Almost in Love

by Kylie Gilmore

  Kate appeared at Amber’s side, back in her ancient jeans, stained T-shirt, and her hair up in its usual messy half bun, half tail. Her glasses had a smudge of toothpaste on one lens. Ian trailed behind her.

  “Guys, this is my sister, Kate, and Bare’s brother Ian,” Amber said. “This is Zoe and Daisy.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Kate said.

  Ian smiled. “Hello, ladies. Hey, I remember you, foxy—I mean, pregnant lady.”

  “It’s Daisy,” Amber reminded him.

  “I gotta run,” Zoe said. “I have to do my vocal warm-up.”

  “I should go too,” Amber said.

  “My seat is front and center,” Kate announced. She turned. “Ian, I will see you later.”

  “Can’t I sit with you?” Ian asked.

  “I reserved my seat ahead of time. I’m sure that can’t be changed at this late date.”

  “There’s no reserved—” Amber stopped at Kate’s sharp look. “Bye.”

  She heard Kate hiss under her breath, “Stop following me,” as Ian trailed after her.

  Her sister hadn’t yet realized that nothing caught a guy’s interest better than not chasing them.

  “Break a leg!” Daze called. Amber waved.

  Backstage, the cast was in a tizzy of excitement as the auditorium filled with more and more people.

  Zac kept reporting back. “Nearly a full house. Center section is filled.”

  Five minutes later. “Sides are filling in.”

  Fifteen minutes later. “Guys, we’ve got a full house.” He jumped around, bouncing in a circle. “Energy up.”

  “We’re already up,” Kevin said. “You’re going to jinx us. Shut up.”

  Kevin had been demoted to pirate number five. Alan had eagerly taken on the role of the pirate’s lieutenant. He was pretty good too.

  Amber went to the band room to help with Bare’s makeup. She found him applying the beige foundation that would keep him from looking washed-out on stage. He was doing a terrible job blending it in.

  “Here, let me,” she said, taking the wedge sponge from his hand.

  “Hello there, me beauty.” He pulled her in and kissed her gently.

  “Hello, my Pirate King.” She worked on blending the line of foundation from his jawline into his neck.

  “Kevin really did a number on my face,” he muttered.

  She rubbed further down his neck. “It’s not that bad. The swelling went down at least.” She grabbed a towel to protect his white pirate shirt before blending further.

  “I still have a black eye.”

  She grabbed the eye patch and slid it over his eye. “See, not that bad.”

  “What about the other eye?”

  “I’ll fix it.” She added some foundation to the sponge and delicately patted around the bruise high up on his cheekbone, blending under his eye.

  He grabbed her wrist and kissed the sensitive underside. “I love you,” he growled.

  Her heart swelled, knowing it was the emotion that made his voice like that. She forced the words past the lump in her throat because she truly meant them, even if it was hard to say. “I love you too.”

  He released her wrist and stared at her. “Amber,” he growled. He cleared his throat. “You do?”

  “You know I do.” She put her hand over his heart, felt it thumping hard. “You’ve always known here.”

  “No, I didn’t always know.” His eyes searched her face. “Only hoped.”

  She smoothed the foundation down his cheek over the stubble. “Now you know.”

  “You still going to love me after the show when I’m not the Pirate King?”

  “Of course. What a thing to say.”

  “I’m holding you to that.”

  She continued blending on the other side of his jaw, into the neck. “I fell in love with you, Bare, not the Pirate King.”

  “Prove it.”

  She stopped and stared. “Prove it? How?”

  “Take a ride with me when the dancing cow magnets are on the car.”

  “No problem.”

  “And make it moo.”

  She swallowed hard. This was getting embarrassing, but if it put his mind at ease. “Okay.”

  “And then…” His voice lowered, and she waited with a mix of dread and wild anticipation. “I want you…in my cow costume.”

  “You want me to dress up like a cow?”

  “No, I want to make furry love to you when I’m the cow.”

  “No.”

