Say It With Sequins: The Rumba: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Novella Read Online Free PDF Page B

there,” and then Jan dragged her off the dance floor. When they got to the back room he refused to wait for their scores and left Julia standing in front of Carol alone. Suni thrust a tissue into Julia’s hand.
    Carol wasn’t quite sure what to say and stuttered a little until she got a prompt through her ear piece. “And now, after those shocking words from the judges, how do you feel?”
    The fatuous question had what was left of Julia’s rational brain dissolving and she broke down completely. Someone tallish and solid took her in his arms and led her away from the cameras. She vaguely heard Carol flapping in the distance as she tried to fill the air time.
    Strong arms held her and a soft voice whispered: “Don’t take on so, cariad bach, it’s not worth it.” As her sobs really began to take hold Harri took her through the doors, well away from any prying cameras which may have followed them and into the chilly corridor. He was now swearing quietly in Welsh – or at least that’s what Julia assumed he was doing, there was real vitriol in the tone of his voice which suggested anger.
    He took her outside, to the courtyard in the middle of the television studios. There was a low wall which bordered a small garden and Harri led Julia to it. He sat with his arms tight around her until her sobs lessened and she was calmer.
    Julia blew her nose into the tissue Suni had given her. “Sorry.”
    “Uffern dan! What the hell for?” his accent sounded stronger and his voice was still full of anger.
    “I’m such an idiot to break down like that. God, I must look like a mess.”
    “You’re fine and it wasn’t idiotic. They really slammed into you back there. I could’ve punched Kevin.” Harri’s hand fisted.
    Julia laughed, a little tremulously, but it was a laugh at least. “Thanks for coming to my aid. I really don’t think I could’ve coped with Carol or Jan …” she trailed off; the thought of having to face Jan was horrible. “God, I’ve really messed it up haven’t I?”
    “What, by crying?”
    “No, by showing I couldn’t cope with the stress.” Julia added mournfully, “I can’t see
Cabaret
coming my way now.”
    “Don’t be so sure, cariad; in the face of what Jan’s made you do, they may see it as gritty determination. And as for the crying bit I think you’ll get the sympathy vote.”
    “I don’t want the sympathy vote!”
    “Do you want to stay in the competition?”
    Julia thought about it. In some strange and possibly masochistic way, she did want to stay in the competition - if only to torture Jan. But she’d really like to prove to herself, and the viewers, that she could improve, that she could put two feet in front of one another without falling over. “Yes,” she said, in a determined voice. “Yes, I
do
want to stay in.”
    “Well, there you go then. I think the viewers are seeing straight through Mr Moscow and can see how evil he’s being and are voting for you.”
    “It’s twisted!”
    Harri laughed. “It’s showbiz! Ready to go back?” He looked at her, concern in his dark eyes.
    Julia took a deep breath and gave him a wobbly smile. She nodded. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Bring it on!”
    “That’s my girl.” He stood up and held out a hand. As he did so, a solitary snowflake fell from the cold dark sky.
    “It’s snowing. Oh, it makes me feel so Christmassy!!” Julia exclaimed, with all the wonder of a small child. “It’s not often you get to see snow in the middle of London.”
    Harri looked up and followed the passage of another snowflake, making its way to the concrete. “It is indeed.” He grinned. “It’s a good omen for you!”
    “You think so?”
    “I know so.”
    Julia put out her tongue. She closed her eyes and reached her face up into the night.
    Harri gazed at her and at the vision of her pink tongue held out in the hope of catching a snowflake. He moved towards her, without thinking and then stopped. He longed to capture that tongue