Love Waltzes In (Dancing Under The Stars) (10 page)

BOOK: Love Waltzes In (Dancing Under The Stars)
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“Selena, are you still there? You realize your career is over, don’t you?”

She was such a drag. “No,
Mom
, I didn’t.” Selena didn’t need this lecture right now. She considered dropping the phone in the bath and pretending she got disconnected.

Luckily for Jen, she changed her tone. “I’m happy for you, Sel. But you better make sure there are no
paps around or it will be all over TMZ.”

Selena’s bubbles were bobbing in the tub. Enough waiting! She took the phone to the bathroom and slipped into the foamy heaven. 
Ah, bebita
. This was the life. “Don’t worry,” she said, settling in, “we’ll make sure to keep a low profile.”

“Sounds good. I’ll let you know if
Dima starts running his mouth. You need to get Dima to agree to release a statement. And you need to tell Bret as soon as possible.”

“Okay, okay.” She lifted a pile of bubbles on her palm. She briefly considered mentioning the fact that she and Bret had a
lready professed their love to each other, but decided to keep it to herself. She didn’t even know what it meant yet. “I’ll catch you later. Love ya, kisses.”

“Yeah, love you, bye.”

Selena turned on the tap to let in more hot water then sank lower into the glorious warmth. She let her mind wander to Bret. He was probably just caught up in the moment. They always used to say they loved each other when they made love, so it was just natural. She wasn’t sure if he meant it.

She blew the bubbles off her palm and watched the glistening cloud float to the water. She was so glad she did this show. Not that it was all bubbles and baths. She was starving. She would practically
kill
for a heaping plate of chorizo nachos with mounds of guacamole, sour cream, olives, and cheese, not to mention chicken mole verde and her mom’s fresh homemade pumpkin empanadas. Her nana made the best empanadas ever. The meal plan Dima had her on was horrible. Egg whites, spinach, tofu, and veggies. That was it!

“And I
chose
that?” she muttered to her bubbles. “What an idiot.” Maybe Bret was right? How ‘bout a normal life? What would that be like? Falling in love and not worrying about choosing between him and my career. And starting a family. She would love to spend her days playing with her kids at the park. Ooh, and drinking Starbucks Venti Caramel Frapaccinos
with
whipped cream, and eating plates and plates of Round Table’s King Arthur Supreme Pizza with shrimp and anchovies, and
inhaling
chocolate pecan pie a la mode and Pina Coladas without reporting to step classes five minutes later. And letting her natural hair color grow out. That would be something. She hated being blond! She was Latina—it wasn’t right. She could stand not being a tanorexic. And how about saving the lives of the minks who had died for her fake eyelashes. And a vacation, what was that like?  Selena wanted to find out. She wanted to live her life her way. She wanted a life off camera, period!

She scooped up bubbles with both hands and lifted them to her face, staring into a billion sudsy prisms. She loved the glimpse into this world that Bret had. She wanted more.

Hell, she
deserved
more.

The bathroom light twinkled in the suds.

Yeah, I could stand this life.

She closed her eyes, made her wish, and blew hard.

 

 

Jive

Dancing by himself in the middle of the floor, he jumped, bounced, and spun. Annoyed at his arrogance, she slid beside him and matched his every flick and point. He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around. She ran from him and he snapped her back like a rubber band. The music broke and he released his hold on her. She trotted off the floor, counting the minutes until they could boogie again.

 

Chapter Fifteen

 

A
fter checking in and dropping Banjo in the hotel room, Bret and Selena pulled up to Mustards Grill in Napa. His father had always taken him here when he was a boy. It was his favorite restaurant—just good, hardy, all-American food without a hint of pretension.

The drive over had been pleasant but awkward. Sure, Selena now placed her hand on his leg while he drove and they bonded over idle talk about how much they missed each other, but they still hadn’t had the difficult conversation. Bret knew Selena had deep feelings for him. That was clear. But was he just a rebound? Could she really give up her world of celebrity for the simple life of a Marine Corps wife? Was she ready to start a family?

Bret was determined to find out.

“Bret, I love this place.
So rustic. What are you having?”

“The calamari and the hangar steak.
And a beer. You?”

Selena perused the menu. “A burger sounds good. I’ll have the mushroom and spinach burger.”

Bret laughed. “You realize that’s not actually a burger right? It’s made out of vegetables.”

“Oh I know. I just haven’t eaten meat in, like, five years.”

Bret sighed. A vision of future family dinners made with tofu and tempeh flashed before him. Bret loved to barbeque chicken, ribs, hot dogs, and burgers with his buddies. But he’d be happy to throw some zucchini on the grill to make her happy.

A cute waitress stopped by the table and took their order. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Selena but if she recognized her, she didn’t let on.

They held hands across the table and made plans for the weekend. Bret wanted to take a long bike ride the next morning. Selena wanted to book a couples massage in the afternoon, which Bret agreed to as long as he had a female masseuse. He didn’t want some dude rubbing his hands all over him.

The waitress delivered the calamari and Selena’s salad, with dressing on the side.

