by Nina Singh
“It’s my fault. I was being way too competitive. Brant says it’s one of my most annoying traits.”
Adam shook his head. They stood inches apart. She could smell that alluring, woodsy scent of his that was now so familiar to her. He’d unbuttoned his white silk dress shirt just enough to reveal the tanned V of his upper chest.
And wasn’t this one heck of a time to be noticing such things?
“No. I should have thought this through better. Bringing a pianist on tour to play pool...” He cursed again.
“Please don’t blame yourself. You know how many times I’ve played this game without managing to hurt myself?”
“Do you think you’ve injured it?” he asked, his voice near desperate.
Ani took a deep breath to brace herself before attempting to wiggle her fingers. To her profound relief, the pain seemed to have subsided.
She released a deep sigh. “I think it’s okay.”
Adam’s shoulders slumped with released tension. He rested his forehead against hers. “Thank heavens, kitten. I would have never forgiven myself.”
Ani knew she should step back. But all she could think about was how good it felt to have his skin against hers, the warmth of his touch where he held her hand juxtaposed against the stinging cold of the ice. Without giving herself a chance to think, she tilted her chin, angling her mouth so that it was a mere breath away from his. Her heart pounded against her chest so hard she thought she might faint.
Adam sucked in a breath. “Kitten?”
The breathless way he said her nickname sent a thrill down her spine. He was the only one in the world who called her that.
She found herself uttering the thought that had been on her mind since this morning when April had arrived with the bag of pastries. “You were gone most of the day.”
I missed you, her mind silently added.
“I had to stay away.” His answer was pained, his voice tight.
“Why?”
“Because of what’s happening right now.”
Electricity hummed over her skin at his admission. He’d purposely been trying to stay away from her. Did that mean he’d been thinking about her all day, the same way she’d been unable to get him out of her mind? The thought was exhilarating.
“I’m not afraid of what’s happening now,” she whispered boldly, almost against his mouth.
“You really should be, kitten.”
A chill started at the base of her neck and traveled down her spine. She inched ever so slightly closer in spite of his words of warning.
Adam stayed stone still where he stood, the only movement the rise and fall of his chest with each breath he took. Ani knew he was ensuring that she be the one to make the next move. Heaven help her, she knew without a doubt right here and now the truth that her heart had decided long ago, perhaps even back as far as when they were kids.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and touched her lips to his.
CHAPTER FIVE
ADAM WAS HALF-AFRAID she’d step away. More afraid that she wouldn’t.
How had they ended up here? Upstairs at his friend’s bar in Paris, Ani Terrance was in his arms. And she was kissing him.
He knew he had to take it slow. Everything about Ani screamed inexperienced innocent. But heaven help him, he wasn’t made of stone.
When he couldn’t stand it any longer, he wound his arms around her waist, pulled her close against him and deepened the kiss. She tasted like home and redemption. Like the sweetest honey. He’d never get enough of her. She felt natural in his arms, like she belonged there, as if she always had.
Her chest rubbed against his and he thought his knees might buckle. She was so soft, her rounded curves enticing him like he was a man starved.
He had to ask her, had to make certain.
“Are you sure about this, kitten? Just say the word, and I’ll stop.” Somehow.
Her response was a low moan before she breathlessly told him, “Yes.”
Adam didn’t allow himself a chance to think. Cupping her bottom, he hoisted her onto the pool table. Her cry was one of pure sensuality and it drove him to near madness. He kissed her even deeper, fully exploring her mouth.
He stepped between her legs, pulled her even tighter, his palms spread against the small of her back. Then she wrapped her legs around him and he was certain he actually would go insane. She was putting him through the sweetest torture, making him burn with desire. She sighed his name against his lips and it was nearly his undoing.
Anyone could walk up the stairs at any moment and see them this way. Remy might very well decide to check on them. But Adam couldn’t bring himself to care.
Nothing and no one else mattered now but the woman in his arms. He’d never wanted anyone so badly, so completely.
It was that very thought that served as a proverbial bucket of ice water poured over his head.
What the hell was he thinking?
The stark reality was that he wasn’t thinking at all. He had no business being here with Ani. He should have never brought her here, spent time with her alone. For all he knew, this was still the aftereffects of her performance high. She might not even be thinking clearly. The wisest thing to do after leaving the theater would have been to detour long enough to avoid the crowds back at the hotel.
Deep down he’d known that, even as he’d fired off that text to Remy. He’d brought her here anyway, ignoring the voices of reason in his head. To think he’d sworn that he’d learned from his mistakes.
Though it felt like losing a limb, he forced himself to pull out of the kiss and out of her arms.
The look of confusion combined with desire on her face nearly had him succumbing to his traitorous body once more.
He clenched his fists by his sides instead. He refused to make the same error in judgment that had led to such tragedy in his past. This time, he may not survive the pain and the guilt.
