Page 29 of Dancing on Air

“It’s not my doing, nor do I plan on obeying their wishes. If you’re up for it, we can continue what we started at my place tonight.”

He knew his message had double meaning and figured both meanings were true.

He wasn’t expecting a response, but by the time he hailed a cab, Cora’s message came through.

“Did you do that on purpose?”

The next message followed quickly.

“I’d be thrilled to go back to your place so that you can get your hands on me… see, I can use a double-entendre, too.”

He chuckled and smiled the entire way across town, even though the traffic was terrible and caused him to be a few minutes late.

When he stepped through the back door, he was surprised to see Reece holding Cora up against the wall. The man was easily twice Cora’s size and weight, and he had her shoulders pinned to the wall, his face inches from hers.

His first thought was that they were in a lovers’ embrace. Then he saw Cora try and shove Reece away as she jerked her head to the side.

“Get off me,” she said, and Max’s entire body reacted. He dropped his bag and rushed over to pull the man off Cora. He slammed him against the other wall and held him there.

“Don’t hurt him,” Cora said as he pulled his fist back.

A few things happened at the same time.

The moment Max lowered his fist, Reece raised his. His fist connected with Max’s shoulder just as the back door opened and a group of dancers entered and gasped at the sight.

“Out,” Max growled to Reece as he pointed towards the doors. “Don’t come back,” he warned.

“Hey, man, I didn’t know it was you.” Reece’s face paled slightly. He opened his mouth to talk again, but stopped when Max narrowed his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter who it was. You have no right pushing anyone around,” he said in a low tone, trying to control his anger. “You’re out.”

“You can’t kick me out of the show.” Reece’s entire attitude changed again. The man was now shoulder to shoulder with Max.

Max’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Oh?” He glanced at Cora and the rest of the gang watching the pair of them squaring off. “Why is that?”

“Your family owes mine a favor,” Reece whispered. “I’m un-fucking-touchable.”

Max smiled and reached up and touched Reece on the shoulder. “I don’t want to see you in my auditorium again.” He turned around to walk away.

When Cora cried out, Max turned and was almost fast enough to duck the first blow. The second one was easy enough to sidestep.

Max grabbed the man’s arms and shoved him out the back door. “You should be thankful I’m not calling the cops.” He shut the door on him. “He stays out,” he said to the group, then he took Cora’s arm and gently led her towards his office down the hallway.

“Are you okay?” she asked once they were behind closed doors at the same time that he asked her the same thing.

“Me?” Cora shook her head. “I wasn’t the one getting punched.”

“No, you were the one pinned to the wall by a man twice your size with a look of sheer terror in your eyes,” he pointed out.

Cora’s eyes darted down to the ground. “That was just… a misunderstanding.”

“Are you two seeing one another?” he blurted out and instantly regretted it.

Chapter Eight

“God no,” Cora responded quickly. “Reece showed no interest in me until I became the lead. I think he’s only doing it to make Jynx jealous.”

She felt her face flush.