I was this way because I was this way, and that was really all there was to it.
“Thank you,” I said, trying to make amends for not being the best guest in our little round of introductions. I’d barely said more than two words to the sweet man who was graciously letting me work back of house for him while I stayed with my uncle and studied with Reese. “For everything you’ve done for me. For letting me stay with you, for this job…”
Uncle Randall lit up again, bouncing a little in his chair as he filled his glass with red wine. “Oh, don’t even mention it. As I said before, we’re happy to have you.”
A hush came over the room, and Uncle Randall’s eyes went wide. He glanced over his shoulder, smiling with a tilt of his glass toward me when he turned back around.
“And now, it’s time to meet your new teacher.”
He turned back around, adjusting his chair for a better view as my eyes found the piano. And as soon as I did, the lights in the restaurant dimmed, the chandelier shining brighter, and the man everyone had come to see appeared.
Reese Walker emerged from the shadows as if he didn’t exist if not in close proximity to a piano. He was so tall, his presence so commanding that it was hard to understand how no one had seen him before the light from that chandelier touched his skin. He’d walked the shadows of the room unseen, like a ghost in the night, and now he was the only thing anyone in the room could look at.
His long hair was pulled back into a hair tie just above his neck, his tuxedo black and tailored, his eyes like a forbidden mystery novel that somehow escaped a book burning as he glanced around the room. I didn’t have to pull my eyes away from him to know everyone else was watching with the same rapt attention I gave him. It was impossible not to stare, not to wait with bated breath for him to speak. But he simply greeted the crowd with a small, modest bow before taking his seat at the piano.
And only then did he truly come to life.
A small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips before it quickly disappeared, and his fingers hovered over the keys for what felt like the longest moment of my life.
Then, without an introduction or even a single word, he played.
To anyone in that room who had never studied piano, it likely just seemed like a talented man playing a beautiful song. I managed to tear my eyes away from Reese long enough to survey some of the faces, and they were smiling, eyes wide and glistening like children watching Christmas tree lights.
But when I looked at Reese?
When I watched his hands move, his chest inflate with every new breath, his eyes close on a rest before slowly opening as he began to play again?
I didn’t see anything to smile about.
This was the power of Reese Walker.
He played like he was a man who’d lived three-hundred lifetimes of immeasurable joy and unbearable sorrow, like he’d seen so much despair that no words would ever do justice. Instead, he bent down and bled at that piano, shedding his skin and baring his soul for the entire room to see. Each note struck a chord in my heart, each crescendo sent a new rush of chills from my neck to my ankles. My eyes watched his hands, his furrowed brows, his flat lips — but I didn’t see a man. I saw the song he played, the music he’d created, and it revealed so much more.
Reese was an entire universe, and the piano was a mere telescope we tried to see him through.
When he finished, he reached for the glass of water on the small table next to him while the room erupted in applause. I couldn’t even hear it at first, not until I blinked for what felt like the first time in the fifteen minutes he had been playing.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” My uncle asked, chuckling a little as he reached into his pocket for a handkerchief. He offered it to me. “You’re crying.”
I stared at the cloth between us, shaking my head and quickly swiping the tears from my face. I forced a smile. “I’m okay, it was just very moving.”
Uncle Randall gave me a knowing smile, tucking his handkerchief away again. “That’s how I feel when I hear you play.”
I blushed, gaze falling to where my hands rested in my lap. I didn’t know how to accept a compliment about my playing, especially not when I knew I was trying and failing at overcoming my injuries — both internal and external. The piano I’d used to find salvation in now scared me. It was hard, unfamiliar, intimidating.
And if I closed my eyes, I could still see the underbelly of the one at Bramlock — that smooth, dark surface that hid the strings and keys that brought music to life. It was all I could stare at with my wolf on top of me.
I couldn’t find salvation in it that day, and I hadn’t since.
The crowd quieted again as Reese cleared his throat, finally addressing the room with a smile so big I couldn’t believe it belonged to the man I’d just heard play that piece. He tucked a fallen strand of hair back behind his ear and held out his hands. “Well, thank you for that very warm welcome.”
The room applauded again, and this time I joined in, smiling at him from my little corner of the room.
His cheeks were red as he surveyed the crowd, and when his eyes swept over my section, they continued on without pause before snapping back to me.
Me.
At first, I assured myself I was imagining it. But the longer he looked, the less confident I became in that thought.
I stopped clapping as he watched me, feeling pinned to that booth by the weight of his gaze, but it wasn’t the same stare I was used to — the one that said I didn’t belong. It was one of wonder, of genuine curiosity — one that stole my next breath and held it captive in the space between us.
Just as quickly as that gaze had come to me, it was ripped away, and Reese was smiling again, quieting the crowd.
“My name is Reese Walker, resident pianist at The Kinky Starfish and local teacher at Westchester Prep. I’ll be your entertainment this evening, though I’m not nearly as satisfying as the white chocolate truffle cake.”
The room laughed, and I tilted my head in wonder. He was such a charming man, an entertainer, to be sure. It was fascinating how much the man speaking now contrasted with the one who had just played.