  He raised his brows. “Amber,” he growled. He knew what that growly voice did to her. “Furry love.”

  She studied his face looking for one sign that would indicate he was joking. His expression was serious. But then his eyes gave him away, and he smiled, laugh lines forming at the corners of his eyes.

  She smacked him on the chest. “You!”

  “You were thinking about it, weren’t you?”

  “No. Not for one minute.”

  He grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms. “I’m a lucky man.”

  She smiled. “You are.”

  “Ten minutes ’til curtain, people,” Toby called.

  “That’s my cue,” Bare said.

  She put a hand on his shoulder to keep him in the chair and finished up with the foundation. She gave him a quick kiss. “Break a leg.”

  “I’d much rather…” He whispered in her ear the deliciously naughty things he wanted to do to her.

  And while she ran hot with that vision running through her mind, he slapped her ass and swaggered out.

  ~ ~ ~

  Opening night of the show was amazing. Of course Amber expected nothing less from such a stellar cast. Bare had hired a video recording company to film it since his mother would miss the performance. His mother was helping out her sister who’d recently had surgery. Amber was glad they’d have it recorded so she’d always get to watch her Pirate King. There were a few missteps, like when Kevin purposely didn’t say his line and left Bare hanging, but her guy ad libbed, “That’s quite a mouthful,” and the entire audience roared with laughter. Bare was amazing as usual, bringing all of his energy and heart to the role. She watched from backstage. He regularly looked over to give her a special smile or a wink like they were in on this performance together.

  Zoe was fabulous as Mabel. She’d heard her friend sing full-throttle before, but when she had an audience, the woman positively glowed. She watched as Delilah did a convincing Ruth in love with the young, dashing Frederic. Her voice hit one wrong note, but professional that she was, she didn’t let that stop her, just corrected course and forged ahead.

  Jasmine stood in the orchestra pit, dancing along with them, coaxing smiles on their faces when they were singing. Toby watched from the front row, looking serious. The energy was electric. Amber was going to miss all this. The camaraderie, the late nights at the bar and diner, watching Bare.

  This was the second time he’d mentioned her not wanting him when he wasn’t the Pirate King. Which was ridiculous. Why would she dump him just because he wasn’t a pirate? Was it a pirate she slept with all those nights? All those mornings? Okay, one time she’d played along with a pirate/wench scenario that got down and dirty even in all its dress-up, pirate-talk trappings. She flushed, remembering the rope that bound her wrists, the “flogging” that was more like caressing, until she was begging him to bury his sword to the hilt.

  But she knew who he was. A performer. An artist like her. He was still a little goofy, but she saw his tender heart, saw him grow in confidence as he dominated the stage. Dominated her. She went hot just thinking about it.

  Bare bounded off stage after his song with Frederic and Ruth. He was sweating from the hot lights and the exertion of his performance. He took one look at her no doubt lusty expression and grinned. “Thinking of me?”

  “No, it’s just hot backstage. All the lights.” Except there weren’t any lights backstage.

  He gave her a knowing look and cradled her bottom, pull
ing her up against his thigh. She was instantly turned on.

  He gave her a quick kiss. “How’s my makeup?”

  She giggled. Her boyfriend was asking about his makeup.

  “Can you see the bruise?” he asked urgently.

  She stopped smiling. “No, no, it’s fine. You look great.”

  “So do you, beauty,” he whispered in her ear. Then he bounded back on stage for his next entrance.

  She watched him, watched the cast play off him, heard the audience laugh and applaud. She wanted to hold onto this moment forever. When the curtain went down, it was to a standing ovation. She was so proud of all of them. They took their bows, one at a time, then all together. The audience was still on their feet, clapping. Bare gestured to Will for him to take credit, then to Jasmine in the orchestra pit, to Toby and Edith in the front row, and then Bare surprised her by grabbing her hand and pulling her onstage so she could take a bow with them. She did, and then he dipped her and kissed her like the Pirate King did to all the girls. Except this time it was her turn, all hers. The audience loved it, and so did she.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Barry belted out “I am the Pirate King” for what would be his last performance. It was Saturday night, the last night of the show, and the house was packed. He glanced to the wings as he crossed stage right, gave Amber a small smile, and continued. The audience lifted him, made the performance fly in a way he couldn’t on his own. It was euphoric, as his mind and body moved without any conscious thought, as he flew through song after song, line after line, dance after dance.

