Love Waltzes In (Dancing Under The Stars) Read Online Free

for a second that he was going to hug her, but he just crossed his arms, holding a shoebox. She was grateful that her sunglasses hid the guilt behind her eyes. All she knew was that he had been given orders to some base in North Carolina. She’d sent him a final letter during boot camp ending their engagement. Such a coward, she hadn’t even shown up at his graduation to tell him in person. She couldn’t bear to face him because she had already made her painful decision and there was no way she could ever reverse it. She’d never heard from him again. He'd vanished from her life. Not even a Facebook account she could stalk. All she could do was occasionally scour the Internet, looking for the names of casualties in the war. She'd breathe easier after not seeing his name. For a while, at least.
    He opened his mouth to reply but Selena blurted out, “Are you still in the Marines?”
    Bret’s blue eyes blinked hard. “Yes. I won’t retire for ten more years.”
    “I can’t believe it’s really you,” she said.
    Finally Bret stepped forward, one arm extended, as if showing some affection was an obligation. Selena returned the gesture. The shoebox Bret that clutched forced a space between them, like an invisible line. Her cheeks stretched into a thin smile, one meant to lessen some of the pressure around them.
    He released her and Selena pushed up her sunglasses on her head so she could study him. Was this gorgeous man the same scrawny teenage boy whom she’d lost her virginity to? His hair was cut short and his skin a deep brown that no tanning bed could achieve. The bottom of a U.S.M.C. tattoo was visible from his sleeve. His lips curved into that lazy grin of his.
    He was sexier than any movie star she had met over the years. The thought of being with a real man, muscles sculpted from carr ying weapons, not practicing Pilates, made her quiver.
    Selena glanced down at his left hand. No ring. The breath she’d been holding escaped. But it bothered her that she was happy he wasn’t married.
    “I almost didn’t recognize you, blondie. You look great, Sel. In the magazines, your face is always painted and you look fake.”
    Selena shuddered. She was in her sweats without so much as a tinted moisturizer or lip-gloss. He thought she looked great? If Dima saw her now, he would scold her about her image.
    Though Bret kept his distance, hi s minty scent filled the air.
    She glanced down for a moment, before meeting his gaze with renewed confidence. “Nationals are here tomorrow. Are you stic king around?”
    “Wasn’t planning on it.” He gave a half smile. “You’ve been to one competition, you’ve been to them all.”
    Selena nodded, despite feeling a tad bit hurt by his response. She cleared her throat. “Maybe we can grab a drink tonight? To catch up.”
    Bret took out his phone, thumbs moving across the virtual ke yboard. “I’d love to Sel, but I have plans.”
    Was he still upset after all these years about the way she had ended their engagement? Her cheeks burned with guilt. A hollow pain radiated in her chest. Ten years of wondering, imagining, dreaming of their reunion, and all she got was a weak hug? She couldn’t even get her first love to have a casual drink with her. Selena bit her lips and shrugged her shoulders. Yes, she had ended it, but she hadn’t been given a choice. Her mother had sacrificed so much for Selena’s career. Selena couldn’t just give it all up to become some teenage bride on a military base. She had to support her family, especially after her father died. Bret was the one who decided to quit dancing and join the Marines. They could’ve stayed together and been partners on and off the floor.
    Benny Brooks snuck up behind them. “Bret m’boy. Great to see you again. I see you’ve reacquainted yourself with Selena—why don’t you both come inside and we can get started.”
    Get started? What was going on?
    Bret fidgeted. “I have to dance  . . . with her?”
    Benny’s