Turning It on (Red Hot Russians) (23 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

“Got your jazz hands ready?” A dashing Byron Lord tipped his black top hat.

Hannah fanned her white-gloved fingers, and then paced through the routine once again, counting out the steps. “One, two, shuffle right, three, four, shuffle left...”

“No need to make yourself crazy. You know this front to back.” Vlad’s sexy voice sent a frisson of excitement racing up her spine. She turned to find him behind her, wearing a black rock-star costume of skintight, fake leather pants and a studded vest worn over his bare chest.

She laughed. “I’m trying not to make myself crazy, but you’re not helping things. Especially dressed like that. You’re ruining my concentration.”

“Little nervous is okay. Too much, not good. Remember, up here.” He touched her temple and his fingertips lightly caressed her skin. “You know the dance. Trust your body to remember and only think about showing your audience a good time.”

“Is that advice from the skater, or the stripper? Or the Starchild?”

Vlad grinned beneath his black-and-white KISS-inspired greasepaint. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Jack, glaring. She turned her attention back to Vlad. “I can’t wait to see what Team Tammy has planned.”

“I promise, you’ll be impressed.”

“I’m sure I will.”

Costumed castmates surrounded them, everyone giddy with excitement over tonight’s live broadcast, but as she looked into Vlad’s eyes, everything else faded away. It was as though they were completely alone. Later tonight on Isla Cara, they would be.

Last night, when his thank-you request had turned out to be dinner on the beach, she immediately knew which beach. “It’s the perfect place, and don’t forget, you offered to take me to the island.”

He frowned. “I wasn’t thinking alone at night. It’s risky.”

There was no denying that crossing the dark water was risky, but having their moonlight beach dinner here was risky, too, just in a different way. On Isla Cara, there was no chance they would be spotted. She had seen him handle a boat during their time here and he was very capable. “But in just a few days, you’re going home. I want us to have an adventure we’ll always remember. I kind of ruined the moment at the waterfall.”

“Hannah...” he replied with a low laugh and shook his head. “What about Jack?”

“If Jack finds out, then it means something went wrong and we have much bigger problems,” she said, and took his hand. “This isn’t about cheating on Jack. Other than a few kisses, I’ve been faithful and you’ve respected that. That’s not going to change. I want to go to the island so you and I will carry away a memory that’s only ours. Because once we go back to our real lives, it’s all we’ll have.”

Whatever happened, or didn’t happen, on the island was irrelevant. What mattered is that she would be alone with Vlad one last time.

Something seemed to glitter in his eyes, and she saw his throat move up and down as he seemed to be struggling, just as she was, to hold back his emotions. This was going to mean so much to both of them. “Okay,” he’d whispered, and brushed a kiss on her forehead.

“Quiet, please! We go live in one minute!” The bullhorned shout of a production assistant, pushing his way through the studio’s cramped backstage area, brought Hannah back to the moment.

For the live show, the production company invited the resort staff to a big dinner beforehand. After eating their fill and taking advantage of the open bar, they were primed for entertainment. Backstage, the cast turned to look at the TV monitors overhead, which showed the stage and the audience. The houselights went down, and the buzz of voices softened into hushed energy.
Last Fling’s
salsa-fied theme song blared, and Cody deWylde bounded out to center stage, wearing a retro-style turquoise tuxedo and sequined bow tie.

“Welcome to talent night! Tonight we see a different side of our couples and flings. Each team has created a special musical number that will take us from Broadway to Memphis, and everyplace in between. We’ll also go behind the scenes of this week’s grueling rehearsals and, as we head into our final week, take an intimate look at the lives and journeys of our sexy flings. Who will steal our hearts? Find out next, on the season’s most entertaining and
outrageous
episode of
Last Fling
... LIVE!”

The room thundered with more cheers and applause, from both the audience and the cast assembled backstage. Vlad remained at her side, and in the dark, lightly touched her back. She turned to see the white star on his face gleaming in the low light. He winked and flashed a sexy smile.

Video rolled, starting with a scene of Jack and his women learning their dance, which appeared to have come together effortlessly. Then there were segments on each of the flings; Kirstin’s glamorous life as an international lingerie model, Gina’s rough-and-tumble world of Roller Derby, Cristal looking pensive as she strolled through the ramshackle trailer park where she had grown up. Robynne, in sweet gingham top and cutoff jeans that showed half her ass, baked pie with grandma.