  They finished to a standing ovation. He was one of the last of the cast to come forward for his bow, a place of honor, and the applause grew louder. Frederic and Mabel went last. They all joined hands and took a final bow. He gestured to the crew who’d helped them along so they could take their bow. Then he grabbed Amber, pulled her onstage for her bow, and kissed her. The audience ate it up.

  Then it was over.

  The house lights came up. The audience slowly exited the building. He felt deflated. He knew what came after this. Goodbye. Everyone moved on. He’d miss everyone. But at least they had tonight to celebrate. And he’d still have Amber. She loved him. He was still marveling over that. A big, nerdy guy like him snagged a beautiful artist like her. He hoped he never woke up from this full-color, sex-drenched, love-filled dream. It was fucking amazing.

  “See you all at the party!” he called with a wave. He’d invited everyone to his mom’s house. It was large and empty, since she was taking care of his aunt in Maine.

  Amber caught up with him in the band room. “My Pirate King.”

  “My cheeky wench.” He gave her a kiss, and she returned it passionately. He already wanted her, the urge so strong he wasn’t sure he could wait until after the party. Maybe they could sneak away at the party. There were a few unused bedrooms upstairs.

  “Show’s over,” he said. “Still feel the same way about me? Regular old Barry the dancing cow?”

  She smiled, her hand running up and down his arm. “First of all, you’re my Bare.”

  He smiled at the endearment.

  “And second of all, you’re not just a dancing cow, you’re a pirate, and you’re a horny dog.”

  He grabbed her and whispered what he wanted to do to her that involved Nutella in some very interesting places.

  She flushed. “How am I supposed to get through this party thinking about that?”

  He trailed his fingers down her spine over the bare skin of her back. “What are you wearing under that dress?”

  She had on this flowery halter-top dress that ended mid-thigh. He wanted to rip the thing off her. He wanted to say the words, the ones he knew would get him back where he belonged, buried deep inside her.

  “Not much,” she teased.

  He ran his fingers over her hip, feeling for the thong waistband that…she hadn’t worn tonight.

  “Amber,” he growled in her ear. “Here, now.”

  He watched as her eyes dilated, and her cheeks flushed. She slapped his hand away. “There’s people.”

  He lunged for her, and she squealed. He caught her around her waist before she could get anywhere.

  Steph walked in, hand over her eyes. “Please don’t let me see anything rated X. I just want to change and get to the party. I’m not into voyeurism.”

  “He’s just playing around,” Amber said.

  “Whatever,” Steph sang.

  Barry slowly shook his head at Amber. He wasn’t playing around at all. He was fully prepared to take her in the locker room, in a bathroom stall, the guest bedroom, anywhere that was close and private. He had a perpetual hard-on from the moment they met. That hadn’t changed.

  “There’s some empty bedrooms at my mom’s house we could use,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Bare,” Amber said, “please.”

  Her “please” could mean stop or keep going depending on how hot she was.

  “You know the deal,” he said in a low voice, going for hot.

  Her breathing hitched. He knew he had her, and both triumph and relief surged through him.

  She pushed him into a chair. “Let me get this makeup off you.”

  He sat, but his mind was filled with visions of Amber with the dress bunched up around her waist, her against the wall, him pushing inside—he gripped the sides of the chair so he wouldn’t grab her. He could hear Steph putting away the accessories for her costume, rummaging for her clothes. He was about to bust his breeches.

  Amber dabbed delicately at his face, washing the makeup off, careful of his bruise. God, he loved her.

  She rubbed his arm. “Relax. You feel so tense.”

  He put his hands on her waist, spanning his fingers to touch more of her. “I’m just thinking of you.”

