The Rumba
~For fans of reality dance shows, this series is strictly irresistible!Slip on some dance shoes and step up to love!Who Dares Dances is a reality TV show with a difference. Not only do contestants have to learn to dance, they also face a series of bizarre challenges.Julia Cooper signs up in a bid to revive her flagging acting career. But when she meets dare-devil TV presenter Harri Morgan the attraction is instant – and hot!Forced to perform a sexy rumba together, the sequins really start to fly. Will they score the perfect ten, or is their romance destined to be a dance disaster?Find out in Say it with Sequins, the first in a series of three novellas.
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Say it with Sequins
The Rumba
Georgia Hill
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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2013
Copyright © Georgia Hill
Cover images © Shutterstock.com
Georgia Hill asserts the moral right
to be identified as the author of this work.
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available from the British Library
This novel is entirely a work of fiction.
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the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to
actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is
entirely coincidental.
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Ebook Edition © December 2013
ISBN: 9780007562176
Version 2018-05-03
Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.
Contents
Say it with Sequins. The Rumba: a dance full of passion.
Step One.
Step Two.
Step Three.
Step Four.
Step Five.
Step Six.
Step Seven.
Step Eight.
Step Nine.
Step Ten.
Step Eleven.
Step Twelve.
Step Thirteen.
Step Fourteen.
Step Fifteen.
I used to live in London, where I worked in the theatre. Then I got the bizarre job of teaching road safety to the U.S. navy â in Marble Arch!
A few years ago, I did an âEscape to the Countryâ. I now live in a tiny Herefordshire village, where I scandalise the neighbours by not keeping âcountry hoursâ and being unable to make a decent pot of plum jam. Home is a converted oast house, which I share with my two beloved spaniels, husband (also beloved) and a ghost called Zoe.
Iâve been lucky enough to travel widely, though prefer to set my novels closer to home. Perhaps more research is needed? Iâve always wanted to base a book in the Caribbean!
I am addicted to Belgian chocolate, Jane Austen and, most of all, Strictly Come Dancing.
Keep dancing, everyone!
For mum, who loved to jitterbug.
âThe rumba is my favourite dance; itâs really sexy. It gives you a great excuse to get up close and personal with your partner!â Bob Dandry, Executive Producer and Director, Who Dares, Dances.
Step One.
âYou can do this!â she said in her head.
Julia Cooper, not yet star of stage and screen, bit her lip and tried to follow her own advice â and her partnerâs lead. Trouble was, when you were a novice and dancing with a monosyllabic and bad-tempered hulk of a Russian, it wasnât easy to pick up the steps. Or should that be steppes? Julia giggled and muttered her mantra again, âConcentrate, you can do this!â
âWhat?â said the Russian hulk from somewhere above her. âWhat you say? No, Julia. Have told you. Like this!â
For the umpteenth time that day, Julia wondered just what she had got herself into. Who Dares Dances was supposed to be a fun dance competition come reality show, wasnât it? She was supposed to be having fun!
âWeâd better raise a barrel load of money to make this worth it,â she mumbled, as she was swung round so hard her neck ricked. Sheâd never worked so hard in her life. The charity, Pennies for Pencils, for which the show raised money,had better be grateful.
âJulia! Have told you. Like this. Concentrate!â
âThatâs just what Iâve been telling myself, Jan.â Julia looked up at her partner with a bright smile. âBut it doesnât seem to be working. Can we stop now? Donât we need to get ready for the launch party?â She made a hopeful face, which was completely lost on the Russian.
âPah! Party!â he spat. âWe must work, work, work. Have much to learn. Stand up. Chin to left. More. More! Count in head.â
âOne, two, buckle my shoe,â Julia began and it sounded facetious, even to herself. But she really was exhausted. Theyâd been practising since eight that morning.
âOne, two, three, one. two, three,â Jan inevitably corrected her in his harsh way and they stumbled round the room one more time.
Julia gritted her teeth and did her best to stand straight, hold her head at the right angle, keep her elbows up and remember her steps. Who would have thought learning how to waltz could be so hard!
***
The launch party was in full swing by the time Harri got there. Filming had overrun and he was late as usual. And, as usual, he hated it. He was a man whoâd been brought up to be on time. Nowadays he seemed to be constantly chasing his rear and life was never less than hectic.
