Follow My Lead

By Lisa Worrall

Hell hath no fury like a boyfriend scorned as sitcom star and comedian, CJ Edwards, finds out when his ex releases a sex tape he hadn't even known was being filmed. Not to mention the headlines on every newstand accusing CJ of being an abusive alcoholic. His career in tatters, CJ's agent manages to get CJ a spot on the Christmas special of Dancing with Stars in Your Eyes. Seeing it as a chance to possibly redeem himself, CJ accepts.

Lucien Moreau has been a dance professional on Dancing with Stars in Your Eyes for three years, and he loves it. Until the powers that be decide, in view of new marriage equality laws, the show's Christmas special will include a gay couple. Finding out he is being partnered with CJ Edwards hits him like a fist to the gut. Six months ago his brother and sister-in-law were killed in an accident when their car was hit by a drunk driver. How the hell is he supposed to teach a man, not unlike the one who destroyed his family, to dance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Worrall
• Release date: Jan 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310324390

Lisa Worrall

I live in Leigh on Sea, a small seaside town just outside London on the coast of Essex, about ten minutes from Southend, which boasts the longest pier in the world. I live with my partner and two ever-growing children, who I let think are the boss of me; along with a dog who actually is. As the wonderful Beatrix Potter said, "There is something delicious about writing the first words of a new story. You never quite know where they'll take you." I know exactly what she means and hope you'll join me for the ride.

Book preview

Follow My Lead

by

Lisa Worrall

Copyright 2014 by Lisa Worrall

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords License Statement

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DEDICATION

To Sue for telling me to get on with it

To Chris, Editor and flag-waver extraordinaire

And to Catherine, who fixed the French bits for me

Trademarks Acknowledgement:

The author acknowledges the trademark status and the trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction.

E!: E! Entertainment Television

BMW: The BMW Group

Punk’d: MTV

Oscar: Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences

Fluttershy: Hasbro

US Weekly: US Weekly

Austin & Ally: The Disney Channel

Hannah Montana: The Disney Channel

I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!: ITV

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

About Me

Also Available

Chapter 1

"What is wrong with you? No, no way. I’m not doing it. Nuh-uh, niet, nein, non, and not in a million fucking years!"

So that’s a no then?

Funny is not your strong point, Matthew. Leave it to the professionals.

Well, when I find one, I’ll be sure to do just that.

CJ Edwards stopped pacing in front of the fireplace in his living room and glared at his agent, Matt Davis, who lounged against the plump cushions of CJ’s red leather couch. Although Matt had been his friend as well as his agent for almost eight years, CJ had to resist the urge to slap his face and that smug fucking look on it, right off his head. The bastard thinks I’m gonna cave! Well, he can fucking whistle. I ain’t doing it!

Stow the hairy eyeball, Edwards, Matt drawled. "We both know that stopped working on me a long time ago."

Fuck off, CJ bit back childishly.

I’d love to, but you keep paying me, Matt replied. Look, dude, I love you, you know that, but this is all we’ve got. No comedy store appearances, no club openings, no sitcom renewal. He tapped his points off on his fingers and CJ winced with each one. That sex tape cost us big and no one wants to touch us. This is the only thing that’s crossed my desk for almost a year. The fee is enough for you not to have to sell the beach house, and it’ll give you the opportunity to redeem yourself. Let the public see the real you.

I think they’ve seen enough of the real me.

"You’re being an ass, CJ. You need this. Matt ran his hand through his dark hair. It’s five weeks out of your life. Four weeks initial training, then three nights on the show. It’s a one off special, not a full season. It’ll be over before you know it. CJ glared at him. Look, I’d tell you to swallow your pride, but after the number Mario did on you, there ain’t a helluva lot left. For God’s sake, man. If you ever want the chance to salvage even the slightest bit of a career, this is it!"

"The token homo in Dancing with Stars in Our Eyes is going to save my career? CJ yelled at Matt in frustration. You can’t seriously believe that!"

I believe it’s better than sitting on your ass all day complaining about how unfair life is!

Matt. CJ’s shoulders slumped, the fight leaving him. Please don’t make me do this. He didn’t miss the twitch of Matt’s lips. Bastard!

"I can’t make you do anything."

Liar. CJ sighed heavily and all but threw himself down on the other couch opposite Matt. Alright, alright, he huffed. "I’ll do it. But if I end up coming off even worse, I will kill you."

Goes without saying. Matt grinned widely and pulled his cell out of his pocket, already tapping out numbers. "You won’t regret this, buddy. Hey, Linda? It’s Matt Davis. Yes, CJ will be very happy to join the cast of Dancing with Christmas Stars in Our Eyes. Yes…"

Dancing with Christmas Stars in Our Eyes? Seriously? CJ picked up a cushion and covered his face with it. What the fuck am I doing?

CJ stood in front of the bank of floor to ceiling windows in the living room and looked out on the well-kept spacious lawn of the backyard. He lifted the beer bottle to his lips and took a long draw. His reflection in the glass seemed to mock him and he adjusted his focus to gaze past it to the falling snow. He loved this time of year. It was one of the reasons why he preferred living in New York to LA. Well, the weather, anyway. It held special memories for him. Personal memories that were his, and his alone. He cursed inwardly as a single tear escaped his lashes and trailed slowly down his cheek. Tears were a sign of weakness and any sign of weakness led to—he stopped the thought in its tracks before it could fully form. He wasn’t going there, not tonight.

The snow began about twenty minutes after Matt had climbed behind the wheel of his BMW and headed back to the city an hour ago. Fat flakes already covered the yard and patio in a thin sheet of white. CJ suppressed a shiver and padded barefoot across the room to the thermostat. His cleaning lady, Maggie, usually turned the heating on before she left because he was apt to forget to do it himself. The system was on a timer, but it was broken and CJ had neither the finances, nor the inclination to get it fixed right now. Today being the perfect example; it was her day off and the house was freezing. He turned the dial and wandered into the kitchen, contemplating whether to put some socks on or just wait for the under floor heating to warm up. Socks would involve him going upstairs to his dressing room to find some and, as the kitchen was closer, and where the beer was kept, he decided to wait.

How long he stood with the refrigerator door open, staring at the contents, he didn’t know. He knew he should have some food to go with his beer, but half a jar of olives, some moldy cheese and something that may have once been a head of lettuce, didn’t exactly ring the dinner bell. Just the beer, then. CJ grabbed an unopened six-pack off the bottom shelf and slammed the refrigerator door before he headed back to the living room. The house was heating up nicely, the floors warm beneath his bare feet and he kept them planted on the oak parquet when he’d thrown himself down on the couch. He picked up the remote, turned on the T.V. and began aimlessly surfing through the channels. His stomach sank as his own face suddenly filled the screen and, even though every instinct told him he shouldn’t, he stopped. He watched as his head shrank into a square in the corner of the screen.

A busty brunette on E!, with a thousand watt smile and the biggest teeth he had ever seen, gestured wildly at the camera. He turned up the volume.

"Christmas Dancing