Page 18 of Easy Rumba

“You were fantastic.” Leo high fives me.

I place my hands over my mouth.

“I can’t believe I just did that. Oh, my God, it's amazing. Thank you, Leo. Thank you for teaching me to dance.”

Leo shakes his head.

“I didn’t have much work to do. You’re a natural, believe me. Next week, we have a salsa, so you’re going to have to step it up a bit. I want to see those hips moving.”

He rotates his hips, and I feel myself go bright red. He’s incredibly handsome, and I can’t help admiring him in his full top hat and tails. Then something comes over me, and I step up onto my tiptoes in my two-inch heels and press a kiss to Leo’s cheek.

“I mean it, Leo. Thank you.”

He pulls me into his arms.

“I don’t know what’s taken your confidence away, Elise, but you’re a fabulous woman—smart, funny, and fucking sexy. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t.”

We reluctantly pull away from each other and head toward our dressing rooms.

There’s only one couple left to perform their dance, and then we’ll be needed back on stage to end the show. Before that, I want to just touch up my make-up and have a drink of water. I think I just need a moment to myself. My interaction with Leo tonight was intense, and I just need to be away from him for a minute before I’m tempted to do something stupid.

The hairdresser is in the room, along with the make-up artist changing the styles of a couple of the professional dancers for a performance on the results show, which will be filmed later tonight but shown tomorrow evening.

Angelique is sitting in one of the chairs.

“Elise, you were amazing. Is Leo happy?” she questions as the hairdresser back-combs a wedge of her bright purple hair.

“He’s ecstatic and probably shocked I did so well. Fingers crossed we get enough votes from the public.”

“I don’t doubt you will. I can’t wait to help you with the salsa.”

It’s not a requirement of the show for the professional dancers to help each other but Angelique and her partner are training in the same venue as Leo and me. We’ve spent a lot of time this week working on the steps together. I think it’s been a godsend in learning the routine.

“I’m not sure I’ll be as good at that dance. It’s been a long time since I shook my hips, and I’m definitely carrying a little extra weight in them since I had Izzy.”

“That gives you all the more booty to shake. Don’t worry, we’ll get you loosened up.”

One of the show’s runners pops his head around the door.

“Five minutes and you’re all needed back on stage.”

“Ok,” we all shout out in tandem to let him know we’ve heard.

The make-up artist gives me a once-over.

“You don’t need anything. A natural beauty.”

“Thank you. Just some water then.”

She hands me a bottle, and I take a long sip and place it down where I was sitting earlier. My bag is under the chair, and I pull it out to check quickly if there are any messages. My skin chills, and my stomach turns when I see one from Simon. I should have blocked his new number, but I didn’t. It was sent a few minutes ago. He must have been watching the show.

“We need to go,” Angelique calls over to me.

“Two seconds,” I shout back.

I know I should put my phone back in my bag and ignore it, but I can’t. I swipe to open the message.

‘You had your chance. You’ve blown it. I’m coming for Izzy.’

My world goes black.

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