Winning Moves

by Lisa Renee Jones

  “Are you and Jason—”

  “Hold that question,” Kat said. “I think we have trouble with that situation I told you about this morning. Tabitha and Carrie just headed off stage in the midst of an argument. Call for lunch if I’m not back in fifteen minutes.”

  Kat darted behind the curtain and rushed toward the other side of the stage, arriving just in time to see Tabitha disappear out of a door leading to the dressing rooms.

  Kat hurried after her, covering the distance in a near run. She really didn’t need this turning nasty and she’d seen the way Tabitha and Carrie had interacted on the DVD the night before. It wasn’t pretty. Right now, Kat and Jason had enough trouble brewing without a fight on set.

  Kat shoved open the door Tabitha had used and quickly headed down a long, narrow hallway. She was almost to the end, where there was a section of twelve dressing rooms, when she heard Tabitha’s raised voice.

  “I put up with you in the contestant house,” Tabitha said, “because I knew you weren’t good enough to stay around long. If you think I’m going to tolerate you here, you’d better think again.”

  Kat stopped at the end of the hall, listening to get a true picture of what was happening.

  “Are you threatening me?” Carrie asked, her voice soft but surprisingly confrontational for what Kat had observed of her personality.

  “No,” Tabitha said. “I’m making you a promise. If you interfere with my work, which includes how I handle my understudy, I’ll make sure you get fired and we’ll be better off as a show for it. You weren’t good enough for the competition, you weren’t good enough for Jensen and you aren’t good enough for Vegas.”

  “She’s not only good enough for me,” came a male voice, “I feel lucky she thinks I’m good enough for her.”

  Kat checked around the corner to see a tall hunk of a guy with a military haircut and a broad chest wrap his arm around Carrie. He had to be her fiancé. Go, Carrie! And go, fiancé for coming to the rescue!

  “Who are you?” Tabitha asked snidely but there was a crack in her voice, a chink in her armor.

  “The new head of security here at the hotel and Carrie’s very protective fiancé.” He glanced at Carrie. “Are you out for lunch?”

  “Yes she is,” Kat said as she stepped into the large room. “Take her to eat. I need to have a word with Tabitha alone anyway.” Kat glanced at Carrie. “And I look forward to being properly introduced to your fiancé soon. After all, Carrie, we will be working on some choreography together.”

  Carrie beamed. “Thank you, Kat. I can’t wait.” She and her fiancé left the dressing room.

  “So, Tabitha,” Kat said, “let’s find Ellie and have a chat.” Kat knew having a witness to any reprimand was smart with someone like Tabitha. It kept details from being twisted.

  “She started this,” Tabitha blurted. “She involved herself in my work with my understudy. Why would you send Carrie to lunch and then talk to me?”

  Kat sighed. “Okay, Tabitha. I’m going to make this quick. I’ve observed how you treat Marissa and it’s simply not acceptable. I saw how you treated Carrie tonight, as well, when Carrie is simply trying to protect Marissa. Marissa is your understudy and you have to be nice to her. You make snide comments and sneer at her. This is not appropriate and it undermines our opportunity to be a team that succeeds together. I’m going to draw up a warning for you to sign. If you continue such actions then you simply won’t be here any longer.”

  “I have a contract,” Tabitha stated. “I can’t be fired by the choreographer.”

  “Read the contract,” Kat said. “It specifically requires your professional behavior on the set.”

  “I will not be threatened,” Tabitha spat.

  “It’s not a threat,” Kat said, repeating Tabitha’s words. “It’s a promise. Be respectful to the cast and crew or you won’t be here.”

  “I’ll go to my agent. He’ll take care of this and you.”

  “I would, too, if I were you,” Kat said. “Have your agent help you understand the terms of the contract.”

  “This is crazy. I’m going to talk to Jason.”

  “I’m right here.” Jason stepped to Kat’s side, his brand of cool confidence and casual authority expanding around them. “And I heard part of the conversation. Kat is far from just a choreographer. She has my permission to make any casting changes needed and I didn’t sign on to this show with my hands tied. No one is here without an exit plan in place if needed. We have a small window to make this show perfect. Either you want to be a part of that or you don’t.”

