Sultry Groove (Reckless Beat #4) (26 page)

She hadn’t said much all morning. Apart from a suggestion here or there, she kept to herself, providing encouragement and not much else as she followed them back and forth through the room. But, in this moment, all his annoyance evaporated. She still had bite left in her, and that’s what he was banking on getting them through the next two days.

Unfortunately, the truth was lost on Sasha. Her response was to giggle in her grating, overly girlie tone that made the hair on the back of his neck rise in discomfort.

He despised every minute of the first three hours of practice. Not because he wasn’t perfecting the moves, but because there was no connection with the woman he was dancing with. There was no buzz. No thrill. No threat of his dick hardening to the point of pain as he tried to remember the choreography.

The only partner he wanted in his arms was trying hard not to meet his attention every time he glanced her way. Caught between the need to push and the need to let her be, he wasn’t sure what desire would win.

Melody’s cheeks hurt
from holding a fake smile. Her chest ached, too.

The ease in which Sasha and Sean had come together was a betrayal she’d known was approaching, yet couldn’t prepare herself for. They’d nailed the lifts, had originally fumbled through the opening sequence, but had since improved to flawlessness. The only thing Sean had to perfect was the way he admired Sasha as they moved. And that was merely a matter of time. They were meant to dance together, and Melody, as she’d predicted, was destined to sit on the sideline, watching in despair as her choreography took the man she admired away from her.

“Can we do one more take?”

Melody diverted her attention from the beaming smile Sasha continued to bestow on Sean, and focused on the videographer. The man was young, funky, dressed in a ripped black tank and frayed denim shorts.

“Yeah,” Sean muttered. “Have at it. We’re gonna be here all day.”

The guy had already interviewed Sean, asking questions about the rehearsal process and what the music clip was all about. Melody had fumbled her way through an interview, too, and hoped to hell she didn’t appear like the heartbroken, washed-up dancer she currently was.

“Have you got time to record me dancing with Red, too?”

Melody’s gaze snapped to Sean. “No.” She shook her head. “There’s no need.” That would go beyond rubbing salt in the wound. She couldn’t dance with him, not in front of Sasha, in the room where they’d be making the final clip. It was a kick in the teeth. A temptation she couldn’t risk tasting.

“We’ve got time.” The cameraman blew the hair from his eyes and glanced from Sean to her and back again.

“No.” Melody began to pace, unable to stand still.

“Why not?” Sean faced her, his features barely containing the annoyance she could read in his eyes. “I’ve worked with you for the last three weeks. It’d be a great addition to the promo video.”

“I’ve done my part, Sean.” He wanted to pull her into the spotlight. To shove her under the scrutiny of the limelight. Why couldn’t he understand she didn’t want a part of it? That she
couldn’t
be a part of it. “The interview was more than enough.”

“Just let it go.” Sasha settled a hand on Sean’s elbow.

God-damn it.
Melody hung her head, humiliation burned her cheeks. The pity in Sasha’s eyes knocked the breath from her lungs.

“It’s not really necessary,” the cameraman added. “You and Sasha look perfect together. There’s no point wasting space in the promo video by making people watch the same thing over and over again.”

Wasting space
. Melody held Sean’s steady gaze and was proud when she didn’t betray her pain. “See.” Bitterness laced her tone. “We don’t want to waste space
.
”

Noise erupted from outside the ballroom, screaming and squeals from the women who must be still crowding the entrance to the building.

“Mason must be here,” Sean muttered.

The doors to the ballroom opened and Ryan, Leah, Mason, and Sidney strode in, along with a tall, burly man who positioned himself at the entryway.

“Nice digs, twinkle toes.” Mason greeted Sean with a smirk.

“Come a little closer and say that, pretty boy,” Sean snarled. “Let’s see how you like these
twinkle toes
rammed straight up your ass.”

