Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
But tonight…she almost wanted the announcer to call her name now, so she could finish this dog and pony show and talk to Alejandro. His face still gave away absolutely nothing, not anger, not joy. Had he forgiven her and come to be with her? Or had he simply come because she’d given him free tickets and his mother liked to attend? No clue. That man could probably play a mean game of poker.
“In third place…”
Again, not her name. Another polite clap. Another clandestine glance at Alejandro. He raised a brow at her, but his expression remained utterly, frustratingly unreadable. Forget the contest results. Not knowing how Ali felt about her was killing her.
And what did that say about how much she loved him? She was well and truly hooked.
“In second place…”
Not her name again. The couple beside them swept out on the floor, and Shanna could see the woman’s forced smile hiding disappointment and the crushing blow of defeat.
But wait…if second place had been announced, and there were no other couples out on the floor…
“In first place, the California Dance Star Latin dance ballroom champions, couple one hundred three, Shanna York and Kristoff Palavin of Los Angeles!”
Kristoff squeezed her hand as he led her out onto the floor. “We did it! We did it!”
They had. Finally! Alejandro was clapping for her. His mother, too. The whole crowd, including her father, who enthusiastically whistled like he was at a football game. It was bad form in ballroom, but she smiled, glowed, and grinned from ear to ear.
Tonight, she was finally a champion.
But how had it happened, given the blackmailer’s threats?
“What about…you know?” she said to Kristoff through her smile. Maybe the threatening bastard hadn’t followed through?
Before he could answer, the emcee came forward with their trophy. Kristoff grabbed it with one hand and hoisted it up in the air, along with their joined hands. Together, they bowed.
Professionally, she had never been happier than in that moment.
“Ms. York and Mr. Palavin are now eligible to compete in the upcoming World Cup Latin competition.”
Wow, a huge dream come true. And yet… Her life would be incomplete, her triumph hollow, if she didn’t have Alejandro to share it with.
The emcee took the trophy from Kristoff. The lights dimmed, and as champions, she and Kristoff danced. But her mind was on Ali, the way he watched her, his face shuttered but his posture relaxed. What was the man thinking?
Soon, others crowded onto the floor. With the spotlight no longer on them, Shanna all but forced Kristoff to tango Alejandro’s way.
Kristoff resisted. “I must tell you something.”
“Later. Okay?”
“But—”
“Give me fifteen minutes.”
Before he could reply, they reached the edge of the dance floor. She turned to Alejandro’s mother.
“Mrs. Diaz? Hi, I’m Shanna York.” She held out her hand.
“Ella es su novia?” his mother asked Ali sharply.
“Mamá…” He sighed. “Sí.” Then he whispered something in her ear…and her entire face changed, lightened, glowed.
She turned to Shanna with a beaming smile and said in accented English. “Thank you for the tickets. Congratulations on winning, nuera.”
Nuera? Damn she was going to have to learn to speak Spanish at the first opportunity. “Thank you. Have you had the pleasure of dancing with my partner, Kristoff?”
She shook her head and risked a shy peek at Kristoff. “He is one of my favorites.”
“I’m sure he’d consider it a favor. He gets tired of dancing with me and would love your company.” Shanna turned to her partner. “Kristoff?”
Her partner smiled charmingly and took hold of the older woman’s hand. “Shall we dance?”
Off they went. Shanna watched Kristoff handle Ali’s mother with aplomb as he led her into a waltz. The problem was, with Kristoff engaged, well-wishers and competitors were headed her way.
Her father approached first with a proud gleam in his eyes and big hug. After she quickly introduced him to Ali and basked in her dad’s pride, Shanna kissed his cheek. Then she grabbed Alejandro’s hand and dragged him backstage, down a poorly lit, winding hallway, into an empty office. She had no idea who it belonged to—and didn’t care—but she shut the door behind her and locked it.
“Hi.” She smiled. “You came. Thank you.”
God, could he hear her heart pounding like an up-tempo song at full blast?
“You sent tickets. This competition meant a great deal to you.” Shanna heard the edge of anger in his voice, glimpsed it in his tight jaw.
“Not as much as I thought. I know that now, thanks to you.” She bit her lip, wondering how bad it was going to hurt if he didn’t want to hear what she had to say. “I’m sorry about…the other morning. You know, leaving you alone. For everything. Please tell me you don’t hate me.”
“I do not hate you.”
His face still gave her no inkling about his true feelings, but Shanna considered not hating her a decent start. She rushed to Alejandro, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him like there was no tomorrow.