Secret Moves (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 3) (20 page)

"Anyway, I offered him a deal. I said I was willing to step in as an investor for his studios—with specific terms, of course. First, that you are on the payroll. Second, that he treats you as a valued employee and nothing more. He readily agreed. He said you're a shoo-in for any role you want anyway, even without my terms. After your contract here is up, you have a choice of going back to Melbourne to work in the studio there, or stay here in Sydney."

Kris stared at him in disbelief. "You now own shares in Blake's studios?"

"Yes."

Her face remained a picture of shock.

"Kris?"

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because I didn't want you to feel pressured into continuing to work with Blake after the three months are up. I wanted your decision to be independent of my actions."

"If I decided not to work for him anymore, what would happen to your investment?"

"I pull out. Remember one of my terms is that you're on the payroll. I won't leave him in the lurch though. I'll help him find a new investor if that's the case."

Kris blinked as if she couldn't believe what he just told her.

"Baby?" he said when she was silent for too long.

"You said I have a choice of working in Melbourne or Sydney," she said, finding her voice again. "What if I choose Melbourne?"

"Then I'd move there so we could be together," he said simply.

"Really?"

"Yes. After all, I part-own a dance studio there now," he said with a grin.

"But what about your own company? Dylan and Adam are here in Sydney."

"Electronic communication. Plus it's only an hour and thirty-five minutes flight one-way between the two cities. Easy enough to do a return trip on the same day when necessary."

"You'd really move there for me?" she whispered.

He stared straight into her eyes. "I'll do anything for you. I don't want to lose you again."

"Sammy! I missed you!" Kris cried as Sam walked into Trey's apartment followed by Jasmine and Kane who had picked her up from the airport.

"I missed you too, darl. Our apartment is so quiet without you," Sam said as they hugged.

"Is that good or bad?" she asked suspiciously.

Sam laughed. "Sometimes good, but mostly bad. Speaking to you on the phone isn't the same."

"I'm glad you're here," Kris said, giving Sam another squeeze. "Rest for a while, and when you're ready, the kitchen is all set for you."

"I've done nothing but sit on my ass on the plane. I'm good. I'm ready to start," Sam replied, making a beeline for the kitchen.

Kris was grateful her cousin was in town. She hadn't seen her for almost three months and she missed her terribly.

"Where are the others?" Kane asked.

"Trey went to get some more beer, Dylan and Ari are on their way and Adam should be here any minute, too."

"You know, this is only the second time I've been here," Kane commented. "Trey doesn't usually hold parties here."

"Yes, he told me that," Kris responded with a smile.

It touched her that it was Trey who suggested they hold a get-together with their friends in time for Sam's visit. He also said it was to celebrate her getting the permanent position at the studio.

She'd snorted at the latter. Considering Trey's influence in Blake's decision-making process, the role had been hers for months.

If she had been someone who lacked conviction in how much value she added to the dance studio with her talent, skills and professionalism, she might have felt bad that the role went to her only because of Trey. But she knew damn well she was the best person for it. Even Blake had assured her of that.

Since she'd started working at the studio, Blake had been able to confidently go after, and secure, more high-value contracts involving people she'd never thought she'd meet, let alone work with.

It made her feel good that she was partly responsible for giving Trey a good return on his investment.

*******

Sam fiddled with the contents of her luggage as they all congregated in the living room after enjoying their dinner. "Guys, guess what I brought with me," she said.

"What?" Jasmine asked.

Sam pulled out a black leather case and Kris and Jasmine shouted in glee. "Karaoke!"

"When Jaz still lived in Melbourne, the three of us had karaoke sessions almost every week," Sam said to the others. "After she left, Kris and I didn't have as much fun as we don't sing as well as Jaz, so this little microphone hasn't been used for a while."

"How come I've never heard you sing with a mic before?" Kane asked Jasmine.

"We don't have one of those," Jasmine replied shyly. "It's been awhile since I've sung. My voice will be very rusty."

"I wanna hear you sing now," Kane said, running a knuckle on Jasmine's cheek.

