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Authors: Melissa Pearl

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BOOK: Bulletproof
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CHAPTER FOUR

SEAN

 

I listened to Isabella’s instructions while watching the blonde over her head. Travis was talking her ear off as she handed him a fresh mug of coffee and a wrapped sandwich. She was taking it well, not cowering away from his strong demeanor. If anything, the louder he got, the higher she stood. She was actually taller than him when she pulled her shoulders back and extended her neck. It was damn appealing.

“Yo, Jax, you listening?”

“Yeah.” My eyebrows rose in feigned innocence, but Isabella saw straight through it. She glanced over her shoulder, her left dimple appearing as she gazed back at me.

“Her name’s Morgan. She’s the new runner, and the quicker you get this right, the sooner you can meet her.”

Morgan. Morgan. I tipped my head, the name conjuring up an image I’d laid to bed eight weeks ago. My karaoke girl.

I grinned.

“Would you put those pearls away, you’re about to film a serious scene here.”

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat and drew my attention back to the petite dancer as Conway stepped toward us.

“Okay guys, we’re doing close-up shots now, so Sean, when you walk in behind Ashlee as she’s dancing and collect her up, make sure you’re really feeling it.”

“As the beat builds before the second chorus, it should be flowing through your whole body,” Isabella interjected. “Make sure your frame is really strong when you hold that statue position.”

“Then she’ll sing her
why are you
line and you’ll drop her forward, spinning her around so you guys are facing. We’ll pull the camera in around you for those shots, so make sure you’re aware of where it is. We don’t want any collisions.”

I nodded at Conway.

“Ashlee, don’t forget to really rotate your hips on those shimmies and spins.” Isabella moved her hips to demonstrate. “Then come back together, pull apart, then the heavy breathing, long stare.”

Isabella crouched low in the position we’d rehearsed and I copied her movements.

Conway’s eyes moved down the choreographer’s body. I hid my smirk when he looked back at me. “Now, remember, that resistance needs to be there the whole time. It’s a battle. When you collect her up, it’s because you can’t help yourself. When you drop her down, you’re trying to let her go, but then you pull her back in, because you have to have her.”

“Yeah, got it.” My eyes flicked back to Morgan. She blew a stray wave of hair off her face as she jotted down Travis’s instructions.

Isabella grabbed my chin and forced my eyes back to her. Her grin was all-knowing.

“Shut up.”

Her laughter was like sprinkles on a cupcake. It was one of the first things I’d noticed about her when we met. She was on the set of
Domino Effect
, choreographing a pole-dancing scene. She worked pretty closely with Abigail. That’s how I’d gotten to know the petite redhead so well. We hit it off and our friendship had stayed solid despite the mess. It was actually Isabella who’d pitched my name for
Superstar
. I still hadn’t thanked her properly for that one. I’d have to take her and her husband, Dean, out for dinner one night. She’d been married about a year now and happier than ever.

“Okay, we good to go?” Conway beckoned us over, and I walked out of the shadows. My eyes were trained on Morgan as I did so and the pleasure that bloomed over her face when she saw me was almost comical. She swallowed, stepping behind Travis’s chair.

I grinned at her. Once again, she looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was behind her before she turned back to me. Her smile was pure magic as she met my gaze head on.

Conway commanded my attention, breaking our little moment. I nodded at him and then Ashlee as he verbally walked us through the last few details.

I took my place off set and waited for my cue. I had to really concentrate. My eyes kept wanting to shift, to move to the other side of the room and catch another glimpse of magic. With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and forced Harley into my mind. Sean, the actor, took a backseat to the new dance teacher with a passion for music and a burning desire to inspire his students. The only thing hindering his first year in the workforce was the irresistible charms of a southern belle with the heart of an angel and the body of an enchantress. Snapping my eyes open, I gazed at the set, but this time it looked different. There were no cameras, no people, no lights. Ashlee was now Sasha and the only thing I could see was her beautiful body floating over an empty dance floor.

