Love Waltzes In (Dancing Under The Stars) by Alana Albertson Read Free Book Online

had. Boring, predictable. Normal. Play little league, join Boy Scouts, try out for the football team. When the kids at school discovered that instead of spending his free time playing video games and throwing eggs at houses, he was dancing, that's when he learned what it was to be a target. Fag. Sissy. Girl. The taunts never had let up. But he’d been willing to endure the teasing, for Selena.
    After she’d left him, he had turned all his focus to the Corps. He became a different man. And that man had vowed never to step on the dance floor again. On the other hand, that man now had a plan. One season of this show and he'd get the money he needed to fulfill a promise to his best friend—a man who had saved Bret’s life. It seemed like a small sacrifice.
    “The Cha-Cha-Cha. Thank you, competitors.”
    Dima presented Selena to the audience and judges. The crowd exploded.
    “Who’s your favorite couple out there, Ladies and Gentl emen?”
    “Couple 187!” someone yelled.
    “And places for your next dance. Ladies and Gentlemen, samba, please.”
    It had only begun, but Selena was on fire.
    ……………………….
    An hour later, all the competitors were lined up in the on-deck area. They’d run through the samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive. During the applause, Bret had left the table and went to the back of the ballroom to get another beer.
    “And the results of the Professional International Latin Dancesport Championships are as follows: Ladies and Gentlemen, our runners-up. Placing second in cha-cha, third in samba, second in rumba, second in paso doble, and second in jive:  From California, couple 201, Jared Brooks and Viktoria Volkova Brooks.”
    Jared kissed his stepmother on the cheek and she giggled. Bret was grateful that when his own father had remarried, his new wife wasn’t as young and sexy as Vika was.             
    “And Ladies and Gentlemen, placing first in all dances, your Open Professional United States International Latin Champions: From California, couple 187, Dmitri Volkov and Selena Marcil.” Selena jumped up and down, and kissed Dima on the lips. An ache twisted in Bret’s stomach.
    Spinning four times, the couple bowed and thanked the crowd. Selena took her place for the event photo. The competition orga nizer handed her a dozen red roses and their check for the prize.
    The night winded down quickly as the spectators milled around the ballroom, saying their goodbyes. The judges had vacated their posts. Reporters wandered the room, searching for any available dancers.
    Bret made his way over to the floor.
    Wrapping herself in a robe, Selena withdrew from the crowd, Benny following her.
    Bret gazed at Selena and finished his beer. Dima posed for pictures, which was fine by Bret. He didn’t know what he would say to Dima when they would finally meet again.
    “Congrats, Sel. I’m glad I came to watch.”
    Selena beamed, still short of breath. “Thanks, Bret.” She leaned forward, planting a light kiss on his cheek.
    She was sweaty and her hair was wild. Bret grinned, looking down, not wanting her to see his face. He’d always liked her like this.
    “Well, I hate to cut this rip snorter of a party short,” Benny said, “but we’ve just confirmed your assignments. Your celebrity partners want to meet tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice, but this show business thing is highly unpredictable, isn’t it?” He opened his jacket and handed paperwork to Selena and Bret.
    “San Francisco?” Selena asked, looking up at Bret.
    “Marin, actually. You and Bret are paired with a bloke and his Sheila. I can’t tell you their names, but they’re icons.”
    Marin, of course. Benny was sending Bret and Selena to their hometown, where they’d fallen in love so many years ago.
    Selena shook her head. “We start tomorrow? I only packed for the competition.”
    “Sorry, luv. We just got word that they have to start training early because they both have a charity commitment and