Last Dance

by Velvet Vaughn

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Me, too.”

  Cassidy watched as Harlow took a seat in the chair while Gene started brushing out her hair. The woman was so nice and down-to-earth, much different than Cassidy expected. Many of the celebrities who appeared on the show were either aloof or arrogant. There were several approachable ones, too, but none she could picture herself being friends with away from the show. She felt that way with Harlow Oldham.

  She hadn’t officially met Harlow’s husband, Sawyer, but she’d seen him around with Mason. The man was gorgeous, and he and Harlow made a beautiful couple, but it was Mason who made her heart pound faster.

  As if conjured by her thoughts, she spotted him as soon as she stepped out of the bungalow. He was leaning against a wall with his arms and feet crossed. He wore a dark blue polo today with khaki colored cargos and hiking boots and on cue, her heart-rate kicked up a notch. Or five. He was so handsome. Harlow’s husband stood beside him with his hands in his pockets, one bent leg propped against the wall. His matching polo was dark brown and he wore the same tactical pants. Oh my, they made an imposing team. One of the assistant costume designers tripped and almost fell when she couldn’t keep her eyes from the dynamic duo.

  Mason’s gaze hadn’t left her. It was thrilling being the focus of his attention. She smiled and headed in his direction.

  “Hey, Cass.”

  She spun to see Colin hobbling her way. He was getting better with the crutches, but still a bit clumsy. She hadn’t talked to him since he barged in on her embarrassing midnight molestation of Mason, and she hoped they could get past the awkwardness.

  “Hey, Colin. How’s the knee?”

  He came to a stop in front of her and shrugged. “Hurts.” He glanced around the area wistfully. “I love it here. Everyone is focused on dance. They live it and breathe it.” His brown eyes met hers. “You’re lucky.”

  The familiar feeling of guilt settled in her heart. This had always been Colin’s dream. “I know.” She cleared her throat. “The producers would like to interview you for a segment on the show, if you’re willing.” It’d been her idea to include him in the package that would be played before she danced her first number with Trey. Maybe she’d suggested it to ease her conscience, but they’d agreed.

  His eyes lit. “Really? Me? I’d love to.”

  Relief washed over her. It wasn’t much, but it was something. “Let’s go talk to them.”

  #

  Mason and Sawyer reclined on a bench against the wall in the largest practice studio while the dancers and celebrities were seated in a semi-circle in the middle of the room. Crew members were going over all the details of how the show would flow tomorrow night. Mason’s cell buzzed a text and he glanced down at the screen. It was from Corrine, one of the production assistants. Mason had asked the woman to text him if she saw Lacy Brubeck around the set. She’d just spotted her rushing inside Irina Dubov’s trailer with something in her hands.

  He turned to Sawyer. “Feel like accompanying me to interrogate a suspect?”

  Sawyer pushed to his feet. “Absolutely.”

  Mason led the way to Irina’s trailer. The curtains over the small window were shut tight. He banged on the door. When there was no answer, he knocked again and called out, “Ms. Brubeck, open up. We know you’re in there.”

  The door opened a crack to reveal green eyes. “Who are you? Ah!”

  She jumped back when he climbed the stairs. “Someone who wants to ask you a few questions.”

  She backed away from the door. “You really can’t come in here. This is private property.”

  “Don’t worry, I have Russell Ingram’s permission.”

  Her eyes widened and darted around nervously. “Russell? He’s not here…is he?”

  Sawyer followed him inside and closed the door. Lacy backed away like a cornered cat, her hands behind her back. Something shiny caught his eye and he glanced at the table. Anger flared in his chest. “What are you doing with Cassidy Swain’s outfit?” He recognized it as the one she would wear for her routine with Trey.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. That’s not—”

  Sawyer plucked the dress off the table and held up the attached tag clearly labeled with Cassidy’s name.

  Lacy shrugged. “I’ve no idea how that got there.”

  “Ms. Brubeck, show me your hands right now.”

  She shook her head frantically.

  He took a menacing step forward, not intending to harm her, only intimidate. It worked. She thrust her arms out. “Fine. Here.”

