thirties, maybe? It was always hard to tell with dancers because most lived such healthy, disciplined lives.

“Katrina, this is Hugo Sintzenich. Hugo, this is Katrina Engel.”

Anna shook hands with Hugo and said hello.

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Katrina,” Hugo said with the slightest of accents. German, she suspected. His name sounded German. “I’ve enjoyed watching you today.”

“Hugo is staying home from the tour because of a family issue, and he has agreed to work with you while we’re gone,” Vincent said.

“Thank you, Vincent, but I don’t want to be a bother.”

Vincent smiled. “You’re not a bother. I understand why things are the way they are. I’d forgotten Hugo wasn’t going until I saw him in the hallway. It works out well since he also choreographed one of the ballets we’re performing in the upcoming program.”

Anna looked back at Hugo, who smiled modestly. “I’m honored you’re willing to work with me,” she said softly.

“I’m looking forward to it.” He smiled, his white teeth standing out in contrast to his beautiful, dark skin.