Page 72 of Dancing on Air

“Thanks. Enjoy the city.”

“My family is here,” she told Max when he entered their bedroom.

“Here, here or in the city?” he asked, sitting beside her.

“In the city.”

“That’s good.” He took a deep breath. “Nervous about tomorrow?”

She started to shake her head but stopped. “Yeah.”

He reached over and took her phone from her hands and then pulled her up off the bed. “I have something that will help you,” he told her as they walked out of the room.

She followed him down the hallway into the home studio where there were dozens of LED candles placed everywhere along the edge of the floor. Red rose petals were spread everywhere.

“Dance with me?” he asked, motioning towards her bag that held her shoes.

She smiled and went over to put on her toe shoes.

Even though she was in her pajama shorts and tank top and he was in his workout shorts and a T-shirt, she couldn’t help but be excited.

This was the first time they were going to dance together. Sure, during practices when he’d wanted to explain a move or a change, he’d show her the moves a few times. But not once had they actually danced together.

She’d watched all the old footage of the few ballets he’d starred in when he was younger. He was a fine dancer. Sexy. Powerful. Sexy.

When the music started, she easily stepped into his arms.

They both knew the moves of the first act where Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time, when they fall in love.

Moving with Max was far different than dancing with Reece or any other partner. Her heart jumped in her chest each time he touched her. Every time their eyes locked, her breath caught.

She wasn’t just Juliet falling in love with Romeo, she was Cora, falling deeper in love with Max, the man of her dreams.

When the dance ended with the kiss, she put everything she felt for him in that simple touch.

“You are amazing,” Max said softly next to her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She hugged him. “Thank you for this.” She sighed and glanced around. “Now, I’ll think of this moment tomorrow when I step out on the stage.”

His smile doubled. “Let’s hope you don’t kiss Reece like you just kissed me.”

She laughed and shook her head. “No, that part will be me acting. This isn’t.” She kissed him again.

Max lifted her up in his arms and carried her back to their room.

Since they’d been together, they’d gone from hot passionate sex each time to slow, lazy lovemaking with occasional hot steamy sex.

Tonight, it was the slow, lazy lovemaking that drove her heart to race and her mind to dream of Max all night long.

She woke to the doorbell ringing. When Max brought in the first bouquet of flowers from her brother, she was wide awake and very eager for the day.

They had practice scheduled for several hours before raising of the first curtain. There would be two performances that day, one matinee and one evening. Her family had purchased tickets to both shows and, hopefully, she would get a few moments to see them between. Max had arranged for backstage passes for them and Missy.

Before she and Max left the apartment, six more flower deliveries arrived.

Shockingly, one was from Max’s mother with a very nice card attached.

“I know we haven’t had much time to chat. I just wanted to tell you that you are a beautiful dancer. I’m very hopeful you and Max will be happy in life. Merde, Liza”