The Swan and The Sergeant - Alana Albertson Page 0,7

throw us together. I just didn’t think it would be this soon.

Pierce’s little boy’s face flashed in my mind. When I’d stopped in to see him on my way here, he’d been so grateful. But the house had been falling apart, the garden overgrown, and if I hadn’t already been given approval from the Marine Corps to take this chance, I’d have quit then and there—just to make that kid smile.

But I could do better by earning this money for him and his family.

Too bad I had to burn through two years of personal vacation time to do the show. I had one shot at convincing the executive producer of Dancing Under the Stars that I was the right man for the job.

I was perfect on paper—a decorated United States Marine, an American Ballroom Champion—but could I still dance? I’d have to prove myself.

Seeing Selena…it threw me. I hadn’t counted on seeing her so soon and definitely hadn’t expected to touch her and smell her. She looked so hot, all natural and not painted up. The thought of running my hands all over her curvy body made me lose focus. I wasn’t prepared to be this close to her so soon.

I walked over to Benny. My former master coach looked just like I’d remembered: tall, silver-haired, with just a hint of sleaze. Ballroom’s very own Crocodile Dundee. An icon in the dance world, Benny was a six-time Blackpool champion, winning twice with each of his first three wives. His fourth and current wife, Dancing Under the Stars professional dancer Vika, was a twenty-four-year-old Ukrainian knockout who was also Dima’s cousin.

Benny stretched out his hand, his blood-orange silk suit shimmering with the movement. His hair was the same color as the sterling silver in his black jade bolo tie.

Benny held out his hand. “This is just a formality. I told the other producers that a better man never stood in two dance shoes. Your blood’s worth bottling. It would be an honor to have a hero on our show.”

I cleared my throat. I never knew how to respond to someone calling me a hero. “Thank you, Benny, for giving me the opportunity. It’s great to see you again.”

The doors flew open, and I was overtaken by the spicy smell of strong perfume. Karen Brooks Lopez stormed in. Karen was a two-time Blackpool Latin Champion with Benny, her first husband. They had two children together, Nicole and Jared. Then Karen shocked the dance world by leaving Benny when she was thirty, at the peak of her career, for her eighteen-year-old student, Carlos Lopez.

Karen trained Carlos, and eventually, they won Blackpool, stealing the title from Benny and his second wife. Karen had a reputation for being a diva, demanding limousines, and five-hundred-thread-count sheets. She and Carlos spent all of their energy training their own little devil spawn, Gregory Lopez, a brilliant rising star in the amateur Latin world.

Karen took my face in her hands and kissed my cheeks. “Bret, wow. You have turned into a sexy man.” She ran her fingers over my biceps, and I flinched.

“Hi, Karen. You look beautiful as always.” I kissed her hand and then stepped aside to create some distance between us.

“Oh, Bret. I can see you’re still the charmer. I’ll tell Carlos to watch out—I might have found my next husband. Need to catch up to Benny.” She laughed. Her cackle reminded me of the screaming golden jackals in Iraq.

Benny rubbed his temples. “Are we done? We have a show to cast. Don’t mind her, Bret; she’s got kangaroos loose in the top paddock.”

I laughed. I always loved Benny’s funny Australian slang.

Karen playfully smacked my butt. Yup, she hadn’t changed a bit. “Well, I’m ready for a show.” Her fake, plump lips curled, and she flashed me a smile.

I made my way to Selena. My body clenched—I was actually nervous to touch her. Seeing her made me feel like a teenager all over again.

Selena’s green eyes seemed almost dazed. “I never thought I’d dance with you again.”

“Neither did I.”

It was now or never.

I reached my hand out to her. She was ridiculously hot but looked nothing like I had remembered. My girl had been self-conscious, shy, and awkward. Her long dark hair had been wavy, shiny, and lush. I missed the girl I had fallen in love with.

Selena’s skin glowed, showing off the freckles that were always airbrushed out in the magazines. Her hair was pulled off her face as if she had just emerged from the