Page 5 of Easy Rumba

Chapter 2

Leo

The rhythm of the Latin song beats deep within me as my hips shake and thrust toward the woman I’m spinning around my body. Angelique is my partner in all things ballroom but nowhere else. She’s been happily married to Jo, her wife, for a couple years, now.

Angelique’s bright purple hair whips around my head as I lift her in a twisting circle before setting her back down and sashaying forward with the other dancers in our routine. We’ve been rehearsing for the upcoming show for the last two weeks, and in a few days, we’ll meet our celebrity partners—I can’t wait.

This is my first year on the show after dancing professionally all over the world since I left school at eighteen. I’ve won numerous competitions and titles. I’m currently the American Latin champion. It was time for a change, though, and a new challenge. This is perfect for me. Especially with the added bonus of all the women falling at my feet because I’m a professional dancer on television.

The routine finishes, and we all cheer a job well done.

“Are you joining us for dinner tonight?” I ask Angelique as she packs her shoes into her bag.

“Not tonight. Jo’s flying in for the weekend, so we’re going to do some sightseeing and have dinner together, just the two of us.”

“How are you finding being apart from her?” With the show moving to Louisiana for this season, a lot of the dancers have had to leave behind loved ones during filming. I’m not bothered, though. I love Louisiana. It’s where I grew up. Well, here, and Spain during the summer holidays because my mamá is Spanish. I’ve got the dark looks to prove it.

“I’m used to it. It’s a part of what we sign up for. I knew when I first started I’d be traveling a lot. I would prefer it if the show was still in Hollywood, but I can understand why they moved it. At least, I get to live in New Orleans for a while, which is a dream of mine come true. I just hope I get a celebrity partner who’s able to train with me in New Orleans during the week rather than in New York or somewhere else.”

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”

This is her third year on the show. We’ve been dancing professionally together for a few years, and it was Angelique who persuaded me to replace the departing male star dancer, who’s dominated the headlines since the show began. ‘They need a younger, more handsome model,’ were her words, and I couldn’t say no to that.

“Have you thought about which female celebrity you’d like to partner? There are some interesting rumors being bandied about. A few beautiful ladies have been mentioned.”

“I don’t care what they look like just as long as they can dance. I’ve not signed up to the show only to be eliminated after a couple weeks. I want to go all the way to the final.”

“Competitive as ever, I see.” Angelique laughs softly, filling the room with the warmth of her genuine kindness.

I finish packing my bag and escort her safely to her car. Then having dumped my own belongings in my car, I head over to the nearby bar where I know some of the other dancers will be congregating.

There’s a variety of ages and backgrounds between us. Some, like Angelique, are married or in committed relationships, but many are single like me. It’s not that I don’t like women, it’s just I’ve never met the woman I want to settle down with. There was one girl at school—we grew up together. I could have seen myself happily married to her, but we drifted apart after she moved to Hollywood and I traveled to Europe for dance training. Maybe one day I’ll settle down, but at thirty-two, I’m happy the way I am for now.

“Leo,” my closest friend in the group, a Russian dancer named Alexis, calls me over. “I got you a beer.”

“Thanks.”

He hands me the beverage, and I take a long sip. We don’t drink much alcohol because it doesn’t help our bodies stay trim for dancing, but every so often, we like to have a few.

“Are you getting nervous?” Alexis asks, but his eyes aren’t on me. He’s surveying the bevy of beautiful women in the room.

There’s definitely a positive to the show being down in New Orleans. The women are a lot curvier here than the stick thin actresses in Hollywood.

“Why would I?” Shrugging my shoulders, I take another mouthful of my beer

“You’re a virgin compared to the rest of us,” Alexis teases with a knowing wink.

I let out a bellowing laugh, and a few people in the room turn to look at us.

“I think my ‘v’ card sailed a long time ago, mate. I’ve been doing competitions longer than you have.”

“But not winning them.”

In the grand total of wins, Alexis is one ahead of me. But then, I specialize in Latin American dance where he’s better known for his ballroom skills, the easier of the two disciplines if you ask me. Nobody can compare the technical aspects of a rumba to a waltz

I show him my middle finger and turn my attention to the women at the bar. Alexis and I have been staying in a hotel since we arrived here, and he intends to stay there for the duration of the show. But next week, I move to an apartment of my own, which the show has helped me rent. I wanted the home comforts of my own place. I grew up near here, and I’ve already felt my love for New Orleans rekindled since coming back, despite the fact I’ve no family living here anymore. Hollywood has never been my sort of place, too phony and too many lies.

“Hi.” An attractive blonde in a tight, teal dress and two-inch heels edges my way. “I’m Delia. You fancy a dance?”

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