  He plucked the small orange tool from her hand.

  “Seam ripper,” Sawyer informed him.

  He narrowed his eyes at Lacy. “You were planning on sabotaging Ms. Swain’s outfit?”

  She crossed her arms defiantly. “You can’t prove that.”

  “Really? That’s your defense?”

  She dropped her arms and slammed them on her hips. “I’m not saying anything else. I know my rights. I want a lawyer.”

  He shared an amused look with Sawyer and chuckled. “She thinks we’re cops.”

  “If you’re not the police, who are you?”

  He almost said, “your worst nightmare,” but that was a little cliché. “We’re here to prove you’re behind the attacks on Ms. Swain. It’d be in your best interest to confess now. The police are on their way to arrest you for attempted murder.”

  “Attempted…what? I didn’t try to kill anyone!”

  “You cut the rigging on the light,” Sawyer accused.

  She shook her head. “No, I didn’t do that. I heard about it, but I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Where did you get the snake you released in her trailer?” Mason questioned.

  Lacy recoiled. “I had nothing to do with that, either. I actually felt sorry for her. I hate snakes, too.” She shuddered.

  When they both continued to pin her with stares, her shoulders sagged. “Fine, I’ll admit to wanting to rig her outfit so she’d have a wardrobe malfunction, and I might’ve tampered with her shoes, but that’s all, I swear. I didn’t try to kill her.”

  “You’re the one who sawed off her heel?”

  Reluctantly, she nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor.

  “Why?”

  Her head jerked up. “Because that bitch got me fired,” she snapped.

  “Yeah? And how did she do that?”

  “She’s the one who told Russell about my social media pages. I’m sure of it. He knows squat about computers, so someone had to inform him. Anyway, those posts were just for laughs. I didn’t mean anything by them. They were all in fun.”

  Mason had no idea what posts she was talking about, but they must’ve been bad if they got her fired. It amazed him that people could post mean or hateful things and then try to downplay them by claiming it was a joke. Why write them in the first place?

  There was a knock on the door and Sawyer opened it to reveal two uniformed officers. Panic flashed in Lacy’s eyes and she threw out her hands. “No, wait. I didn’t try to kill anyone. I swear. You can’t arrest me.”

  He followed Sawyer outside while the cops handcuffed her. Russell came hurrying over. Mason had texted him letting him know they were going to question her.

  “What’s going on?” When the cops led Lacy outside, Russell’s mouth pinched. “Lacy, what the hell are you doing here? You were fired.”

  “I was just visiting with my friend Irina.”

  “You were warned not to come back here, Lacy. I told you I’d have you arrested.” He turned to one of the cops holding her arm. “I’d like to add trespassing charges to the list.”

  “Wait! I didn’t try to kill anyone. Please don’t do this, Mr. Ingram,” she wailed as the cops led her away.

  Russell shook his head. “I specifically told her when she was fired, it was because of social media posts that had been brought to my attention. She was snapping pictures of Muslims and Mexicans and adding
racist comments. She called overweight people by derogatory terms. She even threatened to shoot a gay couple in line in front of her at a coffee house. That’s not the kind of person we want associated with our show. She violated the terms of her contract, so she was let go. She had no one to blame but herself.”

  What a winner. “She admitted to destroying Cassidy’s shoes and attempting to tamper with her outfit.” He held up the sequined gown.

  Russell muttered a curse and took the dress from Mason. He handed it to his assistant and told her to have the costume designers check it carefully for any defects. When the woman hurried away, he turned back to them. “Do you think she’s responsible for the other incidents?”

  Mason paused before answering. Lacy was cruel and she was vindictive, but he didn’t think she was behind the attempts on Cassidy’s life. Her stunts were meant to embarrass, not kill. “I don’t think she is.”

  “I don’t, either,” Sawyer agreed.

  “That means there’s still someone out there who wants to harm Cassidy.”

  Chapter 11

  In a remarkable display of elegance and grace, Cassidy flowed across the dance floor, twirling and flipping and leaping to the sultry music. Mason couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was, in a word, spectacular.

