Dylan laughed out loud. "No. This is my heart talking."
Trey groaned. "Oh, man. What's happened to you?"
"He fell," Adam said dryly.
"Come on, guys. I was hoping you'd be happy for me," Dylan said quietly.
"I am, Dyl," Adam said, giving Dylan a man-hug. "Seriously."
"Hey, I am too, bro." Trey also pulled Dylan in a manly embrace.
"Thanks, guys. But let's not get carried away. She might say no, you know."
Trey snorted. "I can't see that happening, seeing how into each other you two are."
Trey was truly glad that Dylan was so very happy with Ari. He felt a pang of envy, knowing that that kind of bliss was something he'd never get to experience—or more to the point, that he'd chosen not to experience. For him, all the pain and difficulties a relationship brought simply weren't worth whatever satisfaction it gave. He got enough pleasure from his casual liaisons to desire anything more. He was content with his life.
Content—except that he hadn't had Kris yet. For all his aversion to relationships, he was someone willing to pursue a woman he physically desired. In a way, he felt sorry for Dylan. His friend would never again experience the rush of having sex for the first time with someone new and hot. He enjoyed that feeling—one of the reasons why he loved being a bachelor.
And, oh, yeah, he couldn't wait to feel that rush with Kris.
CHAPTER SIX
"Hi, Kris. I'm Blake Garcia."
"Great to meet you, Blake." Kris grasped the proffered hand in front of her, gazing with wide eyes at the good-looking, dark-haired man who greeted her. "Thank you for agreeing to see me at such short notice."
"No problem," Blake said as he ushered her into his office. "Jill wouldn't have recommended that I see you if she didn't think it was worth my while. Has she seen you dance before?"
She blushed. "No. Jill's a friend of my cousin Samantha. Sam must have talked her ears off at how great she believed I am that Jill felt she had no choice but to call you just to shut my cousin up."
Blake laughed. "Well, since you're here, I might as well see for myself, shouldn't I?"
"I'm really hoping you will."
"I'm looking for someone who's not only technically good at various styles, but is also strong in choreography. How would you rate yourself in those two aspects, Kris?"
She smiled. "I've been dancing since I was three. Even at that age, I knew it was what I wanted to do. My parents were supportive and enrolled me in various dance classes. I've worked as a back-up dancer for a few international acts for many years, and as a part-time dance teacher/choreographer when I wasn't touring."
She stopped, hesitating for a beat, before continuing. "When my mother died two and a half years ago, my dad encouraged me to set up my own studio. I did do that with a then-boyfriend who was also a back-up dancer. But things didn't work out between us and we sold the business last year when we parted ways. Currently, I have a full-time job in an office, but I work part-time at a dance studio in Melbourne three to four times a week. I'm itching to get back into this industry full-time."
Blake's eyebrows rose. "If you got a job as a dancer again, would you be interested? Only reason I ask is they are still looking to fill all roles for the musical I'm choreographing."
"To be honest, while I love to dance, I love being a teacher and choreographer more than being a performer."
Blake nodded and proceeded to ask her a few more questions that she answered candidly. She was thrilled to learn that Blake regularly gave dance lessons to celebrities and other VIPs, and was often asked to choreograph entertainment for high-end private parties. Lately, he'd been getting offers to work on international musicals and movies. How exciting would it be to meet and work with famous people?
Finally, Blake said, "Okay. Are you ready to dance for me now? I have an empty room ready."
"Yes," she replied excitedly.
*******
Kris did what she had always done when she danced—lost herself in it. The majority of the time was a test of her technical skills, as Blake abruptly played different tunes and asked her to switch to different styles in the middle of steps. For the last music—one of her favourite love songs—she heart-connected with the lyrics and her body expressed fluidly the message of the words.
There were a few seconds of silence after the music stopped, then Blake's slow but loud clapping brought her back to the room. She smiled her thanks, breathing deeply as she waited for her heartbeat to return to normal.
"Wow," Blake said with awe. "You're amazing."
"Thank you."
Blake handed her a bottle of water as she patted herself with her towel. He'd just given her a good workout. She must have been dancing for almost half an hour.
"Are you up for one last dance?" he asked.
"Sure," she said, surprised that the 'test' wasn't over yet.
Blake put on tango music and took her in his arms. He was an excellent dancer, and so was she. If anyone was watching them at that moment, they'd be surprised to know they hadn't rehearsed together before.
When the music stopped, they were both laughing from the sheer exhilaration of an almost seamless performance.
"It looks like we make good dance together, Kris McCann," Blake said, his arms lingering on her body.
"Sure looks like it," she responded lightly, flushing a little at the huskiness of Blake's tone.
Blake released her and went for his water bottle. "Well," he drawled after he took several gulps. "I don't know if you've made my decision harder or easier. I was all ready to offer this job to someone else but…I think you've just forced me to have a re-think."
Her face split into a wide smile. Was she now somewhere at the top of his list?
Blake pursed his lips and sighed deeply. "I'd like to take my time on this, if you don't mind, Kris? I'll let you know in a few days what I've decided."
"Sure. No problem," she answered. "Thank you for even seeing me."