As the beat grew to a crescendo, the male voices in the background building, I scooped Ashlee into my arms and lifted her high. Her tight frame held her position as she sung her line, and then our bodies turned from stone to water as we flowed around each other, the battle of will against logic building with force. The final hiss sounded as we stared at each other, an invisible force locking us together. Slowly, as if coming to, I broke it, rising from my position.

“Sasha, we can’t. I’m sorry.” I was still out of breath, my puffing adding to the broken words.

Her dark gaze grew stormy as she fought the tears before covering her mouth and running from the room. I placed my hands on my hips and dropped my head, the lights fading to black.

“And cut! Okay good, let’s run that again.”

The lights came back up, and we shuffled into our start positions. I looked for Morgan as I moved to my spot, but she was gone.

 

*****

 

I rubbed my aching shoulder as I walked back toward my dressing room. Ashlee was light and all, but lifting her over my head for that many takes was exhausting. I couldn’t wait for a hot bath. Scrubbing my hand over my face, I realized that was still hours away. Travis decided he wasn’t happy with the lighting for the close-ups, so he wanted to run them again...and I had my meeting with Rhonda.

“Nice work, Mr. Jaxon.” My hand dropped to my side, and I spun back to face Morgan.

Her pale brown eyes were still enchanting, and I moved toward them as if pulled by a magnet.

“Karaoke girl.” I grinned. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” She nodded.

“I see you have a job now.”

“Yep.” Her cringe made me laugh.

“Well, you may not like it, but I’m kinda glad.”

Her cheeks warmed with a slight blush.

“I know Travis can be...forceful, but he’s really talented, and there are great people on this set.”

“Yeah, I’ve met most of them. The crew is so nice and...” She tipped her head. “The cast isn’t bad either.”

There was that cheeky smirk of hers again. Damn. She’d undo me in a second.

“So, um, I feel like I owe you a beer and a congratulations.”

“For what?” I pushed up my shirtsleeve.

“For being brave...for stepping up.” She winked.

“Thank you.” I wanted to tell her I wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t told me to, but I felt like it would kill our light flirting session, and I didn’t want to do that. There’d be plenty of time for thank-yous later.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around then.” Her face lit with a smile, which I tried to match but never could.

I watched her walk away, not even worried if she turned to see me doing it. She didn’t turn back, so I let my eyes wander down her sleek body and wondered what the curve of her hip would feel like under my hand.

“You ready?” Rhonda’s sharp voice jumped me out of my reverie.

I spun to face her. “Yep.”

“Who’s that?” She lifted her chin after Morgan and I shrugged.

“Just the new runner. No one special.”

I didn’t know why I said that. She
was
special. I could feel it in my core, and maybe that was why I wanted to protect it...protect her. I glanced over my shoulder one last time, catching a final glimpse of her long legs as they walked away from me.

A thrill ran through me at the idea of seeing her again and the fact I’d be able to before the day was out. I clicked my tongue and couldn’t resist a goofy smile as I headed after Rhonda. I loved my job before, but hot damn, if I didn’t love it even more now.

 

CHAPTER FIVE

MORGAN

 

I dragged my ass out of bed at five-thirty and made it to the studios by six-fifteen. Thank the stars I’d canceled my date with the grocery store guy. By the time I got home at eleven, I was so shattered, I could barely make it up to my room. Ella had been texting me all day, wondering how I was getting on. I’d managed to reply to her twice. I’d sent her a final message at eleven-thirty and fallen asleep with the phone still in my hand. I woke up in my rumpled clothing, scrambled my way through a shower, and left the house before Dad was even up. I fought off the
living dead
feeling the whole way to work, buying a double espresso on the way. 

Once I pulled into the lot, I started to perk up. Maybe it was the idea of doing a little early morning dancing that energized my limbs. Whatever it was, I ran up the stairs to find Isabella in the rehearsal studio, her long, auburn hair splashed over the floor. She was folded in half perfectly, stretching out her muscles. My bag slid from my shoulder, and I quietly walked toward her.