There was a scene of her and Jack on the beach, smiling and singing together, as he strummed a guitar. Or pretended to. As far as Hannah knew, Jack didn’t play a note. “I’m just a small-town girl at heart,” said Robynne, in voice-over. “But I’ll go wherever life takes me, as long as I can be with the man I love.”

There were a few audible sighs from the audience, then applause, then Cody. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. Jivin’ Jack Gordon!”

The music chugged into the brassy opening of “Alright, Okay, You Win.” Jack snapped his fingers trying to be Mr. Suave, but with his blond hair, gleaming smile and white dinner jacket, the effect was more Pat Boone than Rat Pack. The girls floated around him in candy-pink, empire waist dresses that only looked good on Robynne. Gina had rhythm, but Robynne and Kirstin were stiff and wooden. Cristal looked as if she might die of embarrassment. Four long minutes later, the audience applauded politely, as Team Jack took their bows.

Byron and Jeff Scott snickered like schoolboys with a girlie mag. “Ready to knock ’em dead?” asked the funeral director.

Hannah covered her mouth to hide her smile. “After that, I am.”

Her confidence began to ebb though, as she and her team stood behind the curtains, awaiting their cue. From here, they were unable to see the rehearsal clips, but could hear enough to know that Heathcliff’s cane problems were front and center. But this was live TV, and what the audience saw next was up to Hannah and her shirtless chorus boys, not the film editors.

Cody’s announcement came through the curtains. “Please welcome Teeeam Hannaaaaah!”

The guys took their places, backs turned, for the piano introduction. Hannah, behind the curtain, silently counted through their steps as they sang and danced the first verse. Everyone sounded in key and there were no telltale clatters of falling canes. At the end of the first part of the routine, the audience applauded. Then came the rise in the music that signaled Hannah’s entrance. She stepped out from behind the curtain and into the spotlight.

Though it was too dark to see far into the room, she sensed a large number of people and knew that the cameras on either side of the stage provided a view to millions more. The thought brought a flutter to her stomach, but she didn’t give in to nervousness. She knew this dance. She moved well. Confidently, she looked straight into the cameras, smiled and sang.

“One...singular sensation, every little step she takes...”

She started down the stairs, the metal plates on her shoes tapping out a rhythm as she moved back and forth between Heathcliff, Byron and Jeff Scott.
Step, brush, step, kick, step brush, slide to the left...

The dance was fun and exhilarating and, thanks to Byron’s coaching, she hit every note of the song, even the high ones. As each fling spun her around the floor, she followed confidently and stepped on no one’s toes. They all came back together for the big finish, with a kick line, cane twirl and jazz hands. Applause—much louder than the polite ovation earned by Team Jack—washed over them as they struck their final poses. After taking their bows, they hurried offstage and, once behind the curtains, exchanged hugs and congratulations. Vlad made his way over and threw his arms around Hannah, lifting her off the ground.

“You did it! You were beautiful and perfect. I’m so proud of you.” She gazed into Vlad’s eyes and in the afterglow of her onstage success, knowing she had made him proud meant even more than defeating Jack. She lingered in the circle of his arms, aching to kiss him but equally aware that she shouldn’t. Especially not here, with Jack just a few feet away, even if Robynne clung to his arm, as usual. Hannah moved a step back from Vlad, but as they parted, her gloved fingertips feathered across his bare arms.

“Thank you for everything,” she said. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Vlad smiled beneath his makeup. “That isn’t true. You have always been the woman you are tonight. But I’m glad I was the one to help you see it.”

Out on stage, even Cody had to acknowledge their success. “Who’d have thought our little Hannah was a closet Broadway diva? How ’bout a big hand for Team Blue? Jack, Robynne, Cristal, Gina and Kirstin! Hannah, Heathcliff, Jeff Scott and the incomparable Byron Lord! Stay tuned! Team Red is coming up after this!”