“That was an original piece called The Darkest Dawn,” he continued, hands floating over the keys in a soft melody. “But I’d like to play some Beethoven for you now, if that’s alright?”
Reese smiled at the light applause, and just like that, he slipped back into performance mode, and I slipped away into his universe.
And that’s how the entire evening went.
Between small bites of my dinner that my uncle chided me for not eating more of, I sat enraptured by Reese Walker. He played everything from Beethoven to The Beatles and everything in-between. Some songs were played softer, meant to be heard only as background noise as the patrons conversed over their dinners. But other songs commanded the room’s attention, and those were the ones I preferred.
He was simply magical to watch, and I was completely under his spell.
“Oh!” My uncle dabbed his mouth with his napkin before clapping his hands together. “Come on, he’s taking his break. Let me introduce you.”
“Oh, Uncle Randall, we can wait,” I said, a slight panic in my voice as I watched Reese slip back into the shadows after announcing he would be back after a short break. “I’m sure he’d like some time to himself.”
“Nonsense,” my uncle insisted, already standing. “Reese is a friend, and I’m sure he’s excited to meet his new student.”
He was already four steps ahead of me by the time I had my napkin off my lap, and I had no choice but to take a gulp of water and follow.
I smoothed my hands over my dark, wintergreen slacks, forcing a steadying breath as my uncle grabbed Reese in a bear hug before he could get too far from the piano. I stood behind Uncle Randall as invisible as I could be for as long as he’d let me, watching Reese with my heart beating loud in my ears. But my time hiding in the corner was short lived, because my uncle wrapped one arm aroun
d me and pulled me between him and Reese, offering me up like a plate of cookies. It was a bit comical and a lot awkward, seeing as how I was a full three-inches taller than him.
I realized very quickly that I was not taller than Reese.
“Reese, this is my talented niece I was telling you about,” my uncle beamed. “Your new student, Miss Sarah Henderson.”
I wanted to shrink away the moment his eyes met mine.
They were two dark, endless wells that seemed to suck me into that universe I’d had a glimpse of when he played. There was color there, in those irises, but I couldn’t make it out in the dim light of the restaurant. Instead, his eyes just felt like colorless hands that were rooting me to the spot where I stood. He held my gaze for a long pause, his head tilting just a fraction to the left before he extended an actual hand with more of a question in his eyes than a greeting.
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Henderson.”
“It’s just Sarah,” I said, and I was glad I got the words out before my hand slipped into his.
His grip was firm, palm smooth and warm, but all I could think of was the talent that rested in that hand, in those fingers that wrapped so easily around mine. They had played pieces I could only hope to play, had dazzled people from all over the world.
“Sarah was top of her class at Bramlock,” my uncle said from beside me as Reese shook my hand. “Just wait until you hear her play. She’s out of this world. And now, working with you?” He shook his head on a laugh. “I can’t even imagine what will come out of this collaboration.”
Reese hadn’t taken his eyes off me, and I couldn’t do anything but stare at the floor under our hands. When he finally dropped mine, I quickly tucked my arms around my middle, glancing up at him before dropping my gaze again.
“I’m not an easy pedagogue to work with, Miss Henderson. I hope you’ve come prepared to work hard and dig deep.”
At that, I snapped my eyes to his, and didn’t even attempt to hide my incredulity. He was speaking to me like I was eight years old, or like he was sixty, or like I was some cute little thing he was simply entertaining.
“Of course I’ve come prepared to work hard,” I answered. “Do I not appear like a serious musician to you, Mr. Walker?”
“Now, I don’t think that’s—”
“I’ve only just met you,” Reese interrupted my uncle. “You don’t appear to be anything more than an acquaintance at this point in time.”
His words were calculated, professional in manner but said with an undertone of challenge.
I narrowed my eyes, holding my head higher. “Well, I can guarantee I’ll be the hardest-working student you’ve ever had. And I am thankful to you for agreeing to work with me.”
Reese smirked at his tone being served right back to him. He turned to my uncle and clapped him on the shoulder. “I owe this man for many things, so I was happy to help.” He paused. “Will you be joining us for the first lesson at my house, Randall?”
“At your house?”
The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them, heart jolting from a steady beat to a chaotic one in a nanosecond. It hurt, it was pounding against my rib cage so hard, and I fought the urge to soothe it with a hand against my chest.
Reese may have been a piano prodigy, and one I was lucky to work with, but he was still a man. He was still a much older, much larger, much stronger human being than I was.
I didn’t want to be alone in his house with him.
Reese lifted a brow. “Yes, my house. That’s where all my private lessons are held. Is that okay?”
My throat was dry. “I just assumed we’d be at the school.” Where my uncle is. Where other people are.
Where it’s safe.
“Oh my,” Uncle Randall said with a chuckle. “I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear, dear. School is out soon for the summer, and we try not to have any tutoring done, outside of our students, with the school equipment. If I made an exception for you, I’d have to make one for many other students who are eager to learn within those walls. But, rest assured, I’ve heard nothing but incredible praise about Reese’s private lessons in his home.”