  “Damn,” Sawyer murmured. “She’s dynamite.”

  Mason nodded slowly, his gaze tracking her movements. “That she is.”

  Before she set foot on stage, he’d personally inspected the rigging and equipment to make sure there were no surprises this time. Not that he didn’t trust the show personnel to do the job, but—he didn’t trust the show personnel to do the job.

  This would be her final practice before tomorrow’s opening night, and she was dancing her heart out. After a backflip that turned into a split leap, she struck a pose just as the music ended. Mason surged to his feet, ready to cheer himself hoarse, when Sawyer grabbed his arm.

  “Dude, it’s rehearsal.”

  Mason glanced around at the others watching the performance. A few people clapped quietly, but for the most part, they were reserved. Production assistants were going over notes and crews were busy with props that would be used for the next dance. A few couples were off to the side getting in a quick practice, including Harlow and Marcus. He eased back down, clamping his lips together to keep the warmth creeping up his neck from reaching his cheeks. Sawyer chuckled softly and he seriously considered sucker-punching his coworker.

  Cassidy jogged off the stage and he got up to follow. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight until the guy was caught—maybe not even then, his sappy heart tacked on. Shut up, sappy heart.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing. Sorry.” He eased past the girl wearing a microphone attached to a headset, an iPad in her hand. Cassidy was waiting for him, a huge smile on her face. It was all he could do to keep from reaching for her and gathering her into his arms, kissing her silly. Instead, he stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You were incredible.”

  Her smile widened. “Thanks. It felt good. Now I need to hustle to change.”

  He followed behind as she hurried to her trailer. He entered first to make sure it was clear before he stepped outside and waited. She came back out a few minutes later dressed in a nude colored dress that hugged her curves and made him do a double take. A sheer top layer sparkled brilliantly.

  “Damn,” he hissed under his breath. She was going to kill him.

  She adjusted the fit of her top, oblivious to what she was doing to him. “When I picked up my outfits earlier, Greta told me there was an issue with one of my costumes.” She looked up at him. “She said it had to do with Lacy.”

  He hadn’t had a chance to tell her about the confrontation. “Sawyer and I spoke with her. She admitted to tampering with your shoes and she was about to take a seam ripper to your dress when we caught her. Russell had her arrested for trespassing.”

  Her eyes were hopeful. “Did she admit to the other incidents, too?”

  He hated to upset her. “No. She denied having anything to do with the attempts on your life and I believe her.”

  “You do?”

  “Her stunts were meant to embarrass, not harm you. The cops arrested her for trespassing, per Russell’s instructions. Do you want to press charges for the damage to your shoes?”

  “As much as I loved them, they were old and the only value was sentimental. I think she’s been through enough, losing her job and then being arrested.”

  “You’re too sweet, Cassidy.” God, he wanted to kiss her. “She tormented you. You deserve justice.”

  “And I got it with her being fired.” Her brows knit. “Mason?”

  “What?”

  “If it wasn’t Lacy, that means that someone still wants to hurt me.”

  He grasped her shoulders, again fighting the urge to capture her lips in a scorching kiss. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  The door on the opposite end of Cassidy’s trailer opened and Trey bounded down. Mason let go of her and stepped back.

  “I’m so excited, Cassidy,” Trey said, practically bouncing on his feet. He grabbed her hand and headed for the auditorium. She glanced sheepishly over her shoulder as she trotted along with her partner. He followed behind, scanning the area for any threats, trying desperately to keep his gaze from Cassidy’s behind, her hips an enticing sway. She was sleek and elegant but strong and powerful, too. A heady combination. And she was so far out of his league, they weren’t even in the same stratosphere.

  Once he was back inside, he made his way to Sawyer and took a seat. The producer called the first couple to perform their routine. Cassidy’s nemesis, Irina, came strutting out dressed as a swan, complete with a fat orange beak. He could barely suppress a chuckle. Sawyer didn’t bother holding his in. She looked ridiculous. Her partner, an actor who’d starred in a slasher movie years ago, was also dressed as a swan, albeit a bit more masculine looking. Only a bit. He wore all black, and he looked totally humiliated. Mason felt sorry for the guy. When the music started, he couldn’t tell what the hell he was watching. It was a cross between a funky swan mating ritual and an avian fight to the death. He and Sawyer sucked in a breath at the same time. The man ended up on the ground as feathers slowly rained down from the rafters. Bizarre.

