“Hold your tongue, gorgeous.My curated image was irreparably tarnished by an irresistible challenge of a Madonna in the flesh.”
“Cash,” Maddy said softly, everyone else forgotten.
“Want to go?”Telford’s voice was warm in Ayana’s ear.
She nodded.“We’re going to head out,” Ayana said, keeping her back to the door and wondering if there was another exit that wouldn’t set off the alarm.Hard to believe she hadn’t checked that out before.Her tummy sloshed nervously.
“See you tomorrow morning at the spa and salon.”She added pushing warmth not fear into her voice.She was just overreacting, being too cautious.
Bad habit.One she was determined to break free of.That would be another part of fully reclaiming her life and not living like she was being hunted.She’d survived on her own for years, and she was no longer a kid.Besides, she wasn’t alone.She had Telford.He might be quiet, but he was no pushover.And he had his family behind him.
As if he sensed her disquiet, he put his arm around her and walked up to the bartender to pay the tab before walking toward the door, keeping his body between her and the three photographers.
Outside was cool and quiet and the night air felt like a soothing cocoon.
“I should explain,” she said before she could chicken out.
“When you’re ready.”
His eyes were pools of obsidian in the dark.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready, but I want to be honest with you.”
“Let’s walk along the river first.Clear our heads and then head back to the room.I want you to know that whatever you tell me will remain safe with me, and I’ll share my life plans and concerns with you.”
And that sounded like a promise.
Chapter Eighteen
The walk waspeaceful.The midnight air crisp and still.Overhead, the moon was a sliver or two from being full, and it shone down on them like a torch, illuminating the dark and creating a glowing path.
She tilted her head back and looked up at the moon, imagining the rays washing her clean and a million miles away from her past.“I wonder if this is what it’s like being on a stage,” she finally said, breaking the silence as Telford didn’t seem ready to.
“I was in a play once when I was six.I was sick with dread, but so excited because my mom and grandpa were coming.”His voice was warm, slightly amused.“It was in the auditorium—each grade level put on a play.I was the cheese.Horrifying as I had the most lines—probably because I was an early reader and not particularly squirrely, and I was shy so not a lot of friends.The teacher probably thought she was doing a good deed.”
“A lot of good deeds go awry,” she murmured, remembering how she’d tried so hard to protect Alissa and had only brought her more to the Family’s ire and attention.
“Sometimes.Not always.I learned my lines.Had to wear a cheese hat, but it slipped a lot so I couldn’t really see the audience.”
Ayana smiled, picturing it.
“It’s a good memory.I don’t have many because I mostly remember my mom’s death.The horror.The fear.The helplessness.Trying to help but failing.The blood.”
She leaned into him.It was shocking how much they had in common though it didn’t seem like it initially.He was so easy to love.But could he love her—if he knew the truth?Had she fought hard enough for Alissa, or had she run—more focused on saving herself than her sister?
“You never asked me what I was running from.”
“I wanted to know only so I could be prepared to help you.”
Her heart fluttered at the sincerity she heard in his voice.“But…” She struggled to understand.“You don’t even know anything about me.About who I was.What I came from,” she whispered.
“I know who you are now,” he said.“That’s the woman I’m…” He sighed, looking a little embarrassed and shy.“I wanted to talk to you about this alone in our room.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath felt trapped in her chest.
What had he been about to say?That he loved her?Could she be so blessed?So lucky.
“Telford,” she whispered, feeling emotion swamp her.“Let’s go.”Holding on to his hand, she walked up the stairs from the path and toward the Graff Hotel that gleamed gold in the night several blocks down.
