Noticing War checking her out, I snorted. “Don’t waste your time. She’s not intoplayers,” I stressed the name Ray had given them.
Jack looked up from his cell and frowned. He didn’t say anything which was strange in itself—usually, he found the title amusing. War said nothing, just watched Charli.
Shaking my head, I accepted the vodka tonic Max handed me. He leaned his arms on the scarred wooden table, his palms wrapped around his Heineken, talking to the guys. Even after all this time, my heart still tripped whenever I looked at him.
But he pushed himself too hard. The past two years had been tough on him.
I was just grateful his headaches had eased and that he rarely relied on pain pills any longer. He’d started seeing a new therapist, too, which seemed to help him cope with the accident and his misplaced guilt over his mother’s death. More, he slept a little longer now. I’d learned fast that Max’s brain was just too active, and that a few hours of sleep was ample for him.
He’d finished his degree and was now handling his own projects. While the days took him to a job I had no hope of understanding, the nights and weekends—well, some of them, at least—were ours.
He glanced at me. An eyebrow cocked when he found me staring. Heat flooded my face. Ugh, I still blushed when caught off guard. He smirked. And I wanted to lick that taunting smile right off his sexy mouth. “Be right back.”
I nodded and watched him walk away.
“Ila?” Ray appeared at my side, distracting me. “About the fair this year, you and Max are coming, right? I can’t believe you two got together at that event,” she said.
“Actually, it was three nights before the fair, but who’s counting?” I said with a smile.
“What fair?” Jack asked.
“It’s a charity one Ray helps out at.”
“It’s hardly your kinda thing, Griffin,” she said sweetly. “It’s too wholesome—not enough hoes—oh, wait, there’s one now. Simi.” And she walked over to the next table to take the customers’ order.
Jack scowled and studied her silently. He swallowed more of his whiskey.
I looked past Ray, and there Simi sat with a group of people, watching me.
At one time, I’d have been reeling, looking for a way to escape her. She’d liked putting me on edge, reminding me of how she’d destroyed my life. Now, I no longer cared.
But seeing Simi made me think of Devyn. He’d gotten his license suspended for a year for DUI, and a restraining order placed on him to stay away from me. He’d sent me an email, apologizing, blaming the liquor for his behavior, and wished me well. Whatever. I was just glad he had closure.
“Maybe I’ll come to this fair,” Charli said, pulling me back.
“You’ll love it. You can help Ray at the dunk tank. She’s always looking for volunteers—” I broke off as the background music abruptly cut off and a smooth melody drifted through the noisy bar.
I glanced around. This place didn’t have live music. My gaze raced to the back, and my mouth quivered into a smile. Only Max would do something this unorthodox. More lights lit the spot.
He sat at the baby grand, his attention on the keys. The noise in the bar lowered and vanished as the melody gently floated around us—one I wasn’t familiar with. Max glanced my way, and said, “I wrote this piece for a very, very special person.”
“What’s it called?” someone asked.
“Breathless.Because it’s how I feel every time I see her.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. Max met my gaze again and nodded.
“Go!” Ray hissed.
Crap. Everyone was watching. Being with Max, one would think I was used to this by now. The attention.
“You don’t want to disappoint him especially after he just dedicated this song to you in front of the entire bar.” Ray glared.
No, I’d never do that. I got to my feet, and as I navigated my way between the tables toward the man who owned my heart, the look in his eyes made me forget everyone. All I saw was him.
His fingers gliding fluidly over the ebony and ivory keys, the music rose, the sound so hauntingly beautiful. I stopped beside him and let the melody wrap around me. The crescendo built higher and higher then dropped with a crash, sliding back into smoother notes and then stopping, leaving only silence.
Then clapping started, the noise so loud it drowned out what Max was saying. He rose to his feet and helped me sit on the bench.
