by Nina Singh
Time to change the subject. He pointed to the leather clutch she held. “Give me your phone. You want to snap some photos and take some videos to show the kids at the center, don’t you?”
Ani gave a visible shake of her head as if to clear it. Then glanced at the scenery behind her. “Yes. I absolutely do.”
Adam had just started taking snapshots with the Eiffel Tower behind her when they were approached by another couple.
“We’d be happy to take one of the two of you,” the woman said in perfect English, smiling. “Shame not to get one with you both in it. You’re such a lovely couple.”
“Oh, we’re not—he’s just—” Ani stammered. But the woman wasn’t really listening as she reached for the phone in Adam’s hand.
Adam didn’t bother to correct her. He stood next to Ani and smiled for the photo. Before long, all four of them were posing together, the City of Lights a stunning background behind them.
* * *
“I might not ever forgive you for this,” Moira announced dramatically when Ani made it back to her hotel room. Ani knew her well enough to know she was simply teasing. About what, she couldn’t guess.
“I apologize profusely, Moira. But what transgression might I have committed unknowingly?”
“Really? You can’t guess?”
Ani simply shrugged. Snowball trotted over and dropped at her feet.
Moira uncurled herself from her seat on the plush leather sofa. A black-and-white movie was playing on the TV, English captions scrolling at the bottom of the screen.
“Aside from a text asking if I’d watch Snowball for the evening, you didn’t offer one clue about where you were. Just that you would be walking along the Seine.”
“And you wanted more detail than that?”
“Of course,” Moira answered, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Especially since you left with that sexy bodyguard of yours, so I have to assume you two have been together all this time.”
Ani kicked her shoes off and headed toward the minibar. She needed a tall, cold bottle of water after all the authentic champagne she’d indulged in. “Again. I apologize, Moira. And thank you for keeping an eye on Snowball for me.”
“Anytime. I love that big fluff ball of a dog.”
“Still, I owe you.”
Moira waved that off. “The only thing you owe me is a detailed account of exactly what the two of you were doing. You were out and about in the city of lovers, after all.”
Ani uncapped a large bottle of mineral water and took a long sip before answering. “It wasn’t like that. He’s been here before and Philippe from the theater suggested we enjoy the walk along the riverbank. There’s so much happening there. Everything from dancing to floating cafés to sidewalk performers.”
“So is that what you did? Walk along the river? You were gone an awful long time.”
Ani swallowed some more water. “At first. Then Adam was nice enough to treat me to a river cruise to sightsee farther along the river.”
Moira clapped her hands in front of her face. “Oh, did he now? Tell me everything!”
Ani rubbed a hand across her forehead. “I will. I promise. But can it wait?”
Disappointment washed over Moira’s face.
“It’s just that I should really go get cleaned up and try to get a good night’s sleep before the big day.”
Her friend sighed. “I suppose. But right after the performance, you and I are going to sit down while you indulge me in a complete tell-all about your evening.”
Ani landed a small peck on her cheek. “It’s a deal.”
She turned and walked out of the room before Moira could come up with a way to protest the agreement.
In the bathroom, Ani leaned over the sink and studied her face in the wall-to-wall mirror. A large Jacuzzi-style tub of Italian marble called to her, but she did need to get to bed. As it was, she doubted she’d fall asleep anytime soon. Not with the thoughts of the previous few hours running through her head.
She couldn’t read too much into the moments she’d just shared with Adam. Aside from their past history, they had nothing in common. And the only thing she should be thinking about right now was her concert tomorrow night.
Still, she’d be lying if she’d said his admission back on the boat didn’t make her nearly giddy inside. He’d been attracted to her when they’d been younger. He found her attractive now. The knowledge sent a surge of excitement through her core.
She filled the stainless steel sink, poured a few drops of essential oil in, then soaked both her hands in the warm water. She couldn’t risk any inflammation in her finger joints. As much as she’d enjoyed tonight, it probably hadn’t been a good idea to stay out.
No one should be distracting her this much. Let alone a man so far out of her reach. Despite his admission, in the end, his words didn’t actually change anything. There couldn’t be anything real between the two of them. He’d told her earlier he never even stayed in one location long enough to establish any kind of real relationship. Meanwhile, this was her first international trip.
This was not a time in her life to even entertain the notion of any kind of relationship. Her career was finally on the verge of a major milestone. If this mini tour proved profitable for the venues booking her, she could prove herself to the international music community and achieve a level of success most musicians only dreamed of. She’d show that she could drive ticket sales.
And anyway, she had more than her share of overbearing, powerful men in her life. The last thing she needed was a romantic relationship with a man like that. This tour was finally a chance for her to experience some true power and control of her own. She knew her father and brother both loved her dearly and that they meant well, but it was hard not to feel suffocated at times.
Things would be so much different if her mother were alive. The light had gone out of all three of their lives when they’d lost her. Her father had never really summoned a genuine smile after. The sadness never left his eyes.