  “What the hell was that?” Sawyer muttered. “Some kind of Voodoo sacrifice?”

  “I’m afraid to even venture a guess,” he answered.

  They watched more routines, some good, some not. A ten-minute break was announced before the group number that would open the second half of the show. Props were wheeled into place, cameras were rolled to different positions. Once the stage had been set, the pros began gathering.

  Harlow jogged over and used her husband’s lap as a seat to watch the professional dancers. The music started and his gaze instantly found Cassidy. It was as if she was the only one on stage. Maybe it was his imagination, but the spotlight seemed to highlight her until the other dancers faded away. Oh damn, he had it bad.

  “Oh my gosh, they’re so good,” Harlow praised.

  He couldn’t speak for the other dancers, but Cassidy was definitely good. More than good. Great. Captivating. In a league of her own. The routine ended and after they held a pose for a few seconds. The onlookers cheered, and soon the dancers on stage followed suit.

  Again, he followed Cassidy to her trailer to change. When she came out this time, it was in a sexy golden number that highlighted her new tan and blond hair. Air rushed from his lungs. This was so not good. He needed to stay sharp, keep his focus. He had a job to do and it wasn’t dragging her back inside the trailer, ripping off the gold dress and sinking into her slick heat.

  Oblivious to the thoughts swirling through his head, Cassidy said, “I spoke with Harlow earlier. She said her husband was helping you set up equipment at my apartment tonight. She mentioned going to dinner first.”

  “I meant to run that by you earlier. Is that okay?”

  “Absol
utely. I really like her. She’s not at all what I expected.”

  He glanced down at her. “What did you expect?”

  One golden shoulder lifted. “I thought she’d be a snob. I mean, her grandmother runs the country.”

  Mason chuckled. “If you didn’t know her family was famous, you’d never guess. She’s sweet and genuine.”

  “Sawyer’s your coworker?”

  “Yeah, former FBI.”

  “How did they meet?”

  “Do you remember when the president’s granddaughter was kidnapped?”

  “I do. Was it Harlow’s sister?”

  “Yes, younger. Zoe. Harlow was with her. It happened at a resort a couple of hours from Bloomington, featuring a world-class golf course, a casino, salon and massive waterpark. My office had scheduled a weekend trip. The son of one of my coworkers saw Zoe being kidnapped and he jumped in the truck to save her.”

  “I remember that. He was so brave. Didn’t he save another girl, too?”

  “Yeah, now his stepsister. His name is Kai and he and Zoe kept in touch. When Harlow went missing in Coslos, she called Kai, who told Sawyer, and the rest is history.”

  “That’s such a remarkable story.”

  “It is.”

  They parted ways once they reached the stage. She met up with Trey and he headed back to the seats to watch. Four more couples performed before it was time for Harlow and Marcus. Sawyer couldn’t sit still. She wore a red outfit that featured a sparkly bodice and layered fringe skirt with red gloves. Marcus wore a matching red sleeveless shirt and black pants. The music began and Sawyer’s leg kept time, whether from nerves or musicality, Mason wasn’t sure. He was betting on nerves. Harlow and her partner glided effortlessly across the floor. Her smile was radiant and genuine, and she never missed a beat. As soon as the music ended, both he and Sawyer surged to their feet in applause, to hell with being reserved. This was Harlow. She smiled at them and blew a kiss as they pranced off the floor. All that was left was Cassidy and Trey.

  He felt the familiar kick to the solar plexus that walloped him every time he laid eyes on her when they walked onto the stage. Trey was a bundle of energy, hopping around and mugging for the cameras. When they were cued, he calmed down and got into position. The music started and they proceeded to do what he now knew to be a Samba. Her partner was quick on his feet and very likable. Cassidy was simply breathtaking. Her moves were sharp and precise. They would be hard to beat.