Kate followed Fred Astaire’s singing through the foyer, into the living room, where the song blared at full volume from a record player.
Suddenly, she understood why the dining table had been moved to the foyer.
A teenaged boy with golden-brown skin and dark hair danced across the empty dining room, his black shoes tapping, his body dangling on musical strings. His arms floated gracefully—then swung with power, turning him, one leg trailing. He landed on both feet—heavy—then tapped the other way, weightless again, his feet barely brushing the floor.
The music picked up its pace, and the boy broke free of the dining room, tapping and gliding around the outlying furniture in the living room.
He noticed Kate and stopped short—his arms falling, suddenly human again, his chest heaving for breath. He flashed a handsome smile of white teeth against glistening, overheated skin. “You must be Kate.”
She’d been warned, but still gaped at so much virile beauty. “And … you must be Aurelio.”
The dancer’s smile widened, his eyes full of fun. “Aurelio Dios, in need of a dance partner—and here you are!” He took her hand and pulled her toward him in a twirl.
“Oh, no—I don’t—”
A new song began—a piano’s quick, cheerful high notes.
“Follow me. It’s easy.” His feet became magical again, tapping with effortless perfection. He moved to her side, still holding her hand, indicating with a grinning nod that she should copy his tapping steps.
Begrudgingly, Kate tried, feeling like a tromping elephant next to a skittering puppy. She liked dancing at parties—had even held her own in a Lindy hop, a few times—but she’d never tapped before. She tried to withdraw, laughing, but Aurelio pulled her into his arms and turned them together in a hopping step, his hand firm on her back. He was lean and lithe, no taller than her, but controlled the dance with ease.
Just a fancy polka, Kate realized, and she started to relax, her feet moving on their own. Aurelio spun her away and then back into his arms, and she managed it with reasonable grace.
Fred Astaire’s voice pulled them along, a song Kate recognized from the movie Swing Time with Ginger Rogers. “Pick myself up … dust myself off … start all ooover again.”
Aurelio pulled one arm away and slid his other behind her waist, his feet shifting into a lazy tap shuffle. Kate copied the steps and had more success this time, her shoes making a satisfying clicking sound on the terra cotta tiles. Aurelio slowed his feet to match hers, and they went through the exchange a few times in perfect unison, side by side, his arm behind her waist.
The music slid to a conclusion, leaving her breathless and laughing, the record player needle falling into the blank groove at the end.
“You’re a natural,” Aurelio said.
She gasped for air. “Well—I’ve never tapped before.”
“Oh, that was wonderful!” a girl’s voice cried from the doorway, and Kate turned to see Bonnie Fairchild entering, blond and pretty, wearing a sweet yellow dress. Her blue eyes clung to Aurelio as she neared. “That’s the routine from the movie, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.” Aurelio stared back, breathing hard, his face a damp, bronzy red. “And you are the fair princess who lives next door.”
She laughed. “I’m Bonnie.” She dragged her eyes from Aurelio and handed Kate something wrapped in a dishtowel. “I brought a gift to welcome you to the neighborhood. It’s banana bread. Our cook made it, but I told her to.”
The bundle was warm and smelled divine. “Thank you.” Kate wiped a bead of sweat from her temple. “I’m so embarrassed about the way I barged in last night.”
“Oh, don’t be, it gave me an excuse to visit. Mama said I could, now that you’re here. I’ve always wanted to.” Her gaze slid back to Aurelio with a cautious smile. “I know that dance routine from the movie. I had to memorize it for an audition last year.”
His face brightened. “You’re a dancer?”
“Oh, yes, and I sing too. My voice coach just left the house. She’s mad because I’m switching to a coach at the studio, but they don’t want me so classical. I’m not an old lady.”
“No, indeed,” Aurelio said warmly.
Hugo entered the room, his eyebrows arching at the sight of Bonnie. “Thought I heard company.” The dog and Reuben followed him.
Bonnie clapped her hands. “Oh, good, now everyone’s here! I think I know your names, but I want to hear them from you.” She pointed a pink fingernail at Hugo. “You’re the killer, aren’t you?”
He looked amused. “Most people call me Hugo.”
The pink fingernail pointed at Reuben, whose grumpy face had gone splotchy red, the scar remaining white. “Charles Kensington,” he said gruffly.
Hugo rolled his eyes.
