Title: STAR CRUISE DREAM DANCER
Author: Veronica Scott
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Book Blurb:
Micki Allwell is a Comettes dancer aboard the luxurious interstellar cruise liner Nebula Zephyr. She’s offered the opportunity to take part in a celebrity dance contest to be held on the ship but her partner is a billionaire without dance experience or much interest in the contest, which his powerful family has pressured him to enter for their own reasons.
Josh Benfield has a galaxy of business deals going on every hour of the day, all over the Sectors. He has no time for dancing but his professional partner is an intriguing woman who insists he take the competition seriously. He knows she has secrets and he’s intrigued.
The intimacy of partnering in dance sparks a romance between the two of them but how long can it last?
Will seven weeks of competition in close quarters aboard the ship be enough to make Micki and Josh permanent partners? Or will the stark differences in their lives and pasts lead to heartbreak? And who is going to take home the trophy?
Excerpt:
He was about two thirds of the way, through the dance, eyes locked on Micki, totally caught up in the character he was portraying, the prince driven mad by this alluring dancer, forced to follow her through the steps of the folk dance, caught in her spell. He was barechested, as she’d ripped his shirt off earlier in the performance, in a move the ISD audiences loved to see and always appreciated. Josh thought it was cheesy and ridiculous but Micki had been right, as she’d been right about everything concerning this number. The audience had gasped and applauded and the gesture showed the increasing power the witch had over him, even as he danced around her and with her. He’d had trouble getting the intricate steps and hand movements the dance called for locked in his muscle memory and she’d simplified them before making him practice for hours on end so now, when he was deep in the emotion of the piece, his feet and hands knew what to do. The hardest part was coming, where he had to spin multiple times as if caught in a dust devil and then collapse onto his throne, but not before dragging her with him. The two characters fought to a draw in essence. Micki’s tiny finger cymbals sounded out the sequence for him and Josh let himself go for it, putting all his remaining energy into the final moves.
Then he was sprawled across the prop throne, Micki at his feet and the music ended. The audience roared and he realized they were receiving a standing ovation. The lights changed to the standard illumination and he forced himself to rise, reaching for the hand she extended gracefully and pulled her to her feet. He was grateful for the efforts of this dance belt and the baggy pants the prince character wore and made sure to keep Micki in front of him as they walked to join the co-hosts in the spotlight. If the audience perceived their dance as sultry and sensual, his cock was sure of it and he ached with desire to take Micki somewhere private right now and complete the seduction for real.
The two women judges were ostentatiously fanning themselves when he glanced over at their dais. The audience kept cheering and the stage manager had a hard time quieting them down. Micki swept them a curtsey and Josh managed a credible bow.
“Where was all that passion last week?” the female host asked with raised eyebrows. “You two burned up the stage tonight.”
“My partner is a wonderful dancer and choreographer,” Josh said.
“He did a terrific job portraying the prince,” Micki added. “And he worked hard in rehearsals.”
“What do you have planned for us next week, if you make it through the elimination?” the other host wanted to know.
“It’ll be a surprise,” Micki said demurely. “A change of pace, given the theme.”
The female host touched Josh’s bare chest and he had to fight not to scowl. “If tonight’s dance is any indication, you might want to build in another shirt ripping moment.”
Behind her back and where the camera couldn’t catch it, her husband frowned. “Time to hear the judges’ verdict.” He escorted them closer to the dais.
Micki clutched Josh’s hand tight as the critiques were given. Only the judge who made her living being sarcastic and acerbic had anything negative. “It’s a good thing we weren’t scoring for the accuracy of the steps tonight. But it was all about the feeling and emotion of the original music and dance and it was outstanding.”
There was more feedback and then the co-host called for the scores. There was a gasp and five “10’s” flashed above the judges’ heads.
“Our first perfect score of the season,” the co-host said as enthusiastically as if he’d done the dance himself. “We’ll see what the interstellar audience has to say but now it’s time to send Micki and Josh backstage and bring out our next couple.”
Grateful to be released from the stage and the cameras, Josh led Micki off to the left and into the backstage set area. As soon as he was clear of the cameras, he lifted her into a hug and spun around until she was giddy, her head thrown back and her hair flying. He wanted to kiss her more than anything but not in public. He was sure ISD had stealth cameras peppered all over the set and had no desire to have anything private between them broadcast to the galaxy for public consumption.
“You were amazing,” Micki said breathlessly as he finally set her on her feet.
“I messed up the first step sequence after getting off the chair,” he said, chagrinned.
“No one noticed and even if they did, the criteria this week wasn’t on the steps as Judge Sour Face reminded us. Five ‘10’ scores—can you believe it? Did you know the show lore says the first couple to score all tens usually wins the whole thing?”
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
A sexy billionaire, a dancer and a charity dance competition on an interstellar cruise liner – it’s not dancing with the stars, it’s dancing in the stars!
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Runs July 9 – July 17, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on July 18, 2024.
Author Biography:
USA Today Best Selling Author
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances!
She read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the official audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vscotttheauthor