  “I do,” Tabitha said, sounding sweeter than Kat had ever heard her sound. “That’s why I don’t want to be silent when someone isn’t giving their all.”

  “Then don’t,” Jason said flatly. “Tell Kat. She’s your boss. One of the reasons Kat does such a good job is that her dancers know she’ll take the fall for a problem rather than place blame, but she deserves loyalty in return.” He glanced at Kat, those wintery green eyes of his warm in a way that made her hot. “You got a few minutes?”

  Yes. Yes. Yes. She desperately wanted to know how his meeting went with the studio. “We’re about to call lunch so it’s perfect timing.” Kat’s gaze returned to Tabitha’s. “Let’s skip that second meeting with Ellie, Tabitha. You’re talented, and I look forward to helping you shine, but as one of the stars of the show, I need you to be a positive leader.”

  Tabitha crossed her arms in front of her. “I will be.”

  The statement was wrapped in barely contained resentment and Kat mentally sighed. No. She wouldn’t. But with any luck Tabitha now hated her more than Marissa, and would focus her anger Kat’s way. At least then poor Marissa could catch a break.

  “You should go eat, Tabitha,” Kat said. “We have a long afternoon ahead.”

  Tabitha gave a little lift of her chin and headed back toward the stage entrance.

  Jason let out a soft whistle the instant Tabitha was out of view. “You weren’t joking about that one. She’s a problem.”

  “She and Carrie had a spat on stage. It wasn’t pretty but most importantly—” she lowered her voice though they were alone “—I’ve been worried sick all morning.”

  “Everything is fine, baby,” he said gently. “I told you not to worry.”

  “What’s your definition of ‘fine’?”

  He grinned. “I convinced them I’m not a lush.”

  “Oh, God, Jason, tell me they didn’t actually call you that?”

  “Might as well have,” he said, “but in the end, surprise surprise, they’re pleased to report that website hits for the Stepping Up site tripled last night. Free advertising at our expense. Which reminds me, we need to get your parents on a vacation and out of town before the bloodhounds find them.”

  Kat nodded. She wasn’t eager for them to take off when she’d only just arrived, but she’d already figured out how much traveling meant to her mother. “I think that’s a good idea.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that. I bought them tickets to visit my parents in Thailand this morning but I didn’t want to send them over until you gave me the okay. I didn’t think they’d take the gift if it wasn’t framed as a job. Not with the pride thing your dad has going on right now.”

  Her lips parted with her surprise. “Jason, you didn’t have to do that.”

  “Yes, I did. I made public the one time in your father’s life he ever had a meltdown. I got together with my investment guy as well and he’ll meet with them tomorrow, before they head to the airport.”

  Kat blinked at him, speechless for a moment. Without her father’s craziness in that casino, Jason would never had ended up in the news, but he didn’t blame her father. He blamed himself. “Fame hasn’t changed you. I don’t know why, but it hasn’t.”

  “I’m still the same guy who can’t stand this close to you without wanting to kiss you.”

  Her knees felt weak again. He had a way of doing that to her. “And I’m apparently
the same ol’ Kat who likes that about you.” Her lips curved. “Except, of course, when I’m trying to resist you.”

  “And are you?” he asked. “Trying to resist me?”

  “If I knew what was good for both of us, I would be,” she said. “But no. I’m not. Whatever is going to be, is going to be.”

  The door burst open from the stage area and voices filled the hallway as the dancers rushed forward. Ellie had clearly called for a lunch break.

  “Let’s make a run for lunch before some other crisis stops us.” He motioned toward the direction Carrie and her man had headed out.

  “I’m all for that,” Kat said, rushing down the hall with him.

  They were in the hotel and almost at the diner when they heard Ellie calling after them. “Kat! Jason! Wait. Wait. I need you two.”

  “So close to escaping,” Jason whispered.

  Kat laughed and turned with him to greet Ellie. “What’s going on?”