"Yeah, c'mon, Jazzie," Dylan cheered, clapping his hands in encouragement. The others joined him, and soon there was a chorus of voices chanting "Jasmine".

"Okay, okay, fine," Jasmine relented. "But since this is a party, everyone should have a go."

"Oh, no," came the groans from the men.

"I'm happy to be the first one and then whoever just finished singing would choose the next singer," Jasmine said.

"Okay," the girls said readily, while the guys glanced at each other, looking terrified.

"Don't worry, honey," Kris said to Trey. "I'm not a very good singer either. I'll hold your hand if you like," she teased.

"You can take my place," Trey said with puppy-dog eyes.

"No," Jasmine cried out. "Everyone has to take a turn."

"Okay, then," Trey said in resignation. "I need more beer first."

"Good idea, bro," Dylan said, grabbing his bottle and taking a swig.

*

By the time Jasmine finished her beautiful singing and the guys had added a little bit more alcohol in their systems, everyone was enthusiastic about taking their turn. Soon, each of them had sung twice and decided to have a break for some more dessert.

"I miss this," Sam said wistfully. "I feel so alone in Melbourne now that my favourite cousin and best friends are here."

"Oh, Sam," Jasmine cried softly. "We miss you, too."

"Why don't you move here too, Sammy?" Kris asked.

"What?" Sam asked with a snort.

"Why not? You've been wanting to resign from your job for a long time now."

"You don't like your job, Sam?" Trey asked.

Sam sighed. "I work for my dad's accounting practice. Since I'm an only child, I think he has decided from the moment I was born that I was going to take over from him eventually."

"But you don't want to?" Trey pressed.

"When I was younger, I thought it wasn't a bad idea. It would be good to keep the practice in the family. Dad's worked hard to build it to where it is now. But it doesn't exactly inspire me to get up in the morning. These days, I'm starting to dread going to work. Sometimes, I feel like I'm just so over it."

"What inspires you to get up in the morning?" Adam asked.

Sam smirked. "Food. Today I got on a plane excited at the thought that we'd be having a party and I'd be cooking for everyone. I'd love to do catering, similar to what I did for Kane and Dylan's mum's sixtieth birthday."

"Your food was incredible," Dylan confirmed. "So why don't you do it? Maybe start small—cater to small groups first? Then build it up to be able to accommodate larger orders."

"I'd love to do that, but there's a lot that's required to make it viable."

"Sam?" Kris said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Look at Jaz, Ari, and me. We're doing what we love full time, now. Isn't it time you start working on your dream?"

"Yeah, but—"

"We know you're full of 'buts', Sam," Jasmine said. "None of us, for one moment, thought it would be easy. But you've got to take the first step for it to become a reality."

"We're all here to support you, Sam," Ari added. "You can still work as an accountant while you set yourself up. But as Jaz said, you have to take the first step."

Sam sniffed, her eyes watering. "You're right. The first step is to tell my parents I'm quitting the practice. What kind of excuse could I give them that wouldn't be so hard for them to take? It'll break their hearts if I leave."

"You can tell them you've met a man here in Sydney. That's why you want to quit your job—to be with him," Kris joked.

"That's a great idea," Sam said, her eyes wide.

"It is?" Kris asked in surprise.

"Yes! You know they're always on my back for not dating a lot. They were so excited for you when you told them you were moving here, not because of your new job, but because of Trey. So I think they'll actually be shooing me to leave home if I tell them I've met a man here. I think having grandchildren to continue the family line is more important to them than keeping the practice in the family."

"Great!" Kris said excitedly. "Now all we need to do is find you a man you can fall in love with."

"That could take months, even years," Sam said. "I could just pretend, couldn't I? After a while I could say I've broken up with the man. By then, they would have gotten used to me not working in the practice."

"Yes, you could," Kris agreed slowly, warming to the idea. "Then all you'll need is a pretend boyfriend, if Uncle and Auntie insist on meeting one."

Sam nodded, her face animated. "All right, guys. Do you have a single friend who's up for some acting so my parents wouldn't feel like I'm abandoning them?"

The men's eyes turned to Adam.