Sasha let out a bark of laughter, ignoring the lack of humor in Sean’s tone and the way frustration poured from him in waves. She jogged, practically ran, toward the new arrivals, introducing herself in the larger than life way that grated Melody’s nerves.

More screams echoed from outside. Indecipherable shouts she had no desire to face.

“The rest of the gang were right behind us.” Sidney spoke over her shoulder. “It’s crazy out there.”

“It’s called free advertising,” Leah drawled. “This track is going to sell millions, and I’m banking all my confidence on this video.”

Melody slunk into the shadows, taking a seat along the wall to stare at the balled fists in her lap. “Yeah,” she whispered to herself. “It
will
sell millions.” Because Sean was going to earn the affection of every woman in the world. The video highlighted his confident control, showcased his gentleness, and if he nailed the emotion, there wouldn’t be a female whose heart wouldn’t flutter at the sight of it.

The ballroom door opened, held ajar by the bodyguard as the remaining two Reckless Beat members entered the room, Gabi and Alana by their side, and another member of security trailing behind.

A group formed at the edge of the dance floor. The women greeted each other with hugs, the men with fist bumps and masculine juts of their chin. With increasing potency, the large room filled with good natured noise. It should’ve been soothing, yet it left her hollow.

She didn’t fit into Sean’s crowd. She wasn’t sure she fit anywhere anymore. Her performing career was over. She could barely call herself a choreographer, and she’d set herself up to fail with Sean’s friends because of the way she reacted to the sex tape.

“You look how I usually feel?”

A shadow darkened Melody’s vision, and she glanced up to see Leah taking the seat beside her. “You mean tired?”

“No.” Leah shook her head. “Stressed. Anxious. Nauseated over the fear the guys will fuck something up.”

Melody gave a halfhearted chuckle. “No. Sean has this under control. Just wait and see. They look perfect together.”

“Not entirely.” His gruff voice washed over her nerves, making her heart clench. “You’ve already told me I haven’t perfected my facial expressions.”

“And I’ve told you, it’s only a matter of time.” She met Sean’s defiant frown, refusing to wither under his stare. “You’ll get it right by tomorrow.”

“I already had it right.
With you
.”

“And once you do the same with Sasha, you’ll realize the clip is far better.” She wasn’t sure if she was lying to Sean as well as herself. In her mind, rehearsing with him was a fairytale. Like Cinderella dancing with the prince. Perfect. Enchanting.

She couldn’t convince herself to see the same magic when he danced with Sasha. It just wasn’t there. Not to her eyes, anyway. Maybe she was kidding herself. Maybe she wasn’t. It didn’t matter because the roles wouldn’t change. “You’ll have every groupie eating out of the palm of your hand.”

“I’m not interested in groupies,” he growled.

“OK. OK.” Leah held up her hands. “The two of you are beginning to sound like Mitch and Blake. Nothing but bickering. Get back to work, Sean. I want to see this dance.”

He grunted, holding Melody’s attention for one more penetrating moment before striding heavy footed to the side of the dance floor to turn on the iPod. As the music started, Sasha let out a squeal and ran from her conversation with Mason and Sidney to be at Sean’s side.

They drifted into movement, stealing everyone’s attention, silencing conversations through awe. Sasha played the role well. There was no doubt in Melody’s mind the rest of the band, Leah, the recording label, and the legions of Reckless fans would love the
Fighting Against Attraction
clip.

“You did a flawless job,” Leah murmured. “Absolutely flawless.”

Melody lowered her gaze, focusing on her breathing so the rapid heartbreaking beats in her chest didn’t take over. “Thank you.”

“You’re not handling it well, though.”

Melody’s focus shifted to Leah, absorbing the pity in the band manager’s sea green eyes. “What am I not handling?”

“Sitting here. Letting someone else take the credit for what you’ve created.” Leah gave a weak smile. “Keeping your cool while another beautiful woman touches your man.”

Melody’s lips parted yet nothing came out.

“I ruined your rehearsal last night,” Leah continued. “I’m sorry for that.”