And Ani deserved so much better.
* * *
Ani blinked up in confusion when Adam stepped away. What had happened? Had she missed something? Perhaps he’d received an urgent alert on his phone and she hadn’t heard it. But then she noticed the way he was avoiding her eyes. And she realized her mistake.
“We should probably call it a night.” He gently took her by the elbow and helped her jump off the table.
“That’s it? We’re just going to head back to the hotel?”
He shrugged. “Your manager and the others are probably anxious to have you back. And I should go over some things with my team. We can talk about this...” he gestured with a wave “...on the ride back.”
She had an idea how that conversation might go. And it mortified her. “Let me guess,” she began, adjusting the straps of her bra and tank top. “You’re going to say that we both got carried away and things should have never gone so far.”
His silence was all the answer she needed.
“We can talk in the cab,” he repeated, pulling out his phone.
“I say we don’t even bother.” She tried to brush past him to walk away but he grabbed her by the upper arm before she got far. For one insane and hopeful moment, she thought maybe he was again going to give in to the attraction so clearly between them.
He quickly nixed that notion.
“You have to understand I have a reputation to uphold. And there are other—”
She held up a hand. She really didn’t need to hear any of this. The fact was he was rejecting her. After she’d practically thrown herself at him. “Honestly, Adam. I’d rather not get into a lengthy discussion.”
He gave a quick shake of his head.
She continued, “I can guess what you’re going to say. And you’d be right.”
“I would?”
“Yes. I agree that we both got carried away by the moment. Being in Paris, a succe
ssful first performance, the champagne. You’re obviously a very attractive man. It just led to a heady combination and I let myself give in to a whim.” Her words were so lighthearted, she almost believed them herself.
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely,” she lied.
* * *
So predictable. She was certainly consistent when it came to men. And how she would never understand them.
When they reached her hotel room, she was no less frustrated and confused. But she seemed to have put on a convincing act as far as Adam was concerned. He didn’t so much as attempt to speak to her on the cab ride back. It looked like he had taken her words at face value. Somehow that made her feel less than triumphant. Rather, she felt hollow.
The feeling hadn’t subsided at all seven hours later when she awoke in the predawn hours. Ani pushed her face into her pillow until it was almost too difficult to breathe. This was what happened when she let her guard down. She woke up alone and dejected the next morning, hating herself for falling so easily.
She bit back the sob that threatened to erupt from deep within her chest. She wouldn’t cry, damn it. She refused to.
So what if she’d thought this time things would be different. So what if she actually thought that maybe Adam himself might be different. He wasn’t.
Peter had pushed and pushed for an intimacy she didn’t feel for him. When she’d finally given in, it had been for all the wrong reasons. In an ironic and cruel twist of fate, now that she wanted that kind of intimacy with a man, it was completely out of her reach.
And there was no denying she wanted Adam more than she’d ever longed for anyone.
He clearly regretted kissing her. Well, regardless of what had happened afterward, she had no regrets herself. She’d wanted to kiss Adam, and she had. Damn the consequences. She’d nursed a wounded ego and a bruised heart before. She could do it again.
Snowball trotted out of his bed and jumped onto the mattress next to her. Ani gave the dog a snuggle. At least her pet was here to give her unconditional love. What more did a girl need?
Ani groaned out loud. She did need more in her life. Much more. But it appeared Adam Steele wasn’t going to be the one to give it to her.
Her phone pinged with the alert of a text message.
Are you up yet? We need to talk. ASAP
From Moira.
It appeared everyone just wanted to chat with her. Adam last night and now Moira. Ani would guess the latter wanted to talk about the former. Well, she didn’t have it in her just yet. Not before a cup of coffee and a long hot shower.
She indulged in a hot, steamy bath instead and had barely stepped both feet out when a knock sounded on her door.
Adam?
Ani knew she was being all sorts of foolish. But the thought that he might be here to try to clear the air had her heart pounding with anticipation. He couldn’t deny his attraction to her so easily in the light of day. For one, he wouldn’t be able to use the champagne excuse. Or that she was tired and not thinking clearly so soon after playing for an audience.
Grabbing the thick terry-cloth robe hanging on the doorway, she ran to the outer room to answer the knock.
The person standing on the other side of the door wasn’t Adam. It was Moira.
Ani began to apologize. She’d completely forgotten about Moira’s text. The only thoughts running through her mind during her luxurious soak had involved a tall, dark and handsome former soldier who insisted on driving her crazy.
Moira didn’t look pleased in the least. She held up her tablet. “I’m guessing you haven’t been online yet.” She stepped into the room without giving Ani a chance to answer and shut the door behind her. “You should probably sit down.”
