on the performance of her life.
He came out onto the stage, and Tam tensed. “Welcome,” he said in his smooth voice. “I’m Hayes Powell, and I’m going to be your caller tonight.”
Blaine put his hand on Tam’s hip, his arm draped along her lower back comforting and perfect for the show Tam wanted to give Hayes. She leaned into Blaine’s chest, but he was rock solid and tight, his eyes trained on Hayes.
He demonstrated the dance they’d be doing with a brunette who Tam had seen at the barn before, and then the music started.
Tam grinned at Blaine as they moved a few feet apart. This line dance required a partner for a few counts, and she hoped Blaine could get the steps right. She honestly didn’t care if he did or not. She just wanted him to take her into his arms as she tipped her head back and pealed laughter toward the rafters. She’d hold onto his shoulders with such joy as they laughed together, and Hayes would see how happy she was without him in her life.
She performed the steps easily, especially when she watched the woman on the stage. They went through the steps four or five times at half the speed, one by one. Blaine got the moves right, and he was already exactly where he was supposed to be when she turned around to take her into his arms and dip her.
She giggled and looked up to the stage as Hayes said, “Okay, Brit. Let’s get the real thing going.” He grinned at her, and Tam knew the power in that smile. Hers faltered as she watched him trail his fingers along the woman’s waist, and the two of them smiled at each other.
She moved away from Blaine, and the music began for real. She kept up easily, but when she spun this time, Blaine wasn’t there. He arrived a beat too late, and Tam laughed as she grabbed onto him, the scene in her mind exactly what she wanted Hayes to see.
Blaine wasn’t overjoyed though, and he said, “Sorry,” as he finally dipped her.
“It’s fine,” she said. “Loosen up, Blaine. It’s just for fun.” She turned away from him and took a deep breath, looking up to the stage to see if Hayes was watching her. He didn’t seem to be; he hadn’t even seen her.
They went through the dance again, and this time, Blaine was on time. He did smile then, and Tam pealed out that laughter again.
“You’re in a good mood tonight,” Blaine said, eyeing her.
She didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. They progressed through the dance, learning it in sections. Hayes didn’t look in her direction once, and after about forty-five minutes, Tam was feeling more tired and sweaty than like the picture-perfect woman in love with her new boyfriend.
Blaine looked like he might commit murder if he had to do this much longer, and Tam knew whose it would be: hers.
“One more time,” Hayes said. “From the top, all the way through.”
Tam could do it, but she seriously doubted Blaine could. He hadn’t yet, at least. The music started, and Tam tapped her heel, and put her hands on her hips. She spun, and she got dipped. She held Blaine’s hand and did the grapevine, kicking and laughing like this was absolutely the best thing in her life.
If it was, no wonder she wasn’t impressing Hayes.
At the end of the dance, Blaine was supposed to spin her, and then they’d separate and do the last step before everyone clapped.
Tam missed a step and turned toward Blaine in a stumble. He caught her, but he got knocked sideways too from her momentum. He grunted as he tried to stop them, but Tam’s foot caught on the back of his leg as she tried to tame her movement into a spin.
She knew they were going down before it happened, and then the floor seemed to take forever to come up to meet her. She hit her knee, then her elbow, and finally her face.
Beside her, Blaine cursed as he collided with the floor.
Worse, two more couples fell when they got tripped up by Blaine and Tam being somewhere they shouldn’t.
“Everyone stay where you are,” Hayes said, and the music cut off. The only thing Tam could hear was the slapping of cowboy boots as someone ran toward her.
Hayes appeared in her line of sight, and a groan pulled through Tam’s whole body.
“Are you guys okay?” he asked, and