She was being fake but with the way Stacey and the kids were grinning, they believed her, which was great, but when Kevin said, “Actually, I have room on my tour now and would love to come to your studio.”

She wanted die right there. For f**k’s sake, she thought as she smiled. “Oh, really?”

“Yes! We’d love to come. I’ve always wanted to come to Tennessee, but Kevin is really weird about that state, don’t know why! I’m so excited!”

“Me too,” Kevin said, looking Reese right in the eyes. “So I guess we will go straight to Tennessee after the rest of the senior solos. Maybe we can get together tomorrow, work out some stuff, and then have the class on Tuesday?”

Reese wanted to scream more than she wanted her next breath, but with Claire and Brian looking at her like she was holding the world in her hands, she nodded and said, “That will be fine.”

“Awesome, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Gives us both time to sleep.”

Reese could only nod as dread filled her. “Great.”

Phillip knew that Kevin coming to Reese’s studio was on the other side of great. It was from his understanding a f**king nightmare but, for some reason, Reese was just standing there, nodding and saying yes, when Phillip knew she didn’t want to do that at all. He didn’t understand what the hell was going on, but he intended to find out.

“I’m so excited!” Claire gushed as Brian grinned beside her. Reese looked away, moving her hand through her long hair. She had it down today, only a pin holding back one side, and she looked sweet. In a pair of tight jeans that hugged every inch of her sexy legs, she wore a long, honey-colored shirt that brought out the color in her eyes. She had light makeup on, but that was his fault. He kept her busy most the morning, trying to fill the void of not having her for the last three weeks, so she only got to throw a little bit on.

“Claire Anderson?”

Everyone turned to see the backstage lady walking towards them. Her clipboard was in her hand as she pointed to Claire. “There are three numbers left, please follow me backstage.”

“Okay,” Claire said before looking up at him and smiling. This weekend was great for them. Not only had they finally talked about things that needed to be said, but also they had connected. She knew that he was proud of her, that he loved her, and couldn’t live a decent life without her. Dance had turned into something they both needed, and he hoped to God, she went up on that stage and killed the shit out of this dance. He knew she could do it.

Reaching out, he squeezed her shoulder. “Go kick some major ass.”

“That’s my plan,” she said with a cocky grin before looking over at Reese, who had pride shining in her eyes as she hugged her tightly.

“Whatever happens up on that stage, remember that no matter what I am super proud of you. You’ve performed amazingly this weekend. I know that you’re going to murder this dance and own that stage. I am so insanely proud of you. You aren’t the girl that first came to my studio. You have grown so much and my God, I could just squeeze you.”

Claire giggled. “I wouldn’t be where I am without you, you know that, but thank you. You better believe first place is mine.”

They all smiled as she ran off with Brian to catch up with backstage lady.

“We are going to go watch,” Reese said to the douche and the pretty woman beside him as she started for the stage.

“Of course, we’ll see you tomorrow!” the lady said as she waved quickly, her little boy mimicking her with a huge grin on his face.

Turning around, Phillip walked along side of Reese as they headed for the spot for the instructors to watch.

“What was all that about?”

She shook her head. “Hell if I know. I don’t know how he weaseled his way into my studio, but he has and I’m not happy about it.”

“So tell him no.”

“I can’t,” she said with a defeated sigh. “You saw Claire and Brian. I may hate him, but Kevin is famous and they would love to learn from him. I have to do what’s best for my dancers and if having that twat bag at my studio is what is best, then I’ll do it.”

He loved this side of her. This was the real Reese, and he thoroughly enjoyed this side of her. She was slowly but surely tearing down the walls she had up. She was becoming comfortable around him, and he was thankful for that because with every touch, every kiss, and every moment he spent with her, he fell a little more. She was the other half of him he was missing and even though their relationship was supposed to be fun and carefree, it was more than that for him. There had been so many times this weekend he wanted to tell her that, but the thought of her running away kept him from saying the words. He was scared.

How he was scared of a little thing like her was beyond him, but he was. She and Claire were the big goon defensemen that could take him out of the game of love. They could ruin him. He had to make sure that never happened, because he loved them with every fiber in his body. Turning to face her, he reached out, cupping her face, and smiled.

“I am proud of you.”

She arched an eyebrow. “What for?”

“For being you. It takes a lot to put aside your issues with him for your kids.”

She smiled as she looked away shyly, shrugging her shoulders. “It’s no big deal.”

“No, it is,” he insisted as he leaned closer, brushing his lips against hers. “And it doesn’t go unnoticed.”