Adam shrugged. "Sure, I'm happy to help. I got an 'A' in my acting class when I was in school."

Sam clasped her hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Adam."

Kris wanted to jump up and down with glee. Finally, her beloved cousin was willing to be adventurous and take a chance on her dream.

*******

Trey picked up the song list and handed it to Kris. "What's your favourite dance song, baby?"

Kris quickly scanned the booklet and selected a tune. "Do you know this song?" she asked him, excited to hear Trey sing again. She was pleasantly surprised to discover he wasn't a bad singer.

Trey looked at Jasmine, who nodded her head eagerly. He handed the mic to Jaz and walked over to Kris.

Kris looked at Trey quizzically as he pulled her to her feet.

"I was going to put on some dance music, but since Jaz is more than capable of belting a tune, she'll sing for us," he said, spinning her around when the music started.

Kris laughed in genuine surprise and delight. Trey was going to dance with her! In front of their friends!

Trey started rocking and the guys hooted in glee. Kris' eyes watered as she boogied with her man. She was so proud of him. He'd kept his word and let her teach him not just how to dance, but how to enjoy himself doing it. Once again, he moved her with his actions.

As the song finished, Trey twirled with a flourish and ended the dance with him kneeling in front of Kris. Everyone clapped enthusiastically and Kris tugged at Trey's arm to help him get up to his feet. He resisted. Instead, he held on to her left hand tightly while he groped for something in his pocket.

Kris' heart thundered madly in her chest. The room and everyone else in it ceased to exist for her as all her senses zoned in on Trey. When he found what he was looking for in his pocket, he stared at her with love in his eyes—and a hint of trepidation.

"Kris," he said hoarsely. "I love you so much. You'll make me the happiest man in the world if you say you'll marry me. So please say 'yes'?"

Her face broke into a smile as emotions overwhelmed her. "Yes, Trey, I'll marry you," she said haltingly as tears flowed profusely down her cheeks.

Trey pressed her hand to his lips before sliding a beautiful diamond ring on her finger. Then he got up and pulled her in his arms.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you," she whispered back.

When they pulled apart, her tears started afresh as she saw her friends wiping their eyes with tissues. Sam handed her one and hugged her.

"Congrats, darling. I'm so happy for you," Sam said.

"Thank you, Sam," she responded. She prayed fervently that the cousin she loved like a sister would find the same happiness she'd found—both in love and career.

*******

Kris lay contentedly in Trey's arms, sated and utterly satisfied from their passionate lovemaking. She gazed in awe at the ring on her finger, not for its sheer size and brilliance, but because Trey put it there. Who would have known they'd come so far in such a short time?

"Do you like it?" he asked huskily, caressing her arm with the tips of his fingers.

"I love it, especially because it's from you," she said sincerely.

"No one else could slide a ring on that finger now, ever," he murmured. "Apart from me when we get married, of course."

She smiled just as her phone buzzed with a text message.

"It's from Sam. She said she'll be home soon. She's leaving the function centre now to catch a cab."

Kris was glad that Sam was enjoying herself and meeting new friends in Sydney who were also in the food industry. The cooking class she went to that night, conducted by a high profile celebrity chef and attended by many in the industry, must have finished two hours ago, but Sam had stayed to enjoy drinks with whomever she met there. When it came to her passion, the extroverted Sam came out.

"I do hope Sam goes through with moving here so she can be with us—and that she has enough courage to follow her dream. I know she's finding it hard to disappoint her parents," she said to Trey.

"She certainly looked keen with what you girls had planned."

"Could you imagine Adam and her pretending to be a couple?" she snickered.

"You never know. Dylan didn't expect to fall in love with Ari, and I certainly didn't expect to be in a relationship, let alone want to get married. You girls seem to have this indefinable something that makes us fall in love with you."

"You think something could happen between them? That would be good," she said, excited by the thought.

Trey chuckled dryly. "We can only hope. Adam quite likes women who are aggressive. That's why he ends up with the not-so-desirable ones, because they chase him and chase him until he gives in. I think he's addicted to being chased."