“Morning,” she chirped. “How you feeling?”

I groaned. “I think I clocked up sixteen hours yesterday. Is it going to be like that all the time?”

“Be prepared. Some days are worse.” She drew up from her stretch and grinned when she noticed my expression. “Let me guess: your feet are killing you, you feel sleep-deprived, frazzled, and in desperate need of strong coffee.”

“The coffee’s been taken care of.”

“Perfect, let’s work on the frazzled part then.” She skipped over to her stereo and a thick beat pulsed through the room.

“Don’t Stop The Music” by Rihanna.

A smile bloomed over my face as I ran to Isabella’s side and copied her stance. I felt the beat move through me as I bent my knees and started tapping out the rhythm with my heel. Her hips swiveled and I followed, my arms and legs taking over as I let the music fill me.

Bella was a sharp mover, and I felt rusty as I tried to keep up with her, but the more my limbs moved, the looser they got. I was soon following each of her steps with relative ease.

Man, it felt good. The frazzle slipped off me as I lost myself in the song, the rhythm releasing all the tension in my muscles.

The dam inside me wanted to break, the place where I stored it all up, kept myself safe. This happened to me every time I danced, and every time I wanted to let go, but I couldn’t. Things changed eight years ago, and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to dance like I used to.

 

“Beautiful arabesque, Morgan.” My dance teacher applauded. “Nice extension.”

I grinned as I lowered my leg and spun into a double pirouette, feeling an explosion of energy run through me. My arms spread wide on my finishing position, breaths punching past my smile.

I felt like I had wings and could soar right off the stage.

Ms. Finnermore’s voice brought me back to reality.

“Morgan, you are a delight. I can’t believe you choreographed that whole piece on your own. You will do just fine at your exam on Saturday.”

“Thank you.” I tucked a curl behind my ear, biting my lip.

“Don’t be nervous. There’s something about the way you dance that moves people. It’s like you let every emotion you feel flow out of you in a burst of energy. You’re only thirteen. Imagine what you’ll do as an adult.”

I smiled, basking in her praise.

“I know it’s still early days, but you should start thinking about where you want to study dance after high school...or if you’re open to it, we could look into some performing arts high schools.”

My stomach danced a crazy jig, excitement making me lightheaded.

“I’ll talk to my parents.”

Ms. Finnermore patted me on the shoulder. “Tell them they can call me to chat at any time.”

I skipped home that day...actually, I think I flew.

 

But the week before my fourteenth birthday, my wings were clipped, those school applications were forgotten, and I’d built that dam as fast I could.

I blinked against the memory, focusing back on Isabella’s beaming smile as she finished the song with a series of chaînés.

I stood back and watched her, clapping loudly as Rihanna’s voice faded away.

“Nice.”

“You like it?”

“Definitely. Great moves,” I puffed.

“I’m gonna finish with a canon.”

“Oh, so this is a piece for the show?”

“Uh-huh.” She nodded, running over to the stereo to pause the music blasting over our conversation. “It’s our big, final number for this week’s episode.”

“Cool.” I grinned. “I really like your style; it’s an edgy blend of hip hop, contemporary...classical. I feel like it’s got a taste of everything. Did you start with ballet?”

“When I was three years old.” She chuckled. “My grandmother used to own a dance studio. I’d spend so much time there. She bought me my first pair of slippers for my third birthday, and I was the happiest kid on the planet.” Her sparkling smile faded. “She passed away a few years ago and man, I just wanted to give up. She’d been my inspiration for everything I tried. She was the one who encouraged me to study a whole bunch of different styles. I just couldn’t imagine dancing without her there to watch, but my husband, Dean, told me if I quit, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.” She shrugged. “He was right.”

My throat burned as I listened to her, hating how much the words resonated with me. Where was my Dean? Why hadn’t anyone told me not to quit?

It was too late now. I couldn’t.

I’d never dance like I did before. It hurt too much.