  Ellie jerked to a halt in front of them. “That tabloid website ‘Truth’ just posted a story about the two of you being married. The minute we broke for lunch and the cast and crew cranked up their smartphones, the news was out. We have to figure out what to say about it.”

  Jason glanced at Kat. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I say we go eat. I need to talk to both of you about a nightclub promotion the hotel wants us to do anyway.”

  “I’m all for lunch,” Kat agreed. “How about you, Ellie?”

  Ellie gaped at them. “That’s it? You two want to eat lunch? Aren’t you worried about this?”

  Jason shrugged. “The studio knows we’re exes. It’s not a secret. And it’s certainly not taboo. You married one of our producers. Darla married the host of Stepping Up.”

  “So, do nothing?” Ellie asked, looking distressed by that idea.

  “Besides tell anyone who asks that it’s true and to focus on a rapidly approaching opening night?” Jason said. “Yes. Nothing. This only has the wings we give it.”

  Ellie’s gaze flickered between them. “You’re positive?”

  Kat glanced at Jason, who gave a firm, “Yes. Positive.”

  Kat couldn’t help but hope he was right.

  12

  SEVERAL HOURS LATER, Jason was finally through with the studio heads and media damage control, and could get to work on his real job of directing. He sauntered into the theater and headed to the front row seating where a table was set up for staff. Kat and Ellie stood center stage, talking with the script manager, while dancers prepared to work through the opening scene of the show. Seeing Kat up there, doing what she loved, back in his life, felt right like nothing else had in a very long time.

  He settled into the chair on the end of the row, next to his assistant director Ronnie Wilks, a young film school graduate that was quickly building an impressive resume.

  “How’s it going, Bossman?” Ronnie asked, turning his Texas Longhorns hat backward and running his hand down his jeans-clad leg.

  “As fine as any day in the tabloids can go,” Jason replied dryly.

  “That’s what you get for being famous,” Ronnie joked.

  Only it wasn’t a joke to Jason. It was reality, and one he was ready to leave behind. “Let’s make this show the star,” Jason commented. “Not me.” He motioned to the computer on the desk. “Do we have the schedule drafted for tomorrow? We need to be fully blocked and on to polishing by next week.”

  Jason and Ronnie talked through their plans briefly before the entire cast of more than a hundred filed into the theater and filled the seating across the aisle from Jason and his crew. The energy in the room changed almost immediately, the glances between Jason and Kat impossible to miss.

  Ronnie called out a list of names to ensure everyone who was supposed to be on stage was, and then leaned in close to Jason. “You and Kat sure know how to shake things up. Talk about an armadillo in the room.”

  “An armadillo?” Jason asked, arching a brow.

  “That’s the Texas version of an elephant in the room.”

  “I get it,” Jason said, and he knew Kat felt it. She was stiff on the stage, and tension radiated from her. “It’ll pass.”

  Apparently Kat didn’t think so. She grabbed a microphone. “I need everyone’s attention, please. We have a show to get ready and everyone appears to be distracted. So let’s just cut to the chase and get focused. The answer to all the whispered questions is that yes, Jason is my ex-husband, and yes, we’re dating. And finally, yes, Jason was with my father last night when a group of reporters did some creative story building. Any questions?”

  Jason saw his producer choke on a drink and silence zipped through the room as if she’d hit the mute on a remote control. Ah, his KandyKat. She had a way of making a point. Jason scrubbed his jaw and laughed—because really, what else could he do?—and then he leaned across the table and grabbed a microphone of his own. “I have a question…”

  * * *

  IT WAS LATE that evening and Jason and Kat sat with her parents at their kitchen table. Dinner was darn good lasagna that Hank was finally well enough to enjoy, and the past twenty-four hours had given them plenty to laugh at.

  “So we’re standing at the diner and I told Ellie that we weren’t going to make any announcement,” Jason said, recounting the moment when they’d discovered the tabloids had found out he and Kat were exes. “And we all agreed and went to eat lunch. The next thing I know, I’m sitting in a theater with the entire cast and crew, with the whispers and gossip buzzing around the room. So what does Kat do? She finds a microphone and says, ‘I need everyone’s attention, please.’”