Bret pierced a crunchy calamari ring with his fork. He watched as Selena dipped her fork first into the dressing and then scooped up a piece of lettuce.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, it’s a diet trick Vika taught me. Instead of pouring the dressing on your salad, you just dip your fork before every bite.”

Bret shook his head. “You realize how weird you are, right? You weigh barely a buck and you don’t have an ounce of fat on your body. How is a little dressing going to hurt you?”

Selena dipped her fork again in the dressing. “It’s not that simple. Everything shows in the costumes. I just want to be careful.”

“Well you aren’t dancing with
Dima anymore. I think you’re too skinny. Live a little. Pour that dressing all over your salad.”

She looked up at him and smiled. She picked up the little dres
sing dish and saturated her salad with blue cheese. Her fork scooped up the now soppy greens and she stuffed them in her mouth. “You’re right, it tastes so much better this way.”

Bret laughed. “Okay, Selena. Seriously. Last night was incred
ible. And I want to make this work. Do you see us having a future?”

Selena took a long sip of her glass of water. “Well—you are stationed at Camp Pendleton, right? That’s only two hours from Los Angeles. We can live off base in Orange County. Maybe L
aguna Nigel? Or Ladera Ranch? I have a friend who owns a dance studio down there so I can still teach. My students will come to me. And I can commute during the tapings.”

Bret was impressed that she’d at least already thought some l
ogistics out.


Ladera Ranch or Laguna Nigel? Yah, I mean the location is great because they are both close to the back gate of Pendleton and I work right there. But those places are so expensive. My housing allowance with dependents would be two thousand a month. So that could maybe work if we get married.”

Selena spit out her water. “Married—we just made love for the first time in ten years last night and you’re talking about getting married? Was that your version of some proposal?”

Bret’s lips burned, and it wasn’t from the Fresno chilies on the calamari. “No, Selena, when I propose, you’ll know it. And it sure as hell won’t be in a crowded restaurant. But let’s cut the crap. Marriage is where this is heading, right? You didn’t just ruin your career to have a one-night stand with me, did you? You want kids and a family. I didn’t just pick you up last night at a bar. We have a past. And hopefully a future. Plus, I’m a Marine. If we aren’t married, you won’t get any benefits, and you’ll have a hard time getting on base or being involved with the community of wives. I’m a Staff Sergeant. If we stay together, I’m going to need you to help the younger wives of the men in my unit when I deploy. That will be part of your duty as my wife.”

Selena’s fork pushed around the lettuce on her plate. “Sorry, Bret, I didn’t mean that. I’m just so overwhelmed. Please forgive me. Of course, I’d love to eventually get married and start a life with you. I’m just really worried about the tabloids. They’re going to have a field day with this story. They’ll paint me as a vixen in some weird twisted love triangle.” She paused and her lips parted. She shook her head as if she changed her mind as to what she was going to say. “Who knows what other lies they’ll make up?”

Bret wondered what she had wanted to say and if she was hiding something from him. But he kept his concerns to himself.

Selena continued. “It will be awful. I just know it. And I don’t want to scare you away.”

Bret’s eyes blinked. She was right–—everything she said. What had he been thinking? Being on the show was one thing. He’d agreed to do it for his friend. Being a tabloid kicking toy was another. His mind raced. This could ruin his career. His ex, Jessica, used to read those magazines all the time. Would they interview his friends, family, his ex? Would they twist his motive to going on this show as a devious attempt to get Selena back?

“Bret, babe, we can make it through this. I can talk to my pu
blicist. But we just have to plan it.”

“I love you. But I refuse to be made the laughing stock of the Marine Corps.”

“You don’t have to be. I think the best route is to keep our relationship private, until the season is over. Who knows? By then, Dima may have a new partner and we’ll be off the hook.”

“I’m not going to lie. We didn’t do anything wrong and I’m not embarrassed by you.”

She squeezed his hand. “Perfect. I’ll contact my publicist and see if Dima will agree to a joint statement, saying that we’ve ended our professional relationship. It’ll be fine. Trust me.”

Bret tossed a calamari into his mouth.
She was in the public eye, he knew this. He loved her and never liked to talk about his personal life anyway. Why should this situation be any different?

“Fine, Sel. I’m in. Just tell me what to do.”

Selena’s eyes scanned the room. Her voice lowered, “Bret, I have to tell you one more thing. About why I broke up with you.”

“It’s the past, Selena. I know we were really young. Let’s just try to move on.”

Selena bit her lip. “But I just really need to tell you . . . Bret, when you were in boot camp, something major happened to me.”

The waitress delivered their burgers. Selena gave a small smile.

Bret didn’t want to hear about how Dima seduced her. He had been so lonely in boot camp—the thought of Dima touching Selena had tortured him. “Look, I know what happened. And I really don’t want to think about it again. I’m not going to lie and downplay how much you hurt me, but I just really don’t want to discuss it.”

Selena’s shoulders dropped. He knew she just wanted to try to make herself feel better about the way she had treated him and relieve some of her guilt. But Bret had been so destroyed when she left him that he was still unable to listen to the details of her b
etrayal.

