Chapter 5

Mason watched from the shadows as Cassidy practiced a routine on the main stage. The auditorium where the show was taped was open and expansive, featuring a raised stage with four steps leading down to the dance floor surrounded by the judges’ table and audience seats, and two levels of balconies in a horseshoe design that overlooked the floor. Off to one side and out of view of the television audience was the control room, where Russell Ingram and his crew worked their magic to produce the live show each week. On the other side was an area for the sound technicians and live musicians to provide music for the dances. A large area backstage held a wide array of props that would be wheeled in for each performance. There were so many people running around, some issuing orders, others talking on cellphones, it was a wonder the show came together so fluidly each week.

From the information he gathered grilling technicians and production assistants, Cassidy was performing a solo to kick off the season. As the returning champion, she would be featured on the first episode. All the pros would perform a group number later in the show, but this was Cassidy’s time to shine. And, damn, she was dazzling. Her leaps were effortless. Her spins on point. Every move was graceful and sleek. She was wearing another gauzy top and skirt, with fitted shorts underneath. The outfit highlighted her tone, athletic body to perfection.

Despite being in the same building the past few days, their paths hadn’t crossed again since he walked into her practice room that first morning. He wondered if standing here watching her intently could be considered stalking, but he truly didn’t care. He was desperate to see her. Now here she was, in her element, looking stunning.

“Okay, everyone, let’s block cameras,” the director announced. “We need to get lighting in place. Cassidy, you’re going to start here on the X.” He pointed to a spot on the floor. “We’ll turn the lights off and we’ll bring you on stage under the cloak of darkness. Then we’ll hit you with a spotlight and the music will start. Okay, let’s get cameras in position, people. Cass, I’ll signal you when we’re ready.”

Mason’s eyes tracked her movements as she stretched her arms and did a few hops to keep her muscles limber. Her blond ponytail bobbed with the movements. On stage, cameras were wheeled to spots while the assistant producers shouted instructions. It was controlled chaos. Finally, they were ready for a preliminary test run. The official dress rehearsal would be tomorrow, where the couples would perform their routines in full costume. The first episode of the new season would premiere the next night.

The director queued Cassidy and she jogged over to the spot on the floor he indicated earlier, her body flowing into a position. The lights snapped off, plunging the room into total darkness. Mason’s eyes adjusted quickly and he spotted her out on the floor. Then a lone spotlight from one end of the floor lit her up like a shining star. She positively glowed. Before the music started, a movement caught his eye and he glanced up.

“Watch out!”

He lunged for her, wrapping his arms around her and jerking her off her feet. Again.

“What the hell are you doing?”

She clawed at his arm but the loud explosion of metal crashing to the floor and glass shattering cut off her rant. She stilled in his arms and he placed her back on the ground. She slowly turned to the sound. A look of horror crossed her face as she realized the heavy light landed exactly where she’d been standing mere seconds ago.

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Cassidy stared at the spot where she’d just stood, the reality of what had almost happened hitting her full force. She started to shake.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.”

It was then she realized she was still secure in a pair of strong arms. Arms that had saved her from a crushed skull. Or worse. Swiveling her head, she peered into a set of laser blue eyes and gasped. “Mason?” He’d saved her again from certain death. “Are you real or my guardian angel?”

One corner of his mouth curved and the dimple appeared. She wouldn’t doubt it if he was a figment of her imagination. She’d never seen a more handsome man.

“Definitely real and thankfully in the right place at the right time—twice now.” He motioned one of the producers over. “I saw a person running along the catwalk as the light fell. Can you send someone to look for them?”

“On it,” she said, barking orders into a walkie-talkie.

“Cassidy!” Russell Ingram came rushing over, followed by several of the support staff. “Are you okay? My God, that could’ve killed you.”

She managed a nod. “Just a little shaky. Mason saved me.”

“Mr. Rossi, I can’t thank you enough,” the executive director said, reaching out to shake his hand. That meant he had to let go of her and she mourned the loss of contact. Stiffing her spine, she pulled completely away and smoothed her skirt with trembling hands.

Mason was quickly swallowed up by a crowd of admirers. She heard the words “Superman”, “The Flash” and “Hero” bantered about, and she didn’t disagree with any of them. How he’d managed to whisk her away in the nick of time was superhuman. What if he hadn’t been there? She shuddered again and made her way to the steps leading up to the top stage before plopping down. The crew had wheeled in a large garbage bin and were preparing to clean up the mess of twisted metal and shards of glass. What were the odds that the light above her would come crashing to the ground at the exact moment she was standing directly beneath it? Mason had said he saw someone running away. Could it have been sabotage?

“Russell,” Stan Cornwell, the head lighting technician, called from the catwalk. “The light didn’t fall on its own. Someone cut the rigging. No sign of the person spotted running away, either.”

Dread washed over her. Someone was purposefully trying to end her life. Why? Who had she offended so deeply that they wanted to get rid of her? She couldn’t think of one person who hated her that much.

Pushing to her feet, she took a step and froze. How was she supposed to go about her daily activities when there was no way of knowing where the next threat might come from?