Page 100 of Flirty Dancing

Lynn giggled. “I’m excited too. I finally get to propose to Sasha!”

“It’s going to be so great. I’m imagining a candlelit dinner with the sunset behind you…”

Lynn squealed. “Right? And I’m dying to meet Mateo and Caleb and everyone.”

“Hmm. You’ll behave yourself, won’t you?”

“Of course, Archer, darling. How dare you suggest otherwise?”

Acro rehearsals went better than expected. Every dancer could do a back walkover, and several were also able to pull off aerials or back handsprings. They had lots towork with, and a flashy routine started coming together. Dominik lobbied hard for a Taylor Swift song, and they went with “Shake It Off.”

Archer laughed at Dominik twerking in celebration, cheered when Gage lifted Grace up with a toe pitch so she was standing on his hands for the first time, and took a moment to admire the way Mateo’s biceps bulged while he balanced River above him in a handstand.

Archer was smiling as he and Mateo stepped into the early August sunshine on their way to grab dinner before theAround the Worldshow that night.

“Archer, Mateo!” Eileen waited for them at the stage door. She was cooling herself with a paper fan, painted with delicate cherry blossoms.

“Eileen!” Archer hugged her. “How are you? We haven’t seen you for a while.”

“Yes, indeed.” She smiled and fluttered her fan. “I met a lovely woman from Texas who was staying with her sister’s family here for a couple weeks. We spent quite a lot of time together.”

“That’s great,” Archer said, exchanging a knowing glance with Mateo. “I’m happy for you.”

“How has it been for you two? I heard something about someone passing out on stage last week?”

“Oh…” Archer looked at Mateo and chuckled. “We had a few bumps, but it’s all okay now, isn’t it?”

Mateo’s smile was like the sun. “It is,” he agreed.

Archer savored the bass in Mateo’s voice and the sparkle in his eye.

“Would you two like to come for tea again?” Eileen asked. “I’d love to hear more about how things have been, beyond the fainting.”

“That sounds great,” Archer said.

“An evening tea, perhaps,” she said, blotting her forehead with her sleeve. “Avoid the worst of this blasted afternoon heat.”

“Actually…” Mateo paused. “Would it be too much to ask ifallof the dancers came for tea? Archer and I will help,” he added hurriedly, “with the baking and setup and cleanup and everything. But I think it would be really nice if everyone could come.”

The urge to touch Mateo’s arm was overwhelming, so he did. “That’s an amazing idea.” The spark he felt each time their skin touched was only growing stronger.

Eileen tilted her head up and smiled at them. “Hellof an idea. Let’s do it. Sunday?”

“Sunday.”

Archer and Mateo tracked down some extra folding tables from the dining hall and set them up in front of Eileen’s cabin Sunday morning. They also borrowed a carafe for hot water and some extra mugs. They spent the afternoon in her kitchen making food—cucumber sandwiches, blueberry scones, and petits fours. Eileen even made some gluten-free vegan fudge to make sure everyone had a treat, but Mateo was all over the rest of the baking.

“The trick to fluffy scones,” he explained to Archer, “is using frozen butter.”

“Oh, is it?” Archer replied seriously, trying not to smile at the smudge of flour Mateo had on his forehead and his overall aproned adorableness. “And you have frozen butter, do you?”

Mateo turned and rummaged into Eileen’s freezer, then triumphantly pulled out a foil-wrapped brick. “You do when you plan ahead.”

Archer wanted to giggle. “Wow.”

Mateo’s eyes narrowed. “Are you laughing at me, Archer Read?”

“Me?” Archer pressed a hand to his chest and batted his eyes. “I would never, Mr. Dixon.”

---