The moment the show cut to commercial, dance music began to play and the cast converged on stage. Even the audience rose from their seats. Though she had once sat on the sidelines, Hannah now joined in the dance, moving with exuberance that had nothing to do with sexy clothes, makeup, or even a man. She had discovered a part of herself that was fierce and confident, a part hidden far too long, but which belonged center stage, not in the shadows. It had taken
Last Fling’s
trial by fire to help her recognize it, but regardless of what happened as a result, she would never again see herself as less.

The hard, throbbing techno released her inhibitions, and she closed her eyes, conscious of the music, moving with sensuality she had never known she possessed. Sensing someone beside her, she opened her eyes to see Vlad dancing close by, the smooth motion of his hips and shoulders mirroring hers. She tossed her head back, basking in the admiration of a sexy, gorgeous man. When the music stopped, he whispered in her ear. “Anytime you want private dance, say the word.”

“Places!” The PAs hurried everyone back to where they belonged. Vlad went to join his teammates, and Hannah exited stage left. The moment she stepped behind the curtain, Jack grabbed her arm.

“What the hell was that?”

Stunned, she initially had no response, but then recovered and pulled her arm away. “What are talking about? What is your problem?”

“Do you really have to ask? My God, if you could see yourself right now.”

“I’d probably find I look great. I don’t understand why you’re so upset. Didn’t you say I needed to relax and have fun? Maybe I took your advice.”

“Yeah well, I never told you to act like a slut.”

Her jaw slackened and she stepped back in shock at what he had just called her. “Act like a
what?
”

“Shhhh!” A passing PA glared, and put a finger to her lips.

Hannah dropped her voice, hissing with hushed anger. “Say that again, Jack, so I’ll know I didn’t imagine it.”

Jack twisted his mouth into an ugly sneer. “Our families are watching this! It’s like you’re a different person, flaunting yourself for every guy here. Someone must have put in your head that it looks good, but it doesn’t. It’s just embarrassing. But look at the company you’re keeping now. Cristal Glass? Vlad the Bad?”

“You were the one who brought Cristal here, and as for Vlad, you don’t even know him.”

“I know enough. Just like you ought to.”

“Don’t you dare lecture me, Jack Gordon. Not when you’ve spent the past nine weeks flaunting another woman in my face! A woman who acts like a paragon of virtue, but is as vicious and underhanded as they come. I didn’t want to come on this show, but you know what? I’m glad I did. It’s taught me who I really am, and who
you
really are. I thought you were the person I wanted to spend my life with, but I was very wrong. Thanks for showing me that, and have a nice life with Robynne. You two deserve each other. So long, Jack.”

Jack’s eyes widened and he jerked his head back. “Finally, I get to be happy. Thanks for doing me the biggest favor of my life. Goodbye and good riddance.”

The contempt in Jack’s voice shocked her as much as the realization that she’d just broken up with him. Hannah stopped, reeling. In the heat of her anger, she’d told Jack goodbye. She hadn’t meant to say it, but the words slipped out. Now that they had, Hannah didn’t want to take them back. Heat rushed to her cheeks, along with fear that if she stayed in his presence, she would do exactly that. Her new, bold self took over and seemed to be shouting in her ear.
Get away from him, now!

She turned and fled.

The live broadcast was underway when she stumbled from backstage into the audience and found a vacant chair near the back. The video package for Team Chris was playing, and she stared without seeing it. Her chest heaved. Her skin felt flushed. The breeze from a nearby vent cooled the heat in her face, but not the confounding mix of emotions that rocked her. Confusion. Fear. Excitement. Her eyes stung with tears that were not joyful, yet were not sad either. For better or worse, she’d set herself free.

Free to be someone new...and free to be with someone new.

Onstage, the package ended and Cody returned to the spotlight. “Live from Resorte Siete Mares... Elvis is in the house, ladies and gentlemen. Presenting our very own big old hunk o’ love...the one, the only....Chris Tucker!”

The curtains opened to reveal Chris, resplendent in a gold lamé tuxedo, standing behind an oversize microphone, belting out Elvis for all he was worth. Alison, Daphne, Miss October and Patrice, their hair teased into towering beehives, shimmied beside him in tight minidresses and go-go boots. The look was more 1960s than 1950s but the choreography—probably the work of pop singer Patrice—worked. Chris’s voice wasn’t great, but with a healthy dose of attitude and some smooth dance moves, he sold the song. The audience cheered even louder than they had for Hannah.