Free The Perfect Couple by Emily Walters

wrong.”
     
    Cara bit her lip at Daniel’s harsh words, thinking that his words about her dancing were wrong. She had been trying, she had been busting her ass but her moves just weren’t as smooth as his were.
     
    “You are letting them get into your head,” he continued, grabbing her shoulders, his eyes piercing into hers. “Shake it off and move on, Cara.” He then grinned, kissing the tip of her nose. “Come on. I know you can do this.”
     
    Cara sighed and pulled out of his reach, running a hand over her face wearily. She was already struggling and the competition was just getting started. “Fine. Let’s do it again.”
     
    “That’s my girl,” Daniel said as he moved to the MP3 player sitting on the speaker dock. “Let’s show them what we are made of.”
     

***
     
    Cara bit her lip as she watched the couple on the stage currently, throwing down some moves that she could only wish that she could do. Today was the day of reckoning, the first competition where the teams had to be on point or would be in danger of being the least favorite and forced to do dance-offs in which the couples would have to go head-to-head with each other to stay. After their meeting with Mike, she had poured her heart and soul into the rest of the day, her bones aching from the brutal routine Daniel had run them through over and over again.
     
    Still she did feel a bit better about their performance. Once she cleared her mind, the steps came easier, though not as perfect as Daniel’s. They had a chance at this.
     
    “Ready?”
     
    Cara looked at her partner with a weak smile, taking in his handsome, carefree face. “As I will ever be.”
     
    “You’re gorgeous and I am proud of you,” he whispered, his hand snaking around her waist and pulling her close against him. “Whatever happens, Cara, remember that.”
     
    Cara sighed inwardly as he let her go, thinking that she was so damn lucky he was her partner, and her boyfriend. Daniel was a really great guy and she couldn’t imagine anyone else she would want to go through this competition with. She also didn’t want to disappoint him so the pressure was just a tiny bit more on her part.
     
    “Cara and Daniel, you’re up.”
     
    Straightening her spine, Cara walked out on stage and took her place, giving the judges her best smile.
     
    “Your two minutes start as soon as the music starts,” John the judge said, nodding to the person in charge of the music. “Good luck.”
     
    Cara took a deep breath and moved to the beat, the entire routine running through her mind as she forced herself to smile with each step. They didn’t have to be flawless, but good enough to pass through to the next round. Daniel’s steps were sure and on point. Cara followed the music with Daniel’s voice coaching her in her head.
     
    Before she knew it, the music had stopped and their two minutes were up. A rousing applause followed and Cara realized that there was a decent crowd out in the auditorium, something that she hadn’t paid attention to when she stepped out on stage. At least they weren’t booing them so that had to count for something.
     
    “Great job, you two,” Marie said, a smile on her face. “Cara, I know you have struggled with the hip-hop, but I must say I see improvement in your steps.”
     
    “Thanks,” Cara breathed, glad that they weren’t throwing them right out of the competition immediately.
     
    “I agree,” Mike added, pointing at Cara. “I had my reservations about you this week but you have proved that you belong here. Great job.”
     
    Cara gave him a winning smile as Daniel pulled her into a warm hug. “Great job, babe,” he whispered into her ear before letting her go.
     
    “You two can go into the blue room and await your results,” John said.
     
    Cara nearly skipped off the stage as they exited, laughing as Daniel swept her up in a big hug. “You were fantastic! You were amazing!”
     
    “And I would be nothing without