Therein lay another reason she had no desire to pursue any kind of relationship. She’d seen firsthand and up close how completely shattered her father was after the loss of his wife. Zini Terrance had been taken away from them much too soon. Her father still hadn’t recovered. Years of therapy had helped, but the man was a broken shell of the person he’d been previously. Her parents may have shared a love for the ages, but it had resulted in utter tragedy for them both. Ani had vowed as a teen to never leave herself that vulnerable to loss. It simply couldn’t be worth the pain.
There was no reason to revisit that vow. Adam Steele was a temporary flash in her life. After this mini tour, she may not even see him again. An ache settled in her chest at the thought, right in the vicinity of her heart.
Ani leaned her forehead against the mirror and tried for a steadying breath.
She’d been woefully unprepared to have Adam Steele reenter her life.
* * *
It was barely dawn, but Adam figured he may as well get out of bed. Not like he’d slept much, anyway. A set of dark, almond-shaped eyes had been there to greet him every time he’d so much as closed his eyes. When he did fall asleep, dreams of an angelic face surrounded by fiery red hair had haunted him throughout the night.
Throwing on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, he made his way downstairs and out into the street for an early morning run. Hopefully, it would help to clear his head.
Going out with Ani last night had been a mistake. He’d tried to tell himself he’d simply be spending a few hours catching up with an old friend. That it would be a crime to have her miss the beauty of this city her first time here by holing up in her hotel room and practicing piano. But by the time they’d made it back up the elevator, he was thinking of her as much more than a friendly acquaintance from the past.
He had to put an end to that. And fast
.
Adam broke into a fast jog as soon as he hit the pavement. Inviting her on that dinner cruise had been reckless and impulsive on his part. He simply should have taken Ani on the scenic route back to their hotel. Hell, he could have even arranged the dinner cruise for her and her friend slash manager instead. In hindsight, that would have been the better plan.
A woman like Ani was off-limits. Completely taboo.
He was older than her, not by a long stretch, but years weren’t the only measurement for a life. She was a relative innocent. He’d been a soldier who’d served in some of the most nightmarish, war-torn areas of the world. The ugliness he’d witnessed, the darkness of humanity he’d been privy to, would affect him for the rest of his life. Before that, he’d been an orphaned and unwanted kid who’d repeatedly found himself in trouble.
He’d done well for himself since those younger days. But he’d long ago accepted that he wasn’t the type to settle down and commit.
No, he was much better suited to a life of constant change and travel. A life in which he kept the darkness all to himself. Where he could keep his mistakes from hurting anyone else.
Then there was the complication of Ani being the adored baby sister of one of his closest friends. Things didn’t get more complicated than that.
Adam set a punishing pace as he made his way down the streets. Around him, Paris was mostly still asleep. A few of the cafés had the lights turned on low, one or two people stirring about inside. He ran by a bakery and the enticing aroma of fresh baked bread had him slowing his stride.
It occurred to him that Ani would never have experienced tasting a fresh-baked baguette straight from a Parisian oven. Maybe he should pick up a loaf for her on the way back. Along with some sweet cream butter. He imagined feeding her a piece the way those couples were feeding each other cake at the café yesterday.
Just. Stop.
Adam ran a few more steps and then stopped to lean against the wall of a fashion boutique. That was it. No more excuses. He had to stop thinking about her. From now on, he’d be nothing more than the man in charge of her security detail. He’d assign April or Tito to take the lead in communicating with the VIP.
That was the way he had to think of Ani from now. Merely another client he’d been hired to serve.
Strictly professional. Even if it meant he had to stay the hell away from her.
* * *
Ani awoke to find a text message on her phone.
Please notify me when you’re up. We have some details to go over. Also, I have something to give you.
It was from April. Ani had met her on the jet, one of the professionals on Adam’s security team. Ani responded to have her come up in twenty minutes after she had a chance to shower.
There was a knock on her door exactly twenty minutes later. Ani opened the door to find April standing in the hallway. She held a large brown bag. A delicious aroma wafted into the room and immediately made Ani’s mouth water.
She stepped aside to let the other woman in.
April handed her the bag. “This is for you and your team. Various pastries and a fresh baguette. There’s even a treat for the dog. From Adam.”
Ani managed to mutter a thank-you through her surprise. A touching warmth spread throughout her chest. He’d thought to get her breakfast.
But why was it April who was delivering it? Adam had mentioned he’d stop by in the morning to brief her about where exactly his men would be positioned during her performance and how she’d be accompanied to and from the stage. Why was April the one here instead?
It should have been a relief. Hadn’t she just resolved to herself last night that she had to keep herself guarded as far as he was concerned?
But she couldn’t stop wondering about the answer. Though she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
CHAPTER FOUR
ADAM OBSERVED THE growing crowd around the theater. A lot of people were here early, as soon as the doors opened. The makeup of the concertgoers surprised him. Elderly groups, several young adults. Even several teens. Ani attracted a very diverse crowd. It had to say something about her talent that her music appealed to such a wide audience.