  “I’ll see you guys at the party,” Steph said as she sailed out with her duffel bag.

  “We’re heading out too,” Barry said. “I’ve got the key.”

  Steph waved and the door shut behind her. Barry pulled Amber close, unable to resist kissing her before they left. Tasting her spurred him on; he could never get enough of her. She was making these needy little mewls in the back of her throat that made him crazy. He grabbed her hand, intent on getting her to a bed ASAP.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  She giggled, and they ran out the door.

  ~ ~ ~

  Amber walked into the empty house hand in hand with Bare. Some of the cast were already hanging out on the front yard and followed them in. Soon the party was in full swing, everyone cheerful and congratulating themselves on a job well done. Ian was trying to get Kate’s attention while she was busy informing the entire police brigade about the history of The Pirates of Penzance as originally conceived by Gilbert and Sullivan in 1879. Zac and Kevin were getting cozy in the corner, arms around each other as they spoke closely together.

  “We did it!” Steph said, hugging them both. “Have a drink. Or do you need a smoke?”

  “Ha-ha,” Amber said. “I brought champagne.”

  “Awesome. We should all have a toast.” Steph called over to their director. “Toby, make a toast for us.”

  “Come on, everyone,” Bare said. “A toast in the kitchen.”

  Everyone filed in. Bare uncorked the champagne while Amber set out plastic cups. She poured a bit in each cup, sparingly so there’d be enough to go around.

  After everyone picked up their cup of champagne, Toby raised his cup. “A toast to the finest cast I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.”

  “Aww,” Steph said.

  “Hear, hear,” Zac said.

  “To show business!” Delilah said.

  “To pirates!” Bare said.

  “Let the good times roll!” the Major-General put in, still wearing his pith helmet. What was that guy’s name again? They’d been calling him Major-General from day one.

  They all laughed and drank. Someone put on some music in the family room. The women started danci
ng, then Zac and Kevin joined in, and then everyone was dancing. Amber had a brief flashback to Bare’s Irish jig the last time they’d danced together. Seeming to know where her thoughts were at, he grinned, and instead did a swashbuckling pirate dance, joining in with the other pirates, who swung arm in arm like they did on their dance number on stage. Steph dragged her into a kick line with the Major-General’s daughters. She did a few low kicks, mindful of her lack of underthings.

  After several more dances and one too many cups of wine, Amber excused herself, found the downstairs bathroom locked, and headed upstairs in search of another bathroom. As she walked the upstairs hallway, her eye caught on a splash of dark green, red, and lavender on the wall in one of the bedrooms. She stopped. That was strange. It was a dragon. She got closer. It was her dragon. The painting she’d sold on eArt. She stepped into the room and just stared. They were all here. All of her paintings lined up against one wall, stacked up against each other.

  Her head spun. Wait. No. Her collector, the woman who bought all her art, was Bare’s mom? She thought back to how sales had tapered off when the play rehearsals started, turned on her heel, and raced to Bare. She found him dancing with some of the pirates and the Major-General’s daughters.

  “How could you?” she hollered over the music.

  People nearby stopped dancing to stare.

  Bare pulled her out of the room and into a quiet corner of the kitchen. “What’s the matter?”

  “What’s the matter? What’s the matter! You bought all my paintings and let me think it was a collector!” Her head hurt. She lowered her voice. “You bought them as your mother, and you never told me. You probably didn’t even like them. You just stored them in a room upstairs. I can’t believe I fell for it.” Tears stung her eyes, and she dashed them away with the back of her hand.

  “I do like them,” he said. “That’s why I bought them.”

  She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “But you just let me think I was some big success when you were just trying to make me feel better about my little hobby. I thought…” Her voice broke.

  He wrapped his arms around her, and she shoved him away, suddenly furious. She’d thrown herself into painting, trying to keep up with her mysterious collector, actually thinking she might have a chance at making a living at her art. And the way she’d confided to Bare about all her great sales. The way he just went along with it.