“But take some time and think about it. I’ll set up a time for you to meet the kids. You’ll like them. And they could be so good, Finn, but they need the right coach. Someone young enough to get them but old enough and experienced enough to have their respect.” He paused. “Also someone who’s not going to be in prison. You’re not going to prison, are you, Finn?”
“Um. I hope not.”
Scott beamed. “Great! Okay, that’s all I wanted to talk to you about. I’ll text you to set up a time to meet with the kids. I’m going to send you an email with the course schedule—you’ll have to do the e-learning modules first—”
Finn let Scott’s words wash over him. He knew the drill: e-learning, virtual courses, in-person training. This was a dream, wasn’t it? What he’d wanted?
Except for leaving the show, of course. If he was coaching at a higher level, he wouldn’t have time forDancein his off seasons. He’d probably have to do a fair amount of travelling once his skaters got a bit older.
But it meant a lot that Scott thought he could do this. That even though Finn had left professional skating young, he still might have a future.
He just didn’t know if he was ready to tell anyone else about it yet. What if he spread it around and everything fell through? What if the kids didn’t like him and wanted to work with someone else?
He had enough on his plate with the competition and Robbie, well, providing a Robbie-shaped distraction. Better not to jinks things.
The nextday, as Robbie and Finn took to the choreography gym for practice, it struck Finn that their missed hotel date would be felt not just by themselves, but by everyone in their audience.
Robbie wrapped his large hands around Finn and steadied him before he hopped up onto Robbie’s thighs, and any preoccupation about coaching at a higher level fled Finn’s mind. His insides heated and trembled, and he wanted to beg Robbie for more.
A fact Robbie seemed all too aware of, judging by the way his lips quirked and he rubbed his thumbs along the jut of Finn’s hips.
Finn might have to reconsider his practice outfits if this kept up. He was in danger of bursting through his pants.
It didn’t help that Stef’s choreography, tangoing to “Holding Out for a Hero,” had them doing a playful seduction: Finn shook a finger and set his expectations, and Robbie chased and twirled and manhandled him, including that standing thigh lift, in order to prove his worth.
Finn was all but gagging for it by the time they called a break for food. Stef had already left to find another pair to chaperone, so when Robbie slipped out to find the bathroom, Finn was alone in the gym for Holly to corner.
“Well. That was… something.” She blew out a breath and billowed her shirt as if to cool down in a heatwave. “I’m a casting genius, clearly.”
“Yeah, yeah, clearly. A genius. It wasn’t just a moment of complete desperation on your part after Stef injured herself.”
“Am I or am I not the one who realized that you were the best option?” Holly arched her eyebrow. “Considering thechemistryI just witnessed, I’d think you’d be more grateful.”
Finn couldn’t deny it. Sure, he would have met Robbie anyway, but would they have hit it off? Would they have flirted and gotten to know each other in the same way as contestant and choreographer? Probably not. And Finn’s libido was willing to acknowledge that.
Not that he could say as much to Holly’s face, per her own edicts, so he didn’t know why she was gloating.
“Did you come looking for me for a reason? Or were you just passing through to spy on your minions?”
Holly blew out a breath and scratched her eyebrow. “Honestly? I was taking a break from work and looking for my bestie.” She smiled.
It was not a genuine smile.
“What’s wrong?”
“What makes you think anything is wrong?”
“Holly.”
She groaned and shook her head. “Just… worrying. Producer Paul is here and won’t tell me why yet, but he called a meeting. He wants to gather everyone in a couple of days and talk to them.”
“Well, that’s certainly different.” Producer Paul was definitely more of a hands-off kind of guy. If there was a television exec equivalent of “set it and forget it,” that was Producer Paul.
“Tell me about it.” She chewed her lip and looked around. “Michelle’s retiring.”
“Really? Damn.” Michelle had been the host ofDancesince the first season. Her leaving would mark a definite change.
“Yeah. And they haven’t said anything yet about replacing her, so….”
