Page 52 of It Had to be You

His mother’s face lifted again. "She dances!" His mother had always been in love with dance and he knew it would give her another reason to like Tatum.

He hadn’t expected his father’s expression to take a similar downward turn.At least, his father hadn’t said anything negative.

For the first time since he’d made the arrangements for this evening, he started to wonder if he’d made a mistake.

His watch chimed with a timer and Alexander stood. "We should go to the ballroom and get to our table.”

Tatum stood before the tall mirror in the backstage area of the ballroom. Adjusting the fit of her bodice, she smoothed her hands over the neckline, making sure that it was settled in place. It was made by an expert seamstress, so she wasn’t worried about a ‘wardrobe malfunction.’ No, that wasn’t ever a worry for her, but she needed something to do with her hands.

"Hey, what’s going on?"

Lifting her gaze tolook intothe mirror above her shoulder, she saw her partner Carl Landon walking up behind her.

"Nothing," she told him with a sudden smile. "Everything is fine."

Carl laughed. "You and I have known each other too long to even begin to think that

I’d accept that as an answer."

It was true. She had known Carl since they were twenty-two and twenty-five respectively. They’d quite literally grown up together within the competition circuit.

"I’m just realizing that this is it." She turned around and gestured at the room and then between the two of them."We’ve been dancing together so long," she laughed and felt some of the strain lift from her shoulders, "you must be so glad to be getting rid of this ball and chain."

Carl pulled her in for a hug, laying his cheek down on the top of her head. "Don’t be stupid, Tatum." After he gave her a tight squeeze, he leaned back. "You and I have been through a lot together, but we’ve never gotten to that stage. And, while youknow I would be happy to have another few years with you, I understand why you’re retiring now."

She nodded, smiling at him. "You’ll always be my best partner and my brother in all the best ways, but if you ever call me ‘old,’ I will gut you with my heels!"

He pulled her in for another hug. "That’s my girl."

When their laughter slowed, she pursed her lips and asked him, "Have you found a new partner?"

He gave her a look that saw right through her flippant tone. "Are you jealous?"

"No!" Tatum scoffed at the thought."That’s impossible! You can’t ever find someone like me." She deflated at the ridiculous denial spoken in her own voice. "Not jealous so much as selfish. I don’t want you to forget me or to think she’ll be better than me. We’ve been together so long. I want you to have all the success you’re looking for."

Carl sighed and pulled her in for another hug. "No one will ever replace you on the floor, but if I’ve been reading your secretive smiles correctly, you’re in love."

Tatum took a step back and looked at him with a big grin. "Yes. Yes, I am. And," she gave him a wink, "what makes this even betteris that he’s here tonight."

Carl’s knowing look made her smile even more. "Do I need to have a talk with him about how to treat you right? Or do I have to tell him that if he breaks your heart, I’ll break his knees?"

Shaking her head, Tatum laughed at the idea. "I don’t think I have to worry about that from Alexander, but," she lowered her chin and gave Carl a pointed look, "you know the same applies for you. If your new partner steps on your toes… figuratively or literally, I’ve got your back."

He gave her an answering wink. "Just like I’ve got your front, Tate.You’ll always be my champion."

"You too, Carl. I owe it all to you and the way we’ve worked together through the

years."

He brushed a kiss on her cheek and she returned the gesture."Now, while we’re waiting for our turn, you’re going to need to tell me all about this man."

When Tatum stepped out from behind the curtain with her partner, Alexander hadn’t been prepared for the hard kick of jealousy that nailed him square in his chest.Carl Landon. He knew the man’s name. He’d looked up their videos online and watched them when he missed Tatum and their schedules didn’t match up for a call. He’d seen the man partner Tatum through both classical ballroom and Latin dancesand he could tell that the two of them genuinely cared

for each other.

But a video was a weak substitute for the truth. Seeing the flesh and blood man was another thing entirely and he had to focus on Tatum as the partnerswalked out of the curtained ‘backstage’ area into the ballroom.His mind was still replaying the images in his head. That first moment when the stage lighting had caught her in its glow, the shimmer of her costume, the long

length of her leg, and the secretive smile on her face that he swore was meant for him.

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