Bonnie turned back to Aurelio, her smile suddenly shy. “And you, of course. Sometimes I can hear you singing. You should be on the radio.”
Aurelio took her hand and bent over it, gazing up with his handsome smile. “Aurelio Dios at your service, princess.” His lips caressed the back of her hand.
Honestly. As if none of them had ever seen a pretty girl before. “How old are you, Bonnie?” Kate asked. “Fourteen?”
“I’ll be sixteen next week.”
“Fifteen, then,” Kate said. Aurelio had to be at least seventeen.
But he still held Bonnie’s hand, looking enchanted. “Will you give me the honor of a dance, princess?”
Her blue eyes widened. “Of course—oh, but not now! I’ve got to get to the studio. I just came by—” She forced her attention back to Kate. “Mama sent me over to see if you want to be in my movie. She’s friends with the producer, so it’s no trouble. It won’t be a big part, only a few lines, but it might be fun. Some of the other kids aren’t so nice when you’re the lead, so Mama thought it would be good to have a friend on set. If you want to.” Her voice trailed uncertainly. “It might be fun.”
No one moved or spoke.
A part in a Hollywood movie. Without asking or trying—or even wanting.
Kate felt the hungry eyes around her. She’d been invited to a feast in front of starving men. She didn’t dare look at Hugo. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m not an actress.”
“Oh, it’s easy. They just need teenagers in the background while I sing and dance. You can mouth the words. They record all that anyway. Mr. Falcon was excited when Mama told him about you. You know, because you’re famous and everything. He wants your name on the posters.”
Kate could hear the record turning round and round, the needle stuck in the final groove.
Hugo filled the silence, his voice scraping. “You should do it, Kate. It might be fun.”
She forced herself to look at him, trying to let him know without words that she knew what he must be feeling. But his eyes were filled with so much simmering envy, she had to look away. “What about them?” she dared to ask. “They’re the performers, not me. Can you get parts for them?”
“Oh.” Bonnie’s blue eyes slid to Aurelio, filled with regret, then back to Kate. “Mr. Falcon only wants you because … well, you know…” She stopped, seeming to sense she’d said something wrong.
Yes, Kate knew. The same reason Blakely Academy asked her to speak at the fundraising dinner every year. Because morbid curiosity made people spend money. It might have been interesting to be in a movie, but not like this. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Falcon will have to find some other famous girl to help him sell tickets. I’m going back to San Francisco.”
“Are you crazy?” Hugo took a step, his eyes on fire. “This is Clive Falcon we’re talking about, one of the biggest producers in Hollywood. You can’t turn that down—and why would you? Because you can’t stand to sleep in some housekeeper’s room? Take the pool house, if you want—I don’t care—take the whole damn house! We’ll all sleep in the backyard if that’s what it takes for you to get a part like that!”
The others murmured in agreement.
Kate felt their hungry eyes, but that only made her more eager to flee. “You’re performers. I’m not, and I’m not doing it.”
“Come talk to Mama,” Bonnie begged. “She’ll explain it better than me.”
If nothing else, it would get her away from Hugo’s glare. “All right.” She thought of something else. “Can I use your telephone to send a telegram?”
“Oh, sure.” Bonnie whirled to see everyone. “Well … it’s been fun. I’ve wanted to meet you all for a long time.” Her eyes drifted back to Aurelio.
He attempted his handsome smile, but it looked a bit frayed. “I hope we can dance someday, princess.”
“Oh, yes, but I’m late for the studio now. A set collapsed yesterday, and the lead boy broke his leg, and I’ve got to test with a bunch of other boys. Well, goodbye everyone.” She wiggled her fingers.
“Goodbye,” they rumbled.
Kate had to pass Hugo on her way to the foyer and reluctantly handed over the warm banana bread. “Six equal slices,” she told him in a fierce undertone. “And mine better be waiting when I get back.”
He took the bread with a mock bow, resentment pouring off him. “Certainly, Miss Hildebrand. I’ll put it in your dressing room.”
“I am not an actress,” she hissed. “And what do you care if I’m in some stupid movie?”
He growled back, “The way to break into the business is to know someone, and if you work at Falcon Pictures—we know you. Get it?”
Kate clenched her jaw. She could have pointed out that Falcon Pictures only wanted her because she’d been kidnapped when she was thirteen and left to starve in a dark hole while her father killed her mother and then himself.
But she bit back the words and followed Bonnie out the door.