His big hand was in mine when we walked back down the hill. I was suddenly conscious of my swollen and abraded mouth. I slipped my hand free of his just before we got to the crowd of people.
He glanced down at me, his fingers curling into his palm. Was he embarrassed too? These were his people and I, most definitely, was not.
A woman with red hair, wearing a Daphne outfit of all things, stared daggers at me.
He slowed, his sea glass colored eyes intent on mine. “Do you want to escape before people recognize you?”
Yes, I sure did, but I shook my head. “People will figure it out soon enough.”
He nodded and urged me forward. “It’s mostly just my employees left. A few are from the drama department at a local college.”
I braced for the theater kids. They would probably recognize me right away.
“Hey guys, this is my neighbor Amber. Amber, this is my team.” He made introductions and I tried to remember all the names, but I knew it was impossible. Between the brain bending kiss and a long day, my brain was on overload.
The redhead narrowed her eyes. “Amber? Since when?”
Guess I should have expected someone to recognize me. And it wasn’t the first time it included a sneer. I lifted my chin. “Since I was born actually. Nice to meet you, Valerie.”
Oh, I’d be remembering her name for sure.
“Amber Dalton?” A woman with a blond ponytail shifted from the crowd.
Molly Sutton, the girl I’d always secretly wanted to be. Cheerleader captain, homecoming queen, most popular girl in school. She’d never been mean to me, I’d just been invisible. Band geek because it was the only way I could learn every instrument possible.
I nodded. “Hey, Molly. It’s been a long time.”
She looked from Tate to me with an arched brow. “Very long time. You hungry?”
Surprised at the semi-welcome, I nodded. “The funnel cake was a while ago.” I glanced over my shoulder at Tate.
He gave me a warm smile. His hair endearingly mussed and sticking up from...well, from before.
Used to the whispers around me, I tried to focus on one step in front of the other. I felt naked on a number of levels. I was used to bodyguards around me and keeping people at arms’ length, but it was pretty damn obvious that I’d been making out with their boss. My skin was way too sensitive not to show the beard burn that I could definitely feel.
“I didn’t realize you were back in town.” Molly stood next to me at the tablescape of food. She picked up a mini sub from one of the platters and set it on a plate along with a scoop of mac salad.
It looked good to me, so I did the same. “I got in a few days ago. I’ve been—” Ugh, it sounded so pretentious to say resting at my parents’ house. “Visiting.”
“I saw a few clips from your last show.”
Surprised, I glanced over at her. “You did?”
“Pretty sure the whole world did from all the views on the YouTube video I watched.”
I winced. “Was it bad?”
“What? Are you serious?”
I laughed. “I learned a long time ago not to look myself up on the internet. Usually when there’re a ton of views, it could be cringeworthy.”
“That must be one helluva way to live.”
I shrugged. “Comes with the territory.”
“Well, it was amazing.” She pitched her voice lower. “‘Exile’ is one of my favorite songs. I’m sure you get people saying that all the time.”
I smiled and leaned in conspiratorially. “Actually, I don’t. It’s one of my faves too. I don’t get to sing it too often anymore. It was never a hit.”
