His laughter cuts me off. “Oh, no. Don’t go blaming me for your mistake.”
“Humph!”
He moves us faster. “Try to keep up.” He sings the words, and I join in. Our voices blend remarkably well as our steps fall in sync. The fast pace is exhilarating. So exhilarating that everything does the opposite and goes in slow motion. We catch eyes as the room disappears. There’s only him, commanding every last bit of my attention. I fall silent as he continues. When he reaches the end of the song, he dips me back with flair.
He lifts me back up, and we freeze, locked in our embrace. I half expect him to move away as if regretting getting swept up in the moment. Instead, he leans closer. His eyes deepen with the same longing that’s buzzing through me. My mind takes a snapshot of a myriad of details. The low stubble running the line of his chiseled jaw, the faint scar in the center of his chin. The tiny mole on the tip of his nose. The lock of hair falling over his forehead.
For so long I’ve dreamt of this moment. Will it measure up?
His warm breath tickles my cheek as my lips part. My breath comes faster as his lips take mine. Our mouths move together in a dance that puts the one we just did to shame. A flame licks down to my toes. Losing myself in the splendor of him, I slide my hands around his neck and meld into him. We might’ve done this countless times before. And yet, the thrill of the newness rushes over me with the force of a speedboat. He deepens thekiss with a hunger that I immediately match. Never have I been kissed like this before. He smells of fresh hair gel with a hint of mint and strawberries from our breakfast.
How can something so wrong feel so right?
The clearing of a throat breaks us apart.
Consuela’s in the doorway, wearing an uncomfortable expression. She speaks to Axel as she holds out a cellphone. “Sorry to bother you, but Zoe has been trying to reach you on your phone. When you didn’t answer, she called me.”
Axel blinks. “How’d she get your number?”
“She calls me sometimes and asks me to run errands for her,” Consuela explains.
Axel makes a face. “Really?”
She nods.
He glances at me and back at the phone.
I’m sick to my stomach and sick at heart. I was soaring high, and now I’m falling back down to lowly earth. Axel’s girlfriend is on the phone. That makes me the other woman—a floozy. Ew. How did I stoop so low so quickly?
“Thanks,” Axel says to Consuela and sucks in a resigned breath. He goes over and takes the phone. “Hey,” he begins, raking a hand through his hair. “Sorry, I missed your call. I’ve been practicing for the benefit and turned my phone on silent … it’s going well … yeah, you heard about that?” He glances at me again. “London’s helping out.”
Fingers prick at the base of my skull. I can only imagine what Zoe must be saying on the other end.
Axel’s mouth tightens. “That’s not up to you to decide.” He raises his voice. “Zoe, calm down. You’re blowing this way out of proportion. I needed a drummer, and she’s filling in. She’s actually really good.” He leaves the room.
Talk about a backhanded compliment. He sounded surprised that I can play. I rub a hand over my forehead, wondering ifI should leave. Consuela eyes me with sympathy. I grunt out a humorless laugh. “I know what you’re thinking.”
She tips her head. “Do you?”
Her matronly expression reminds me of my mom. For some reason, this irritates me even more.
“Yeah, that I’m an idiot.”
“Just be careful. You seem like a nice person. I’d hate for you to get hurt.” She glances over her shoulder and lowers her voice. “Zoe has her hooks in Axel pretty deep, and I don’t think she has any intention of letting go.”
I nod numbly. “I should go.” This whole thing was a mistake. I shuffle out of the room and go into the kitchen to get my purse. Tears burn my eyes, but I blink them back. The joke’s on me. I never truly got Seth—Axel—out of my system. Why does life have to be so dang complicated? I don’t stand a chance against a woman like Zoe. And when I flake out on performing at the benefit, Axel will hate me.
Furthermore, if he ever finds out who I am …
A shudder runs through me. It’s better to walk away now before things get even more complicated.
I go out the door and down the steps. Harmony will blow her cork when she realizes that I walked away from a story, but what other choice do I have?
The door flies open as Axel bounds out. “London, wait.” Desperation coats his voice.
I stop and turn around. “What?”
He steps up to me. “You can’t just leave.”