"I'm glad I did," Blake said softly. "Feel free to use the shower at the end of the hall before you go. I have to leave you as I have a phone call to make."
"Okay, thanks." She gathered her things and hastened to the door which Blake was holding open for her.
"I'll see you again soon," he said in a low voice as she passed him, his hand resting on her lower back—to escort her out, she presumed.
*******
"How did you do?"
Kris grinned at Sam who was already waiting for her at the restaurant. Jill hadn't arrived yet.
"I think it went well. Blake will let me know his decision in a few days," she responded.
"Does it look promising?" Sam pressed.
"Well, he said he was ready to offer the job to someone else but I just made his decision difficult after this morning, so I guess it does look promising."
Sam patted her hand. "I hope you get it, Kris. It'll open more doors for you. Although I'll miss you while you're here."
"Oh, I know, darl. But if I do get it, it'll only be three months or so that I'm away from home. Think about it, you'll have our apartment all to yourself while I'm gone. You can check out all these different men and see if they know their way around your body. You won't have to worry about me hearing what's coming out of your bedroom."
Sam rolled her eyes. "You and your hormones! Speaking of men, I take it you haven't found a fling partner yet?"
Kris' lips tugged up. "I have plenty of time. It's only been a few days."
"Oh, here's Jill and…her husband, I think," Sam said, looking toward the restaurant entrance.
Kris twisted to have a look. "That's not her husband. That's Blake!"
"Oh, your future boss," Sam whispered.
"Hopefully," she whispered back.
"Hi, girls," Jill greeted. "I hope you don't mind me bringing Blake along. He rang me after he saw you, Kris, and invited himself to join us when he learned I was having lunch with you."
"No, of course we don't mind," Kris r
eplied. "Gives me a chance to suck up to him," she joked with her usual brashness then bit her tongue. That was terribly unprofessional, Kris.
To her relief, Blake laughed out loud. "I can't wait to see how you're going to do that," he replied.
Jill was introducing Blake to Sam when Kris spotted new patrons going into the restaurant. Her heart thudded in her chest. It was Trey with two women. One was older, but no less striking.
Her brows furrowed at Trey's stony, unsmiling expression. She hadn't seen him like that before. He'd always been friendly and relaxed. She wondered who his two beautiful companions were.
"So have you girls decided on what to order?" Blake asked as he consulted the menu.
"We were here the other night with some friends, and I really loved the spicy fish we had," Sam responded.
"Good choice. That's one of my favourites here, too," Blake said. "Kris?"
"Oh, I like the chicken dish that's in the House Specials list," she answered, forced to take her attention away from Trey's party who were being ushered to their table by a server.
They were discussing various other dishes they were going to share when Blake's phone rang.
He groaned. "I'm so sorry, ladies. I have to get this," he apologised and started to get up.
"You don't have to leave the table," Jill said. "Unless, of course, you want to have some privacy."
Blake grinned. "No, it's not private. Thanks." He sat back down to answer the phone and spoke softly to the caller.
While Sam was giving their orders to the server, Kris felt her phone vibrate inside her handbag which was leaning against her leg on the floor. She pulled it out and her eyes flickered in surprise to where Trey was sitting. He sat facing her direction, but he was in deep conversation with the young woman sitting next to him.
A sensation, which she recognised as jealousy, prickled her. She shushed it away and glanced back at the message on her phone.
*Great view from where I'm sitting.*
Hiding a smile, she tapped back a response to him.
*Same here. Pity it's not close-up.*
She'd just sent her message to Trey when Blake ended his phone call and Sam finished ordering their dishes. She tucked the phone back in her bag, disappointed that she now had to be polite and pay attention to the people at her table. Flirt-texting with Trey would have been fun.
"So, Kris," Blake said. "I didn't ask you this earlier, but if I do hire you, would that mean you'll resign from your current job? What will you do after this contract is up?"
"Well," she said with a slow exhale, "I heard through the grapevine that you're planning to open a Melbourne studio. I'm hoping that if you give me the three-month contract, I could prove myself enough in that time for you to offer me a permanent role in Melbourne."
"I see," Blake responded, casting a glance at his sister-in-law.
"Hey, you've asked a few of us to keep an eye out for suitable people for your studios. I had it on good authority that Kris might fit the bill," Jill said.
"Of course, I only want to get the job if the decision is based purely on my own merits and not because of personal connections," Kris declared.
Blake nodded, an enigmatic smile playing on his face. "Where does the sucking up to me come into play then?"
Kris laughed. "Oh, that! This lunch is on me."
"What?" Blake asked in feigned horror. "That would be such a slight to my chivalry."
"Hey, that was already agreed to beforehand as my thanks to these two girls for connecting me with you. Since you've invited yourself to join us, it would be rude of me not to include you in my generous gesture," she said in a teasing tone.
"Well, I have to thank these two girls as well, for finding me a talent such as you. I think lunch should be on me. In fact, I insist," Blake said with a wide grin directed at her.
She squinted her eyes, excitement bubbling within her. "If you think I'm such a talent, does that mean you're going to offer me the job?"
