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“Figure-hugging velvet and Lycra is so you.” I pushed off the desk and crossed the room in a few strides, giving him a long once-over that ended with me stopping close and peering through my lashes. “Although, I prefer you with nothing on.”

His cheek did a little flicker while he tried to hold himself together.

Teasing him was my new favorite sport, after ice dance. I raised my hand, to touch the glitter on his cheek.

He caught my wrist. “What you said . . . at the airport?”

“Which part?” I knew which part. My thumping heart knew which part. My tingling body knew which part. The warmth where his hand had caught my wrist knew which part.

He shifted closer, close enough to dance the rumba, and bowed his head.

This man was too good to be real, too impossible to be mine, like a myth I’d somehow caught and made real. Especially now, all made up and beautiful. His lips brushed mine. Our breaths mingled. I could almost feel his heart, could definitely feel his heat.

His grip eased. He let my wrist go, and I placed my hand softly on his warm chest. His chest rose and fell beneath the glittered Lycra.

“Did I mean it?” I offered. I looked up, into his eyes. “Yeah, I meant it.”

“Why?”

He had no idea. No clue how special he was. That was his father’s doing, ignoring him, telling him he wasn’t good enough, and he’d believed it his whole life. Well, fuck that guy. I rose onto my toes and kissed his mouth. I’d have grabbed his clothes, but I didn’t want to mess up his costume. His lips parted, and his tongue swept in, taking mine. I didn’t know how to tell Ren why I loved him, but I could show him.

“Oh, Jesus . . .” Tamsyn said.

We separated like two scolded cats, darting in opposite directions.

Tamsyn stood in the door, frowning. “Really?”

I trapped a laugh behind my pinched lips. “I was uh . . . We were . . .”

“Stop.” She sounded harsh, but she smiled to soften the edge, and rolled her eyes at Ren. “Can you keep it in your pants for another thirty minutes while we go win a gold medal?”

“I can do that.” He was trying not to smile too.

“Hello.” I raised my hand. “I think you’ll find that gold is mine and Zoe’s, but whatever you guys need to tell yourselves.”

“Hey, Canada, you need to leave or I’ll have you pulled for interfering with a rival athlete.” Tamsyn said, only half joking.

“Yes ma’am.” I ducked my head and headed for the door.

“You’re very good at interfering,” Ren said, as I passed him.

I stopped in the doorway and looked at the pair of them, side by side, and gave them two thumbs up. “You guys have got this.”

“Thank you,” Tamsyn said, sounding genuine.

“Go make that ice your bitch.”

Ren snorted a laugh, and I caught Tamsyn’s eye roll, for me this time, then left them to prepare.

My smile faded a little when I remembered why he’d called me in there. His last dance. Maybe he didn’t mean it. A lot had happened, and we were both wrecked. Now was not the time be making lifelong decisions about dance and . . . love.

Zoe looked over as I returned to our booth. “All good?”

“Yeah, all good.”

“Damn, I was hoping he was going to quit again or something.” She laughed nervously.

My smile fell.