* * *
Adam’s early-morning run was cut short when he ran by a newspaper stand and caught sight of what looked like a very familiar image. At first, he continued running, convinced he was simply seeing things. But the image stayed with him and bothered him enough that he turned around after about half a block.
Damned if it hadn’t been his imagination. Inserting euros into the slot of the kiosk, Adam lifted out a copy of the tabloid. He didn’t even need to open it. He and Ani had made the front page.
They stood over the railing of a glass-covered yacht, smiling and gazing into each other’s eyes. Their shoulders brushed against one another’s.
Heaven help him, the look he was giving her was one of pure besottedness. Had he really been careless enough to wear such emotion on his face?
No wonder the photo editor had chosen this one for the cover.
Piano Star Spends Romantic Evening with Handsome Bodyguard Before She Dazzles Paris with Her Talent.
A quick read of the other captions only fueled his ire, as did the pictures and write-up inside. The woman who’d taken selfies with them aboard the cruise boat had apparently snapped one of the two of them alone when they hadn’t been looking. She was quoted as saying that she’d thought Adam and Ani were “just the cutest couple” and had to snap a pic to show her American friends back home that Paris was indeed for lovers.
One of the inside articles was particularly troublesome. They’d interviewed another so-called security professional and had the man’s exact quote.
One might wonder if a professional boundary has been crossed. He certainly seems to be guarding her closely.
Adam took a deep breath. He had to get a grip here.
With a baseball cap on backward and mirrored sports sunglasses, he didn’t think he would be recognized. He had half a mind to keep going, just continue to run and complete the punishing bout of exercise he’d originally planned. Just pretend the paper in his hand didn’t even exist. He certainly needed the exertion to help him vent.
But avoidance wasn’t his style. He had some damage control to do.
Ani. What must she be thinking?
He had no one to blame but himself. He was the professional here. She was new to all of this. She was beautiful, talented and charismatic. No wonder the world was already focusing so much attention on her. She’d only had one performance, for heaven’s sake.
He had no idea how she might be handling this.
He pulled his phone out just as it started pinging with dozens of alerts and messages. So many people he owed an explanation. But right now, only one held his complete focus. He scrolled through until he found the messages from Ani.
Please call if you’re awake.
And another one less than a minute later.
What do we do?
Followed immediately by:
How did this happen?
He typed out a response right away.
Sit tight. I’m on my way. Try not to worry.
His fingers started typing the word kitten before he caught himself.
He would figure out a way around all this.
Though how exactly he was going to do that was a mystery. His very reputation as a professional was on the line here.
Another thought occurred to him that had him swearing out loud—a passerby gave him a curious look and a wide berth. Brant and Mr. Terrance would no doubt get wind of all this if they hadn’t seen it already. What exactly was he going to tell them?
First things first. He had to go make sure Ani was okay.
He called April as he jogged back to the hotel.
“Hey, boss.”
“Hey.”
“What’s up?” April was the consummate professional. She would never bring up the gossip hanging over his head, would wait until he mentioned it first.
“Please move up your regularly scheduled morning meet-up with the VIP. I’d like you to go see her now. I’ll join the meet in a few minutes. We need to go over some things.”
He could have sworn he heard amusement in her voice when she answered, “I’d say we do.”
&nb
sp; Adam didn’t bother to respond to that. Just waited for her to hang up.
He was a stone’s throw from the hotel when his phone rang again. April was calling him back. That was not a good sign.
“Bad news, boss.”
A brick lodged itself in the vicinity of his throat. He could guess what was coming.
“VIP not in quarters. Seems to have left the hotel.”
Damn it, Ani.
He hadn’t felt the need to place a guard at her door given the hotel’s tight security and the manned elevator lobby on every floor. He would have to rethink that decision now.
“Did she inform anyone of her whereabouts?”
“Negative.”
Adam pinched the bridge of his nose. Of all the foolish moves. He’d told her to sit tight!
A text came through on his cell just as soon as he’d hung up with April. A message from Ani.
Had to leave. Need air to clear my head.
He called her phone but it went straight to voice mail. He gripped the phone so tight, he thought it might snap in his hand.
He texted her.
Please tell me where you are.
Her response: I don’t really know.
He closed his eyes briefly. Did you go left or right out of the hotel when you left? Which exit door did you use?
It seemed to take forever for the floating dots to appear on the screen. But her answer when it finally came through wasn’t terribly helpful.
I just need a moment to myself. Please, Adam.
He had an insane urge to throw the phone clear across the street and into the Seine. Yep, he’d really made a royal mess of this one. He was personally involved in an international gossip story, his reputation as a world-renowned bodyguard service provider was sure to be damaged beyond repair, and the VIP in question was now in an unknown location.
* * *
Ani sat down on an empty bench overlooking the river and switched her phone off. She couldn’t deal with talking to anyone right now. Even Moira had begun to test the limits of her patience.
