Chapter 13
Kaisa
We step through the back door and into a small courtyard attached to the dark timber and cream-colored stone hotel.
I shove my keycard in the back pocket of my sweatpants as the snowflakes glide down from the night sky, the rays from the streetlamps showcasing intricate, diamond flakes.
Stringed lights crisscross above our heads against a canopy that protects us from some of the snow.
I take in a quick breath. It’s so beautiful that it makes me miss home. So badly.
We reach a stone half-wall at the edge of the courtyard, brush off the snow, and rest our elbows, standing side by side. “Doesn’t snow much in LA, huh?” Ledger asks.
“How do you know I live in LA?”
He has the decency to look sheepish, but his voice is confident. “I looked you up. I was curious.”
I reach my palm out to catch some flakes. “Confession: I looked you up, too.”
“Ha! We’re even then.” A pause, then. “Tell me about this Kale guy. Are his parents vegan?”
I dignify that response with a roll of my eyes. “We were assigned to be partners the first season of the show.”
He surveys me carefully. “There’s so much you’re not telling me.”
I shake my head, feeling an ache in my chest. Not because I care that Kale and I broke up, but because of what my getting too close to him did to my career. “I don’t normally like to talk about my personal life.”
“I saw the way you looked at him in that video.”
I give him side-eye. “We were doing the rumba. We’re supposed to act like that.”
He gives me a little shoulder bump. “I’d sort of thought you only looked at me that way.”
I almost retort, In your dreams, Ledger. But there’s something in the way the crisp air cleans my lungs and my head, in the way the crystalline snow swirls all around us. It’s magical, and I find myself unable to resist saying something that’s real. And maybe a little bit raw.
“I liked him.” I breathe, pushing my hands into my pockets. Then, “It was one of those silly flings, you know? I always pride myself in being professional. I take my career seriously and I’d never fallen for my partner before. But it happened so fast.”
I dare to dart a glance at him and he’s looking at me with a mixture of kindness and reserve…like he maybe doesn’t want to hear about my feelings for another man, after all.
“Before I knew it, we were dating. The rumors about us were good publicity for the show and we kept scoring the highest on our dances and it was…sort of a trip. Exciting.” I pause, unsure how much more I should say.
“And then what happened?” His voice is soft.
“He changed. Overnight, it felt like. He began pulling away. He started missing rehearsals and canceling dates at the last minute. To be fair, he was promoting a movie, so he was busy. And then, without warning, he told me he didn’t think it was a wise career move to date me.”
Ledger’s low intake of breath and shake of his head has me feeling…cared for. He steps to the side and wraps his arms around me from behind. “What an idiot.”
I manage a faint laugh. “Yeah. He told me this right before our performance in the semi-finals. I was in shock and upset, so neither of us performed very well and we got the lowest number of votes and were kicked off the show.”
“Wow, I’m so sorry he did that.”
“It’s really okay. I’m totally over him, except—”
“Except?”
“It’s just hard because…I’ve had such a great time being partners with you and at the same time, I have to be careful right now, you know?”
He surveys me carefully. “I get it. I’ve loved being partners with you. Thanks for letting us rehearse tonight.”
The patio we’re standing on is partially covered and has recently been shoveled, so we’re mostly protected from the snow. I settle into his arms, mesmerized by the feel of his steady heartbeat against my back and the warmth of his embrace.
“One more time before I go?” His voice is husky and low as he rotates me around, pulls me into closed position, and begins counting.
“Don’t forget,” he says. “Do not go on the one. The one is dead to you, okay?”
I laugh at his repetition of my words. “I’ll try not to.”
We attempt to run through the routine and I hold back. I’m not his drill sergeant partner out here. I’m just me. Letting him take the lead.
He’s humming the tune in my ear, and he has just the right pressure on my waist and my hand. The way he’s leading me is strong, courteous, commanding.
“Ledger, guess what.”
“What?”
“There must be something in the air out here,” I say. “Because you’re taking a strong lead and it’s splendid.”
“Splendid?” He bites back a laugh.
“I mean it,” I insist.
We finish the dance, and the icy breeze through my hair as he lifts and spins me around is exhilarating.
“Did you notice that?” I say after I take my final curtsy.
“Notice what?” He whips his head around. “Do we have an audience out here?”
“No.” I grin. “I didn’t have to give you a single prompt. You did it without any reminders.”
“You taught me well.” He bends down, grabbing a skiff of snow off the ground.
I shriek. “Do not throw a snowball at me!”
I dart, juking him out as I step off the path and into the snow, grabbing some in my hands along the way. I form a ball and throw it at him. It hits him in the hip.
“Aim a lot higher or a lot lower next time,” he cautions, which makes me laugh.
“No need,” I crow. I simply charge ahead and bull-doze through him, forcing both of us in a snowbank. He lands with an oof.
“I told you I was going to dump you into the snow.” I’m on top of him and his face looks different.
Softer somehow. His dark chocolate eyes with the barely there blue rims around the irises skitter over my face and his gaze lands on my mouth.
I lean to whisper in his ear. “Do the linebackers you play against have as easy of a time tackling you as I just did?”
“You caught me off guard! I wasn’t ready.”
I just laugh and scramble up to run. Now would be an excellent time to race upstairs and lock myself in my room. This night is already pushing it. If I’m not careful, I’m going to fall so hard for this man. Besides, if I don’t hurry, he will retaliate.
But he’s already gotten up and is close on my tail. A squeal escapes my mouth.
I’m just steps away from the door. If I can let myself in and close it behind me, I’ll be safe. I reach around to rip the keycard from my back pocket.
But it’s gone.