Dancing with the Stars may have a love story unfold this season between Alek Skarlatos and Emma Slater.

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While rehearsing for their "Switch-Up" performance this week on Dancing with the Stars, Skarlatos revealed he's pretty smitten with Slater, and the pro dancer seemed to reciprocate such feelings.

Before finding out she was going to be paired up with Skarlatos for Monday night's show -- temporarily replacing his original partner Lindsay Arnold -- Slater admitted she "really wanted" to work with the train hero, who prevented a terrorist attack this past summer.

"I really like him," Slater told the cameras, "but don't play that [on TV] if I don't get him because that's really embarrassing."

Once Skarlatos discovered the news, he admitted he was "excited" for the opportunity to dance with Slater for the "Switch-Up."

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During the package that played last night before they took the stage, Slater was shown instructing Skarlatos to "manhandle" her hips and put his hands on her butt as part of practicing for their rumba routine.

"Focusing while we're dancing is a little bit difficult. I mean, she's super attractive. I can get distracted fairly easy while I'm dancing with her," Skarlatos said in an interview. "I tried to play it cool and that lasted about 10 minutes. I just couldn't do it. She's just too hot! I can't keep my cool under those circumstances."

Slater called the rumba "steamy" and admitted she's never gotten that close with someone who isn't a dancer or her boyfriend.

After the couple made a big impression onstage with their routine, Dancing with the Stars co-host Erin Andrews got to the bottom of things.

"Can we see you manhandle her a little more? Can we get a date? Can we get something?! I am into what's happening here!" Andrews exclaimed.


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"Sure," Slater quickly but quietly noted.

"Sure," a blushing Skarlatos said hesitantly. "[But] she doesn't sound too confident there."

"No, yeah!" Slater insisted with a smile.

Following Monday night's show, the pair talked to People about their budding romance.

"From the first day of rehearsal, we were really comfortable with each other. Some people just have that energy that you can have a laugh with straight away and just do normal stuff with," Slater told People.

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"I am really lucky with the partner I got for 'Switch-Up Week'... I think it's the most fun week I've had on the show yet," added Skarlatos.

The dancing duo confessed they've been asked many questions about their date coming up, so Skarlatos revealed he's already got an idea for their outing.

"I've got a truck and there are some mountains in Oregon," said Skarlatos. "So we can go up straight up into the mountains in the truck and look at the stars."

Slater approved of the suggestion and then just threw out the words "greek food."

Skarlatos and Slater landed in the middle of the judges' leaderboard last night after receiving 29 out of 40 points from the Dancing with the Stars judging panel, which included guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.


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Unfortunately for fans of the couple, Skarlatos will resume dancing with Arnold next week and Slater will once again work with her original celebrity partner Hayes Grier.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.