Chapter 98

Anna stood in front of the mirror an hour later, smoothing her new blue dress over her hips. A knock sounded at the door and Anna went to answer it, but Aaron got there first. It wasn’t Hugo, though. It was Nate.

“Wow, Anna. You look great.”

“Thanks,” she said softly.

“Here,” Aaron said, handing Nate a beer. “Anna’s got a date already.”

Nate raised his eyebrows. “Really? Who?”

Anna frowned at Aaron. “Hugo, but it’s not a date. We’re going to work out when we’ll practice next week.”

Nate wagged his brows. “Sure.”

Someone knocked at the door before Anna could respond, and she opened the door to see Hugo standing in the doorway wearing a black button-down dress shirt and khaki dress pants. He smiled broadly when he saw her.

“Hi, Hugo,” she said, stepping aside to allow him room to enter.

“Hello, Katrina.” He smiled. “You look great.”

“Thanks.” She smiled back shyly.

Hugo greeted Aaron and Nate, then looked at Anna. “Ready?”

Anna nodded. She hurried to her room to retrieve her purse and returned to the living room.

Hugo opened the door and they said goodbye to Aaron and Nate. “Do you like Italian?” Hugo asked as they made their way to the elevator.

“Yes.” Butterflies flitted in Anna’s stomach. Was this a date? She shook her head. They were going to talk about a schedule for the next week. That’s it. And she wasn’t ready to get involved with anyone yet.

Hugo and Anna settled into a table in the corner of a small Italian restaurant across town. Or at least that’s where Anna thought they were. New York was so different from her San Francisco.

“So how come you’re not going on tour?” Hugo asked after they had ordered their entreés.

“I—?” Anna hesitated. “I can’t travel right now.”

“Oh? Why not?”

Anna’s eyes widened. How did she answer that? “I... just can’t.”

“Are you sick?”

Anna shook her head.

“Are you a criminal?” He grinned.

Anna smiled and shook her head again.

“Are you...” He squinted his eyes in thought. “A secret spy undercover as a dancer who has duties here in New York?”

Anna laughed. “No.”

“Are you going to tell me, or should I give up now?”

Anna grinned and then wagged her eyebrows. “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” She gave him a sly look.

Hugo leaned his head back and laughed. “Alright, alright. I give up.”

“So, why aren’t you going?”

“My mother broke her leg a few weeks ago, and I need to keep an eye on her.”

“Oh, no! How did she break it?”

Hugo chuckled. “Skiing.” He rolled his eyes. “I warned her that a sixty-five-year-old woman shouldn’t be skiing, but she didn’t listen. She’s a bit stubborn.”

Anna laughed again. “Are you disappointed you can’t go?”

“I love traveling, but it’ll give some of the younger dancers a chance to take roles not normally available.” He shrugged. “Do you like to travel?”

Anna paused. “I suppose it depends on the activities involved and who I’m with.”

“Interesting answer. You’ve traveled with unpleasant people?”

Anna shrugged. “You could say that.”

“Where have you gone?”

Anna thought aloud. “Frankfurt... St. Petersburg... Washington, D.C...” Alex had never gotten to take her on that honeymoon he’d wanted to. Her hand went unconsciously to her wedding band.

“Katrina?”

Anna shook her head. “I’m sorry. I... got lost in a thought.”

He grinned. “It’s alright. You’re German, correct?”

“Why would you—oh, uh . . . yeah.” Her name.

“Were you born here or in Deutschland ?”

“California. Your name sounds German, too.” She changed the subject before he had a chance to ask about her wedding ring. Explaining about Alex wasn’t something she was prepared to do yet. She hadn’t had a chance to consider that kind of depth to her fictional backstory.

“I was born outside of Dusseldorf, but came here as a teenager.”

“To dance?”

Hugo nodded and then smiled. “Your name suits you. Engel .” He nodded. “Unusual last name, though.”

“Is it?” She bit her lip.

Hugo smiled. “Like I said, it suits you.”

