* * *

Backstage, Maddy breathed deeply as Scott, Lloyd and Rebecca

offered the tango team their very best pep talk, reminding them to simply

have fun, secure in the knowledge that their last several practices had been

flawless. But Madeline's case of bad nerves had more to do with Mark

than with stage fright; after all, she knew the routine by heart and had

even come to terms with Scott having to lift her in the air. A little while

earlier, she'd peeked out from behind the curtains to see her handsome

new guy sitting in the audience with a look of genuine interest on his face.

All she wanted was to live up to his expectations and do herself proud.

And a few minutes later, adrenaline kicked in as the rousing music

began, transporting her to another place and time, while her body expertly

executed the steps. When her partner spun her around in the air it actually

felt exhilarating; during those moments of respite, all thoughts of newly

engaged ex-boyfriends, blowhard bosses and moral dilemmas were

completely eradicated.

Mark watched her onstage with a mixture of admiration and desire.

Dressed in a sexy, black costume with a short, filmy skirt and sequined

bodice, her legs set off nicely by shimmering hose and high-heeled Latin

dance sandals, she was a vision of smoldering femininity. And the way she

moved around certainly piqued a man's interest. Wow! He could hardly wait

to hear her sing.

* * *

Rebecca adjusted the puffy sleeves of Maddy's red velvet gown as

she slipped into a pair of matching satin pumps. From the nearby stage,

they could hear Lloyd belting out the Jean Val Jean solo, Who Am I. Like

Maddy, he shared a special love of Les Misérables, though just about every

musical inspired him. Judging from his performance tonight, however, it

was obvious he'd made the right decision. Maddy and Rebecca were both

moved to tears as they conducted a final inspection in the mirror.

Though a ratty costume would have been more appropriate for her

chosen number, Madeline opted for a glamorous, early-19th century look,

mainly out of convenience-she didn't want to waste money when this

perfectly acceptable option was already hanging in her closet. And as the

audience thundered their applause, signaling Lloyd's exit, she felt suddenly

calm as she made her entrance onstage. Upon seeing her, Mark's pulse

quickened. With her porcelain skin, big brown eyes and flowing, silky hair,

she epitomized his ideal woman. And when she soulfully began to belt out

the lyrics to On My Own, he was completely captivated.

At the end of her solo, Maddy smiled, savoring the obvious approval

of those assembled in the audience. But when she saw Mark rise to his

feet, clapping boisterously as he winked and nodded at her, she felt the

blood rush through her veins and the goose bumps form on her tingling

body. It had been much too long since she'd felt this way; she wanted it to

last forever. And as he stared at her under the theater lights, he was filled

with an insatiable desire.




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