  Hank laughed and Sheila went, “Uh-oh.”

  Jason laughed and speared a tomato. “Exactly what I said. Uh-oh.”

  “What was I supposed to do, Jason?” Kat asked. “The dancers kept whispering to themselves. Nothing was getting done. We needed focus.”

  “What’d you do, Kitten?” Hank asked Kat.

  Kat motioned to Jason. “Oh, let him tell you. He started this story.”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” Jason agreed. “Kat proceeded to make her version of a public service announcement that went something like this. ‘Yes, Jason is my ex-husband, and yes, we’re dating. And yes, he was with my father last night when a group of reporters did their creative story building. Any questions?’”

  Sheila gasped and covered her mouth and Hank chuckled. “Were there any questions?”

  “Surely no one had the nerve to ask a question,” Sheila replied, dropping her hand from her mouth.

  Kat’s eyes flashed at Jason. “Oh, yes. Someone did.” She pointed at Jason.

  “Oh, God,” Sheila murmured. “What did you ask?”

  Jason shrugged. “I asked if anyone had an aspirin or maybe ten.”

  Hank and Sheila both laughed. “Then what?” Sheila asked, laughing now herself, and wiping tears from her eyes.

  “Everyone laughed but me,” Jason said. “I was serious. I had a damn tequila headache, no thanks to you, Hank.”

  “Did you get your aspirin?” Sheila asked.

  “I didn’t even get a Tic Tac,” he complained. “But everyone seemed to get focused and do their job after that.”

  “Oh, good,” Sheila said. “I hope that means last night is behind you two.”

  Kat’s questioning eyes found Jason’s, and he answered with a quick nod. She grabbed her purse and removed the plane tickets. “Jason and I were talking and we think the press is going to keep coming at us, and you.”

  “So I called my parents today,” Jason added. “They invited you both to come visit them and see what they do in Thailand.”

  Kat placed the tickets on the table, hopeful her father wouldn’t let his pride over the bad investments get in the way of this trip. “You leave tomorrow and we bought a non-refundable package deal. The money is spent. You might as well enjoy the trip.”

  “We can’t take those tickets,” Hank said quickly. “No. We can’t. It’s too much mo
ney.”

  “The money is spent, Dad,” Kat said. “So either you take the trip or the money goes to waste.”

  “I know why you’re doing this,” Hank said, his gaze meeting Jason’s. “And no. I told Sheila everything. We’ll meet your investment expert, but we won’t take charity.”

  Jason slid his plate aside and leaned forward. “Nick—that’s my investment expert—is expecting you at ten in the morning. Your flight is at two. The trip is a gift from myself and Kat, for all the love and support you showed us both while we worked to build our careers. A gift that pleases us both very much to give you.”

  Jason watched Sheila and Hank look at each other. He took Kat’s hand under the table as they waited for a response. “You think we can get teaching jobs there?”

  Jason hesitated and glanced at Kat. He knew she was excited to be back with her parents, but she gave a nod of her head, her approval. “I know you can.”

  Sheila glanced at Hank, who said, “You really want to do this, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  He hesitated, seeming to struggle with his pride before letting out a breath. “Okay then. We’ll go.”

  Sheila clapped and hugged him before rushing to Jason and Kat for hugs as well. “My parents want us to call them on Skype,” Jason announced when things finally settled down.

  A few minutes later, after dialing up his parents, Kat and Jason left Sheila and Hank in front of the computer, talking excitedly about their trip.

  Jason followed Kat to the wooden deck off the back of her parents’ house. “Our families have always gotten along as well as we did,” Jason commented, sitting down on the wooden swing next to Kat. The sky was clear, the moon full, the stars bright, and the cool breeze off the mountain a perfect temperature on what could have been a hot night.

  “They did,” Kat said, glancing at him. “They do. I’m excited they’re going on this trip.” She angled her body toward him, lacing her fingers in his. “Thank you for making this happen for them.”