“Don’t be.” Melody stared back at her hands, wringing her fingers together to fight the need to scream at how weak she’d become. “I said the same thing to Sean last night. This project is about publicity. I was just caught off guard. That’s all.”

Leah’s hand rested on Melody’s knee, softly squeezing. “I did a lot of research after Mason’s sister recommended you for this project. I called your previous employers. I was given detailed information on why you stopped dancing.”

Searing heat shot up Melody’s throat, cutting off her air. “I expected as much.” Expected it, yet had grown complacent because nobody had mentioned it.

“I thought you might. What you wouldn’t expect was that last night was me trying to pressure you into making a decision about where you go from here. A test, if you will. The scene in the park is what Sean’s life is all about—screaming fans and promotional obligations. If the two of you are together, this will happen all the time. I need you to realize that. To make a decision about where you go from here because I can’t risk him falling for you and never recovering if you choose to walk away.”

Melody’s lips moved, her heart palpitated, yet no words formed. She’d been tested and failed miserably.

“I’m sorry, Mel.” Leah slid her hand away. “Although this is business, it also comes down to me loving these guys like family. I’ll do anything for them, especially if it means causing a rift now to save an upcoming massacre.”

“So are you asking if I’m going to walk away from him, or are you telling me to?” It sure as hell seemed like the latter.

“Honey, I’m not telling you to do anything.” Leah grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I just want you to take the time to realize how much of a great guy he is. He deserves your trust and your honesty. And if you have no intention of facing your fears and letting him in, you need to tell him sooner rather than later.”

Melody’s vision began to blur as the familiar closing notes of the song drifted from the iPod. Sasha and Sean embraced, before the final moment when Sasha turned, walking away, not succumbing to the unwanted attraction outlined in the lyrics.

A wolf whistle pierced the air. Applause erupted. The Reckless family strode for Sean, surrounding him with a mass of compliments from the women and good-natured ribbing from the men.

“If you’re going to break his heart, you need to do it soon.” Leah pushed to her feet.

“I hadn’t planned on it.” She hadn’t, but now the thought was in her mind, the heartbreak of the day growing into a mass of bile in her stomach, she wondered if that was the easiest option. Tomorrow was going to be torture. Witnessing the fans fawn over him once the clip was released would bring even more pain.

And the most important point to consider was how he would react when he finally figured out her faults. As great as Sean made her feel when they were alone, right now she hated herself. Her jealousy was too much to bear. It was cloying, nauseating, and entirely disgusting when she’d hated the scorn she’d received from others throughout her career.

She couldn’t stay here, surrounded by smiles and compliments directed to others while she sat alone with her misery.

“Sasha.” Melody stood and waited for the woman to break away from the enthusiastic group surrounding her. “Are you going to be OK if I leave you to take over on your own?”

Leah stiffened at her side while Sasha nodded. “Of course, darling. Are you calling it a day?”

“Yeah.” She turned, ignoring the stares of everyone in the room as she grabbed her handbag off the seat and yanked it onto her shoulder. “I’m not feeling too good. I’m going to go home and rest.”

“You surprised me,” Leah murmured. “I didn’t expect you to run.”

Melody hung her head, wishing she had something to retaliate with. There was nothing. What could she defend herself with if she had no weapons? Her confidence was gone. The things she excelled at had disappeared. And the one thing Sean desired above everything else—fame—was the one thing she could no longer stomach.

She strode for the door, ignoring the disappointment in Leah’s features.

“Red, wait.”

Sean’s concerned tone caught her around the throat, pulling her up short. She kept her back to him, unable to move. Worse still, unable to look him in those stunning blue eyes as he maneuvered around her, bringing them toe to toe.

“Are you really sick?”

“Yeah.” She nodded and kept her chin lowered. Sick of hiding from the biggest secret of her life. Sick of suppressing a scream every time he told her she was beautiful. Sick of loving the calm that darkness brought.