“Okay. I’m sorry. But we do need to talk about it one day.”
             

They enjoyed the rest of their dinner, and Selena even indulged with him in a hazelnut truffle tart. Bret was happier than he had been in years, but all he wanted was to finish up this season as fast as possible and return to his normal life. Except this time, he wan
ted Selena by his side.

 

Chapter Sixteen

 

X
avier bounced across the floor, hitting every beat. He seemed to dance so much better when he danced to his own music. “Work it, Xavi!” Selena yelled.

Xavier finished his routine and collapsed on the sofa. He was such a wonderful man—sexy, creative, great husband and father. Just like she knew Bret would be. Selena glanced across the bal
lroom and watched as Bret and Robyn practiced their samba.

Back in Marin, Bret and Selena had settled into a nice daily routine. She moved into the houseboat, but kept her room at the Tiburon Lodge so no one would be tipped off about her and Bret’s new relationship. Over the past two weeks, they’d hiked Mt.
Tamalpais, camped at Angel Island, and spent the weekend at Xavier and Robyn’s beach cottage in Bolinas. Life was idyllic.

But that was all about to change—in one
week, they were headed down to Los Angeles to start filming the show. Selena shuddered at thought of the paparazzi trailing her and Bret and having to interact again with Dima on a daily basis.

Today was the final rehearsal before they headed to Los Ang
eles. Xavier and Robyn had invited their three children to watch them practice.

Robyn collapsed on the couch. “That’s enough. I need some i
nspiration. Bret, could you and Selena demonstrate how it’s done?”

“Of course.” Selena shimmied over to Bret. They hadn’t danced together since his audition. Electricity pulsed through her body. Touching Bret on the floor, connecting through dance wit
hout the awkwardness they shared during his audition, excited her.

She laughed as she approached Bret. By looking at him today, no one would ever suspect he could dance at all. His muscular, broad frame hid the smoothness and flexibility of his body. It was like watching an action star do the ballet.

He whispered into her ear, “Why are you laughing?”


Cuz you are just so sexy. You don’t look like a dancer. At all.”

“That’s a good thing. No matter what, I’m not waxing my chest. I should’ve put that in my contract.”

Selena laughed. “I won’t let them.” The makeup artists most certainly would try to convince Bret to wax his chest. Sure, all the male dancers pecs were shiny and bare. What was so wrong about chest hair? Was Selena the only woman that was turned on by Bret’s manly chest? She highly doubted it.

Robyn turned on one of Xavier’s hits that
was a samba. Selena gyrated her hips and Bret grabbed her from behind. Gripping her wrist, he spun her into rolls and their bodies rotated around the floor.

After all these years, Bret was sharp as ever. For a second, Selena allowed
herself to indulge in the fantasy of them competing together again. Would he ever consider it? Just to make her happy? They could stage a huge comeback. They wouldn’t win Blackpool, that’s for sure, but they could probably win nationals in a few years. Well if Dima didn’t get a new partner and compete against them.

The music cut off. “You two are brilliant! You should co
mpete,” Robyn said.

Selena was glad that she wasn’t the only one thinking that they looked great together.

“No way, Robyn. I’m just doing one season and when it’s over, I’m not going to set foot on a dance floor. Except maybe at my wedding.” He winked at Selena.

Robyn’s lips curled. “Wedding? Am I missing something? Are you two a hot item?”

Selena gave Bret a nervous glance. “Oh no. We’re just old friends. But I do think Bret should consider competing again. I’m on the market for a new partner.”

Bret’s relaxed face tensioned. “No thanks, Sel. Would be kind of hard, after training my men twelve hours a day. And after this leave, I’m sure we will deploy again soon. No time for dancing.”

Selena’s shoulders dropped. She wouldn’t push the matter but maybe she could get him to consider it. For now, they just had to get through the season and pray the tabloids didn’t ruin their relationship.

“Well, you both look ready for the first show. Selena and I are driving down tomorrow. We’ll see you in Los Angeles in two days.”

Xavier and Robyn hugged Selena and Bret.

“Wait, this calls for a celebration.” Robyn ran to the bar and poured champagne in four flutes. She brought them over and han
ded everyone a glass.

A breathtaking view of the Golden Gate, Bay and Richard bridges wowed Selena. Selena took the glass and braced herself. This was it—they were leaving cozy Marin for crazy Hollywood. If their new relationship could survive fifteen weeks on a reality show, it could survive anything.

“Okay, here we go,” Robyn said. “To our success and journey into the world of reality television. May we be guided by our ancestors. As one of my spiritual teachers once told me, ‘When you do what you fear most, then you can do anything.’ ”

Selena raised her glass higher. “I’ll drink to that.” She glanced at Bret and was thrilled that he wasn’t even making a face to Robyn’s new age toast.
             

“Cheer,” said Bret.

They clinked their glasses together and drank the night away as the fog crept higher on the world’s most beautiful bridges.

BOOK: Love Waltzes In (Dancing Under The Stars)
9.01Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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