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“I will have security throw him out,” Nate said.
He turned to go get Billy, but Jen stopped him with her hand on his arm. “Wait. I want to hear what he has to say. Maybe he knows a way to convince the appeal board to consider my request one more time.”
Nate didn’t like it. He didn’t like the fact that Carlos might be able to help her or that she might want to return to the world of competitive dance. “I thought you were happy with the life you are building here.”
“I am. I just want to hear what he has to say.”
“Okay. Let me know if you need me. I’m going down to the main club.”
“Nate, it’s nothing to worry about. I’m not going to change my mind. I just need to know why he’s here.”
He nodded. “I can respect that. Send me a text when he’s gone and I’ll come and join you.”
“I will,” she said. Then she leaned up and kissed him, and he let that quick embrace soothe the savage part of him.
The part that wanted to go back to that table and lift the world-famous dancer up by his lapels and tell him that Jen was his now. And this was his world and he wasn't welcome in it.
Ten
Once their dance routine was over, Jen changed out of her flamenco costume and bade goodbye to Alison. She was anxious to see why Carlos was here. She hoped he’d finally stopped saying she’d slept with him to ensure a better score if he were to judge one of her competitions. She wanted him to admit that their affair had started out of their friendship. She wasn’t sure she’d return to the world of dance competitions but she would like to have her name cleared.
And he was the only man who could do it. Carlos had gotten word that their affair was common knowledge and gone to the other judges behind her back. Telling them that his guilt wouldn’t let him continue to sleep with her. Though he hadn’t judged her in an actual competition, the appearance of impropriety was there. The damage was already done.
Being demoted from the world stage to a regional judge had punished him for their fraternization, but he had been able to stay in the competitive dance world, something that she hadn’t. Why was he back now?
She knew that Nate wasn’t too happy that she wanted to talk to Carlos and she wondered what he’d think if he knew that she and Carlos had been lovers. That was something she didn’t want to find out. Things were going well between her and Nate and she didn’t want to rock the boat.
She forced herself to take her time instead of racing back out to the table where Carlos waited for her. She pulled her hair up into a loose chignon and fixed her makeup. She wore a pair of skinny jeans, strappy sandals and a blousy top that tied on the side of her waist. Nate had promised to take her on a midnight cruise of Biscayne Bay and she was looking forward to that. If Carlos had good news, she’d be able to tell Nate more about her past.
She entered the club and saw Carlos sitting by himself watching the room. She wondered sometimes what she’d seen in him as a man. She had long suspected that her infatuation with him stemmed solely from the dance. They’d taught kids together as part of an outreach program when they’d been on tour and Carlos had been a different man on the dance floor. He’d been a special guest judge because of his reputation in the dance world.
He stood up when he saw her approaching and she smiled at him. “Good evening, Carlos. It is such a surprise to see you here.”
“Good evening, Jen.”
He sat back down and she did the same.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“The competition is in town.”
“But you aren’t judging in it,” she said.
“Very true. I heard that you’d appealed to the board again to reinstate you.”
“Yes, I have. I want to have my name cleared.”
“I need you to let this drop,” Carlos said.
“Why? You didn’t lose anything. I did. I want my name back.”
“You’re not going to get it,” Carlos said. “You should stop trying to make that happen.”
“You are probably right. So why are you really here?”
“I need your help,” he said.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Why would I help you?” she asked.
“You owe me.”
She didn’t even want to imagine how it was he thought she owed him. “What exactly do you need?”
“A recommendation as a dance instructor at the Calle Ocho School.”
“Why me?”
“Your bosses own the marketplace where the dance studio is. So use your connections and I will get out of your hair.”
“Will you tell the board what really happened between us?”
