Judy Hubbard - Our First Dance

“No.” At Natasha’s obvious interest, Rachel decided to elaborate. “We met about eleven years ago when I was choreographing a ballet he was dancing in. We hit it off and have been friends ever since.”

“Oh.” Natasha smiled brightly. “That’s nice.”

“That information pleases you.”

“No, not at all.” Natasha quickly denied. “I just…”

“Are you interested in Damien?”

“Damien has a no-dating policy for his troupe,” Natasha sidestepped her question. “I had to assure him tonight Dennis and I are just friends.”

“Really?” Rachel raised an eyebrow.

“His concern was professional, of course,” Natasha quickly added.

“Of course.” Rachel didn’t look convinced. “But you still didn’t answer my question—are you interested in Damien romantically?”

Natasha chose her words carefully. “Rachel, I like Damien. He’s been kind to me. But I’ve worked too long and too hard for this opportunity to jeopardize it.”

“All that’s true, but…”

“There you are.” Dennis touched Natasha’s arm. “I was beginning to feel ditched.”

Natasha could have kissed him for interrupting Rachel’s inquisition. She was quickly running out of ways to deny that she did have inappropriate feelings for Damien.

“I’m sorry.” Natasha took his hand. “I promise to be a perfect, attentive date for the remainder of the evening.”

“I’m going to hold you to that one.” He pulled her toward the dance floor. “Excuse us, Rachel?”

“Of course. Have fun.”

Rachel watched the two leave with mixed emotions. Natasha appeared to be honest and focused on her career, but she also was interested in Damien. She couldn’t blame her, but she had no intention of standing idly by again the way she had ten years ago while Damien got hurt. She intended to keep an eye on Natasha, just in case she wasn’t what she appeared to be.

* * *

As Natasha danced with Dennis, she found herself wishing she was being held in Damien’s strong arms again. Of their own volition, her seeking eyes found Damien, who stood several feet away with Shelia close by his side. Natasha suppressed a shudder as Damien’s intense gaze held hers for several moments before Dennis innocently led her away. She steeled herself not to seek out Damien’s gaze again, but she felt his burning eyes on her several times through the remainder of the evening, though he never physically sought her out, much to her dismay.

It was the best night of her life; it was also the most revealing, because seeing Damien with another woman made her realize that despite her good intentions, despite the inappropriateness of it, despite the innumerable reasons why she shouldn’t, she was developing feelings for her boss—feelings that she silently vowed to keep in check, somehow.

Chapter 4

The next morning at 4:00 a.m. Natasha walked into work, stifling a yawn behind her hand. After a night of merriment, she had somehow dragged herself out of bed at her usual time. She performed her morning workout and, humming music from the ballet, entered the rehearsal hall promptly at 5:30 sharp. Once rehearsal began, however, she quickly realized this was going to be a long, difficult day.

“No, no, no!” Damien shot out of his chair and walked toward the stage and quickly up the steps. “Natasha, what are you doing?”

“I’m dancing.”

“Is that what you called it?” An eyebrow rose mockingly as he reached her side.

She bristled at his insult, even though it was justified. She wasn’t at her best today; her mind had been wandering to the wonderful party last night.

“I’m…” His angry look cut her words short.

“This is the passionate part of the dance, and you’re not doing it right. You’re not crisp enough! You’re being stilted, careless and cold!” He screamed the words at her.

“I’m sorry.” His criticism stung all the more because it was warranted.

“I don’t want your apology.” He folded his arms across his broad chest as he glared at her. “I have to have passion from you. Passion! Do you know what that is?”

She bit her lower lip hard to stem the tears that wanted so desperately to escape from her eyes. She would not cry in front of him. She was a prima ballerina and she could take stinging criticism—especially when it was justified. He wanted passion, and she would show him passion.

“May I try it again?”

“You’d better.” He scowled as he walked off the stage.

She took a deep breath and released it, glanced at Erina, who gave her thumbs up for encouragement, and then began to dance. She must have done better, because this time Damien didn’t interrupt her, though when she finished he was still frowning.

“Again,” was all he said.

She performed the dance for the third, fourth and a fifth time before he allowed her to stop. She was breathing hard from exhaustion, but she was prepared to perform again until Damien was satisfied.

“That was adequate.” Some of the bite left his voice. “But it still needs work.”

She took heart in his words. At least he wasn’t screaming at her anymore, and in her book that was major progress.

“I’ll give it special attention.”

“Yes, you will.” He nodded curtly. “Dennis, try it with her.”

“Yes, sir.” Dennis took her hand and whispered in her ear, “You’ll get it.”

Natasha offered him a slight smile. “I will.”

“All right, you two, let’s go,” Damien ordered impatiently.

“Yes, sir,” they echoed in unison and began to dance.

The other dancers breathed a collective sigh of relief, glad Damien’s anger wasn’t directed at them. This was the first time they had seen him lose his temper, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Once lunch came, everyone was overjoyed for the break.

* * *

Natasha stood in front of her coach in a small rehearsal hall occupied by only the two of them. She chewed on her lower lip as Erina sternly lectured her.

“You are a prima ballerina now, Natasha,” Erina reminded. “More is expected of you than just being good. You must be great.”

“I know.”

“You were sloppy in rehearsal.” Erina touched her shoulder. “And you know it.”

“I guess I was distracted,” she admitted.

Erina frowned. “By what?”

“I was thinking about my party last night.”

Erina allowed her expression to soften. “It was a spectacular event, no?”

“It was better than I ever dreamed.” Natasha beamed. “Damien went overboard, didn’t he?”

“Mr. Johnson appreciates your talent, and you deserved every heap of praise you received.”

Natasha hugged her coach close and kissed her cheek. “Oh, I love you, Erina. You know that, right?”

“Of course I know that.” Erina returned her hug for a few seconds. “Now, we must put that type of emotion into your dance. Come now, let us practice, and when you return to stage, you will, how do you say, knock Mr. Johnson’s socks off.”

“Yes,” Natasha smilingly agreed.

“Let’s begin. First position. Now stretch,” Erina instructed. “Good. Bend more, more. Good.”

Erina ordered one difficult exercise after the other without hesitation, challenging Natasha’s strength and resolve. Natasha performed each maneuver without complaint; she was intent on being perfect when rehearsal continued, and hard work was what it took to be perfect.

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