"Patience, Kris. Patience," Blake responded with a chuckle before taking on a serious countenance. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be such a tease about it but I do need some time before I can let you know my final decision."
"No problem," she replied. "Please take your time. This is your business and it's an important thing. I'm just mucking around as well. I'll fully respect whatever you decide."
Their drinks arrived and Jill proposed a toast for an enjoyable lunch—and that was what they had.
Except that it bothered Kris that Trey didn't seem to be enjoying his, judging by his aloof expression every time she glanced his way. A part of her wished she could go over to him and put a smile on that handsome face.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"You'll be there, won't you, Trey?"
"I'll try, Mum. I'm terribly busy with work," Trey answered his mother evasively. Seriously, the last thing he wanted was to go to her engagement party. What was the need for it when there was going to be a wedding not long after anyway?
"If you can't go, then maybe we can organise a dinner so you can meet Simon before the wedding. You and Rebecca can spend more quality time with him," his mum suggested.
He felt Rebecca kick his foot. His sister was just as underwhelmed as he was with all this "good news" from their mother.
"If I work hard this next couple of weeks, I'm sure I'll make it to the engagement party," he said with resignation. Being amongst a crowd would be much better than being in an intimate conversation with his soon-to-be stepfather.
He sighed, grateful that lunch was almost at an end. If Rebecca would only eat faster, they'd finish sooner. But his sister always ate like a turtle.
His annoyance was inflamed by the fact that Kris seemed to have forgotten about him. He'd sent her another text, but she'd ignored it.
Grow up, Andrews. What are you? Fifteen? he berated himself.
He took another peek at Kris, and again she was in an animated conversation with the man sitting in front of her. What was more telling was the fact that Sam—who hadn't noticed he was around—and the other woman with them seemed to be mere spectators to the yakking happening between Kris and the guy.
It irked him no end—an unusual reaction which he put down to his competitive nature being challenged.
He wanted Kris. He, and no one else, was going to be her fling partner.
*******
"I'll be with you in a second. I just have to say hello to friends at another table," Trey said to his mother and sister who were making their way out of the establishment.
As he approached Kris' table, she looked up and a grin appeared on her face.
"Hey, Trey," Kris said. "You're off?"
"Yeah. Just thought I'd say hello and goodbye."
"Hi, Trey," Sam said. "You've had lunch have you? I didn't even notice you were here."
"Yup. I was sitting right there," he replied, indicating to the table they'd vacated.
"Oh, right. This is my friend, Jill, Trey. And that's Blake, Jill's brother-in-law," Sam said. "Trey's a friend of ours," she explained to Jill and Blake.
Trey shook Blake's hand and smiled at Jill who was sitting further from him. "It looks like you guys ordered the best dishes they have here," he said conversationally. "Good choices."
"I know," Sam said with a sigh. "But I ate too much again."
"Me, too," Jill lamented.
"Well, I needed that after my heavy workout this morning," Kris said casually.
"You call that heavy?" Blake chimed in, grinning at Kris. "Wait till you see what else is in store for you."
Kris arched her eyebrows at Blake. "If you make the right decision," she said to the man.
Blake laughed in response.
Trey swallowed involuntarily as he felt heat spread to his face. Hell, he didn't like that exchange at all. What did that mean?
"Well, I'll leave you guys to it," he blurted out uncomfortably, not knowing what else to say that would be appropriate for the setting. "See you," he said, touching Kris' arm
for a second before walking away.
"See you, Trey," everyone responded.
*
He joined his mother and sister who were waiting patiently for him near the door.
"Who were they?" Rebecca asked.
"Two of the girls are friends with Dylan's girlfriend and Kane's wife."
"So what happened?" Rebecca queried as they walked out.
"What do you mean?" he asked with a frown.
"Well, you look…I don't know…mad." Rebecca leaned closer to him. "As mad as you were that we had to have lunch with Mum," she whispered in his ear. Fortunately, their mother was on the phone and wasn't listening to them.
He snickered. "It was nothing. You're giving Mum a lift home, right?" He was keen to change the subject.
"Yes," Rebecca answered without enthusiasm.
He patted his sister's shoulder in compassion, knowing their mother would put Rebecca's love life—or lack of it—under the spotlight once they were alone in the car.
"Do you want to spend the rest of the afternoon with me?" Rebecca asked imploringly. "We haven't hung around together in weeks."
"Nice try, Bec," he said at his sister's attempt to avoid being alone with their mother. "But even if I wanted to, I can't. Work's really busy. I even asked Dylan and Adam not to contact me this afternoon unless it's urgent."
That was the truth, although he knew he would struggle to concentrate. All he could think about was the night he would soon be spending with Kris.
*******
"Hi." Trey greeted Kris with a soft peck on the lips as she opened the door for him.
"Hey! I told Sam you're accompanying me to places where I can pick up a man. Kissing me on the lips would make her think I found my fling partner."
"Well, you have, haven't you?" he asked, giving her his best sexy smile.
Kris' lips tugged into her version of sexy. "Are you up for the job? I can be very demanding."
"Since we're fling partners, if you can demand, so can I," he informed her.
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