Page 4 of Desire

“But…”

“I’m bored, and spending most of my days going to lunches and shopping with my mama is driving me insane. I’ve missed you while you’ve been away the last few weeks, and the other girls have all been busy too. You all have hectic lives. Maybe I should look at applying to a nearby acting school as a teacher? It would give me something to do.”

“So you can teach all your mama’s and my mama’s friends to act and perform a show once a year to raise money for a local charity? Elise, I remember you telling me you took the lead part in all the school shows from the moment you started there. Acting is in your blood. Being in the spotlight is what you need to feel happy. Okay, this offer isn’t an acting role, it’s dancing, but it is the one that’s caught your interest enough to put in your handbag and bring to me. Why should Simon be the one on our movie screens every few months, starring in some new action movie where he kills the baddies and gets the girl? He’s a bully, plain and simple. What he did to you was wrong, and he got away with it. If I’d been there, I would have told him what for. However, I didn’t know you well enough back then. I only knew you as the first-rate actress who made me cry on Lucas’s shoulder when watching your amazing films. But I do know you now, and I say give them a call immediately. Tell them you’ll do it and ask them to pair you with a hunky dancer, so you can get your groove back...and now I’m rambling.”

“It would be fun to dance with a sexy man. I had a few lessons when I first went to Hollywood, but I’m not good enough to be a professional, by any means. It’ll be a lot of hard work.”

“One on one with a sweaty man,” Natalie purrs, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.

“I’m not sure that’s a positive thing.” I wrinkle up my nose.

“You’ve not been getting sweaty with the right men then.”

At that moment, Lucas chooses to walk in through the door, rubbing a towel over his hair that’s damp with perspiration from his workout. Natalie certainly has landed on her feet with her handsome, green-eyed giant of a man.

“See what I mean?” Natalie turns her head up to receive a kiss from her husband.

“See what I mean, what?” Lucas looks confused.

“Nothing,” she replies, winking at me. “Elise has been asked to appear on a celebrity dancing show. I’m just telling her I think she should do it.”

“Sound goods. If you need help with Izzy, she’s always welcome here.”

“See, the right man,” Natalie sing-songs, and I shake my head at her.

“I’ll think about it. Now, can we change the subject please? I want to hear more about Miami. It’s somewhere I’ve never ever been.”

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.

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