Their food arrived and the conversation turned to more basic topics, like movies and books. Hugo didn’t believe her when she said that she couldn’t remember the last movie she’d seen. They talked about their favorite ballets. Hugo’s was Swan Lake. Anna’s was Giselle .

Dessert was served before they got around to discussing a schedule for the following week. After a few minutes, they just decided to meet at the studio each morning at ten and go from there.

They took a cab back to Anna’s apartment, and Hugo walked her up to her apartment. She fidgeted with her keys, wondering what he expected... if he expected anything. “Did you want to come in?” My purpose in life—No! That’s not my purpose anymore. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do.

He grinned. “Thanks, but I should get home. I need to call my mom and make sure she took her medicine.”

Anna smiled. “I had a really nice time. Thank you for dinner.”

“Me too. I’m looking forward to working with you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Hugo waited until Anna had unlocked her door and opened it before turning back to the elevators. She waved and then went inside.

Aaron was sitting on the couch. “So, how was it?”

“Nice.” She nodded. “He seems like a great guy.”

Aaron grinned. “Yeah, he is. There’s talk of him taking Vincent’s place after he retires.”

“Really? Wow.”

“He’s a great choreographer. It’s good that you can work with him while we’re gone.”

Anna fidgeted with her wedding ring. “Is he safe?”

Aaron tilted his head and gave her a soft smile. “Yeah, hon. He’s safe.”

Anna blew out a breath.

“I think you know if someone’s safe or not. You just need to be brave enough to say no if they’re not.”

It was true; she knew men. Well, Anna knew men, and Katrina would use that knowledge to stay safe. The thought both pleased and depressed her. She sighed. “I’m gonna go to bed.”

“G’night Anna.”

Anna smiled at his use of her real name. “Good night, Aaron.”

Friday was another exhausting, frustrating day of dancing. The style was so different and it frustrated her to no end. But Anna had hope that working with Hugo would help her catch up while the company was gone.

That night, Aaron took her out to dinner and they had a wonderful time. It was so nice being together again. They cuddled up on the couch when they got home and watched a movie.

Late Saturday night, Anna lay in her bed fidgeting. She’d spent the day with Aaron, watching TV and helping him get ready for the trip. They didn’t have class and it was wonderful to spend time with him, especially since he was going to be gone for an entire week.

She tossed and turned but couldn’t find a comfortable position. It had been several days since she’d had sex and she was feeling it. She needed to be touched; more than just a hug. She sighed and rolled out of bed.

She crept into Aaron’s bedroom. The lights of the city creeping in through the window illuminated his silhouette, his sheets tangled around his hips. One arm was slung over his head and the other rested on his stomach. His chest moved up and down as he snored softly.

She smiled, remembering how he’d slept the same way when they’d been together. Her heart squeezed at the memory. How she had missed him!

Anna pulled her pajamas off and crawled onto the bed at his feet. She slowly made her way up to his chest. He groaned softly as she kissed her way up to his neck and straddled his hips. The hand that had been on his stomach moved to her hip and caressed her lightly.

She kissed his mouth and his eyes snapped open. “Anna?” His voice was hoarse with sleep. “What are you doing?”

She leaned to the side and nipped at his earlobe. “I can’t sleep.”

His arm above his head moved to pet her hair as he gazed into her eyes. “You need touch?”

Anna nodded and he rolled her onto her back and moved the sheets so his body was against hers. His cock was hard against her hip as he leaned down to kiss her, gently at first, but with an increasing hunger. His hands roamed her body and she moaned at his touch. She stroked his cock, and he circled her clit with his finger.

“Please, Aaron...” She opened her legs and he groaned in appreciation.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he said and thrust inside her with one movement.

Anna arched her back and cried out softly as he filled her. He kissed her as he began moving. She wrapped her legs around his waist and met his thrusts, both of them quickly climbing the road to ecstasy and reaching the peak together. Aaron cried out Anna’s name and clung to her as he emptied himself into her.

He kissed her again as their hearts slowed, and he rolled to his side. She rested her head on his chest and wrapped her arm around his waist as he kissed the top of her head. “I’m so glad you’re finally here.”