Something akin to pride blossomed in his chest. Though that was downright silly. He had no right to any such feeling where she was concerned.
He’d avoided her most of the day, aside from a couple of quick, face-to-face checks and text messages. He’d put April in charge of most of the day’s responsibilities that involved direct VIP contact.
Far from making him feel better, he’d been miserable and surly, even snapping at his crew more than once.
A buzz sounded in his ear, followed by April’s voice. “VIP limo approaching. ETA three mins.”
Adam clicked the earpiece. “Cleared for arrival. Side entrance as planned.”
“Copy.”
Two and a half minutes later, a sleek dark limousine turned around the street corner. Adam scanned the area; the crowd seemed to be contained in front of the box office doors at the front of the theater. A few wanderers here and there paid no mind to the limousine or the two black SUVs that followed. Two of his men were positioned inside, along with the theater’s own security crew. April was in the limo with Ani. The performance was due to begin in a couple of hours.
The convoy pulled to a stop at the curb and the limo door opened. April got out first and held the door open for Ani and Moira. Then Ani exited the vehicle, and the sight nearly took his breath away.
She was dressed in a long satin gown the color of the midnight sky over the Mediterranean Sea. Strapless, it exposed her elegant shoulders and long, bare neck. Her hair was done up in a complicated style with delicate ringlets framing her face. She looked like the budding international music star that she was. Someone on the brink of a rich, full life filled with achievement.
Someone he had no business coveting in any way.
He watched as she stepped out onto the curb. Her gaze immediately found him and she gave him a small smile. Yet even from this distance, he could see the confusion clouding her eyes, perhaps wondering why he’d been so unavailable all day. He’d simply been trying to remain at a professional distance. What he should have done all along.
Now, he gave her a nod and an appreciative wink, professionalism be damned. Her smile grew wider. But then April gently nudged her toward the entrance of the building, with Moira trailing closely behind.
He waited a few more moments to ensure nothing or no one suspicious appeared before entering the building himself.
Her dressing room was clearly marked with a gold, glittering star on the door. He could hear voices and the bustle of movement inside. A soundtrack of classical music played in the background. A piano concerto.
He forced himself to walk past and down the hallway without knocking. There was no real need to check on her. April had things well under control. The stage had been secured several times throughout the day. Nothing had been left to chance.
So why did he feel so out of sorts?
An hour and a half went by as the auditorium gradually grew noisier. Adam watched from behind the large red curtain as every seat eventually filled. She’d sold out the house.
Finally, a hush settled over the crowd as the curtains drew apart. The lights flickered twice before dimming. Ani walked slowly onstage to loud applause.
Once again, her gaze made a straight beeline to where he stood off to the side. Even from here, he could sense her nervousness. He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, one she returned with tight lips.
She turned back to the crowd.
“Bonjour!” she began, and then added in flawless French, “I’m so happy to be here tonight. Thank you for inviting me to your enchanting city.”
Her audience clapped and cheered in response. With a small wave, she took a seat at the grand piano in the center of the stage. The orchestr
a section darkened.
She began to play.
The sheer beauty of it stunned Adam where he stood. He’d never particularly been a fan of the classics. But there was no doubt he was witnessing creative magic as Ani played. The notes echoed around him, filling the air with harmony. He realized he was staring at her, slack jawed.
As if she sensed his stare, she looked up and their eyes locked for the briefest moment. Or maybe he’d just imagined it. He forced his attention back to the audience.
Ani had more in her repertoire than just the piano concertos. Throughout the night, she sprinkled her performance with bouncier, more pop-like pieces. A trio of talented background singers accompanied her for those.
The audience loved every moment. He’d never doubted Ani’s talent, but he hadn’t expected to be completely blown away. Aside from her musical talents, she had an innate ability to connect with her audience, a star quality he wouldn’t be able to put into words. Adam didn’t know much about creatives, but he knew the combination of appeal and talent that Ani had was a rare gift.
By the time Ani stood up and took her final bow, several audience members were in near tears. He could hardly blame them. Ani announced the orchestra and her singers and took one final bow as the curtains closed. April immediately strode toward her from backstage but Ani was already making her way toward where Adam stood.
She gave him a brilliant smile that had his mouth going dry.
Without so much as a thought, he waved April off. He would take it from here.
* * *
“That was something, kitten.”
Ani had to resist the urge to throw herself into Adam’s arms. She knew she wasn’t thinking straight. But some kind of euphoria had come over her sometime during the night. While she’d played, she’d almost had what could be described as an out-of-body experience. It was as if the audience had become an extension of her very being. Now that the show was over, she felt an exhilaration like she’d never experienced before. The looks she’d caught from Adam throughout the night only amplified the endorphins coursing through her body.