“Will you come with me?” I squeaked out, the panic I was trying to hide more and more evident the more I spoke. “Just for the first lesson. Please.”
Uncle Randall’s brows tugged together, and he and Reese shared a look before he smiled, reaching for me. His hand folded over my shoulder, and in that moment, in his eyes, I saw my father.
I didn’t flinch away.
“Of course,” he assured me. “That would be okay, right, Reese?”
Reese nodded. “Absolutely. No problem at all.” He watched me a moment, rolling his lips together. “You know, I wouldn’t mind giving lessons at the school. If that would make you feel more comfortable.”
“No, no,” I assured him, embarrassment kicking in at my need for special treatment. “Whatever you already do, let’s do that. You’re already doing me a huge favor by agreeing to work with me when I’m sure you’re very busy.”
Reese chuckled. “I assure you, I’m far from busy — especially once school lets out. But, if you’re okay with working at my home, it’s where I’m most comfortable. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you feel the same.”
I stole a steadying breath at his words, oxygen finally making its way into my lungs.
He’s not my wolf. He’s not like him.
Breathe.
It was a little easier to do, now that I knew my uncle would be with us. I didn’t know why the news of our lessons being at Reese’s house took me by surprise, why it shocked me so. Even if we were at the school, I knew we’d have to be alone together. I knew I’d have to trust him as my teacher to respect me and my space.
I just didn’t know how to do that, not now that that trust had been obliterated by the last man to have it.
“It was very nice to meet you,” Reese said after a moment, a small crease between his brows as he watched me. “If you’ll excuse me, I should get ready for my next set,” he said, nodding toward the piano.
“Oh, of course, we didn’t want to hold you up too long. We’re really enjoying watching you play. My niece here,” Uncle Randall said, chuckling a little as he leaned in closer to Reese. “She was crying, she was so moved by the first—”
I cleared my throat, neck so hot I could fry an egg on it as I grabbed my uncle’s arm. “You heard him, Uncle Randall, he needs to get back to playing. Let’s go to our table.”
Reese smirked, his eyes watching me in that same curious way they had the first time he’d locked them on me from across the room.
And again, I wanted to shrink away.
“Thank you for the compliment,” he said simply, and I fought against the urge to groan out loud in embarrassment. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow, Mr. Henderson,” he said to my uncle first, and then he glanced at me once more. “And you, Tuesday evening, I believe?”
“Mm-hmm,” I managed.
Reese smiled again. “Have a good evening, Miss Henderson. Welcome to Pittsburgh.”
And with one last nod to my uncle, the ghost weaved his way through the shadows and back to his home.
CHAPTER TWO
* * *
Reese
Two years.
It had been almost two years to the day since Charlie Pierce showed up at my house and told me she was staying with her husband, that our love couldn’t be, that Cameron was her choice, and I was not.
Two years, and I still ached every time I thought of her.
Two years, and I still dreaded the fact that she was back to school today after having been gone the entire semester for maternity leave.
Two years, and I still wanted to run to her and pull her into my arms and beg her to be mine.
I was pathetic.
That was a fact I couldn’t escape, and somewhere along the line I think I’d decided to embrace it. After three months had passed, and I was still a mess, I thought she would j
ust be a little harder to get over than I imagined. After six months, I fell into despair. After the first year, I imagined I had to be getting close to a breakthrough.
But it had been two years. And at this point, I’d come to the conclusion that this was just how my life would be now.
I would always ache for the woman I could never have.
The school year was winding down, only a month left before classes would end and summer break would set me free from these walls for a few months. Spring was everywhere — in the green leaves growing on the trees, in the flowers blooming, the sun shining, the temperature rising. Everyone at Westchester was alive with the promise of warm weather and free time ahead, but I still felt like I was stuck in the middle of a grueling winter.
I’d managed to avoid Charlie all day, though I’d caught a glimpse of her in the hallway after lunch. I’d veered right then, going down a wing I didn’t need to be in for any reason other than to not be in the same wing she was in. I thought I’d escape at least one day of her being here without having to interact, but of course, the universe couldn’t give me that break.
“Reese!”
I heard her voice call from behind me as I made it to the metal doors that led to the teachers’ parking lot. My hand hit the bar that released the lock, and I shoved it open, hoping I could fake that I didn’t hear her.
“Reese, wait up!”
I groaned, pausing where my hand still held the door and forcing a slow breath before turning.
Charlie was the only one in the hallway, and she walked toward me with a little hop in her step, her long, curled brown hair bouncing. Her smile was wide, cheeks pink, eyes shining like I was the person she’d been waiting to see all day. She didn’t hesitate when she made it to where I stood, but threw her slight arms around me.
I had no choice but to catch her, and I knew I always would.
“I’ve been looking for you all day,” she said, pulling back with that same smile. “Where have you been hiding?”
This was what I hated about Charlie — she still cared about me. If our situation was under someone’s microscope, they’d likely hate her because they thought the exact opposite. How could she talk to me the way she did, still want me around her, her family, if she really cared about me? Wouldn’t she give me time to heal, wouldn’t she leave me be?
Best Kept Secrets: The Complete Series Page 52