Isabella twirled back to the stereo and pressed play again, running to the center of the room and resetting her stance as “Mmm Yeah” by Adam Mahone and Pitbull began playing. I clicked my fingers in time with her and watched in the mirror as she slunk across the room. Once again, I followed each of her moves, slipping up every now and then, but catching on easily.

I couldn’t believe how quickly it all came back to me. My hips swayed, my feet moved, and I grinned as I dipped to the floor and back up again, sliding into a set of robotic moves that were tight and sharp.

The song came to a finish and I clapped.

“I love that one.”

Isabella nodded. “Thank you. It’s actually a piece for the show. The guys are doing a response dance to the girls.”

“And ‘Please Don’t Stop the Music’ is the girls’ dance?”

“No, actually, for the first time ever I’ve been given a bit of free rein.” She looked to the ceiling. “My instructions are a number that’s sensual, tight, and explosive.”

“Wow, okay. What songs do you have to choose from?”

“I have to give them a list by tomorrow so they can check out rights to see if we can use the song. To be honest, I’ve been so busy with the big final number for the current episode, I haven’t even had a chance to think about it. It’s on my list.”

My brain began spinning the way it used to when I studied dance. There was always a move or two playing in my mind back then.

“What’s your setting for the song?”

“The cafeteria. Basically the girls come in with this sexy little number. Violet is trying to prove to Nixon that she’s the better dancer, and Sasha’s still upset by Harley’s rejection from the episode before, so she wants to do something wild and shocking.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Does it work?”

“Well, the students are fully into it, and Nixon and his crew respond with ‘Mmm Yeah,’ because Nixon’s actually hot for Violet, and he kind of wants to let it show. Harley only catches the end of the number and he’s not impressed. He likes his sweet little country girl, you know.”

“Something sexy and shocking enough that the teachers won’t approve.”

Isabella nodded. “I was initially thinking of ‘Break Free’ by Ariana Grande and Zedd, because it’s kind of like a
well if you don’t want me then fine
type number for Sasha, but this is actually Violet’s song, and I think it’s the wrong message. And I really want that shock value to be strong.”

I tapped my lip and then clicked my fingers, my lips quirking with a smile. “Do you think you could get away with ‘Lady Marmalade’?”

Isabella’s eyes rounded, her face starting to shine. “OMG, that would be freaking perfect!”

“I can just kind of picture them, you know, slinking into the lunch room.” I moved my shoulders and body, cruising across the floor. “And then somehow incorporating the tables or something.”

“Yes! Yes, yes, yes! I’m loving it!” Isabella ran to her iPod and quickly found the version done by Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, and Pink.

She turned and with the moves of a professional, traveled toward me just like I’d described. I laughed, nodding my head. Damn, she looked hot. The girls doing that in the cafeteria would send the crowd wild.

As the song played, Isabella came up with a run of smooth steps. I couldn’t believe how quickly she put it all together. By the end of our session, she’d basically choreographed the entire song, using me in different positions to make sure the spacing worked.

“Yes, I’m loving this.” She clapped her hands and then checked her watch. “Sweet. The girls should be here shortly for rehearsal. I need to get me a table and chairs in here so I know it can work.”

“Don’t you need to get the song approved first?” I felt bad for being the cold water on this super-hot idea.

“Hey, even if it doesn’t get approved, I want to see these girls do this dance. Don’t you?”

“Ah, yeah! But I don’t want to get you in trouble for wasting rehearsal time.”

“We’ll call it warm-up.” She winked.

“Okay, then I’ll go find you that table and chairs.”

“Perfecto!” She spun away from me, snatching up her phone as I left the room. “Yeah, Lisa, hi. I was wondering if you could please check with Travis and the writers to see if I can use ‘Lady Marmalade’ for the cafeteria number.... Yeah, for the next episode.”

I skipped down the stairs feeling light and energetic. I’d helped Isabella come up with an idea...a really good one.

This was going to be a good day. I could feel it.

BOOK: Bulletproof
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