by Knight, Evie
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’ll pay for this.”
Ariel turned for the door but he grabbed her arm, stopping her mid-step. “You’re going with me to Gérard’s.”
She gasped. “I can’t go like this.”
He let go of her. “Yes, you can.” Colin touched her chin, tilting it to him. “No one else knows there’s nothing under your skirt.” He kissed her once more. She opened her mouth to protest but his hot tongue entered her, muddling her thoughts.
Colin was a drug she’d become addicted to in a short time. If she wasn’t careful a Colin overdose could eventually shatter her heart.
Chapter Five
Colin’s scaring tactic backfired on him the first time he kissed Ariel. Mistake number one. Fucking her next, mistake number two. Fucking her again, mistake number three. What the fuck was wrong with him? Hadn’t he learned his lesson?
In his life he didn’t have any room left for women or love. Yet here he was spending time with a woman who didn’t deserve what he offered. Nothing. Ariel confused him, disconcerted him. What did he know of her? Not much. She looked like a rich girl who’d seen better times and now needed a job. Most intriguing, she wasn’t scared of him. The last two begged the question: why?
He’d talk to Logan to see if he’d done a complete background check on Ariel. Colin wanted to know who she was, why she was in Bibury of all places. He didn’t need any more surprises in his fucked up life. In the meantime, he’d enjoy their game for as long as it lasted. Colin looked at her from the corner of his eye, his lip twitched. He imagined her discomfort at being naked underneath her skirt.
Colin tried to keep a straight face as he walked next to her down the hallway. Gérard’s butler led them to the conservatory where allegedly at least half of his old band of musicians waited. When the hell did Gérard and Logan sneak in and out of his home with his two most precious belongings? If anything happened to his violins, there’d be hell to pay. His instruments were irreplaceable.
“Sir. Madam,” the older man said, opening the door to the conservatory and gesturing them in.
He hadn’t finished saying thanks to the man when his old team of musicians surrounded him.
“Colin, it’s so great to see you again, mate.” A man to his right shook his hand.
“I never thought I’d see the day.” Another man stepped forward to greet him.
Colin stood in the middle of a perfect circle as fifteen or so people took turns greeting him, shaking hands, patting him on the back. The genuine smiles on their faces made him feel welcomed, giving him a sense of belonging, replacing the emptiness in his chest. Though the excitement of being around other musicians filled him in a way he couldn’t explain, Colin wasn’t ready to play with others yet—not the way he used to anyway.
He clenched his fists, fighting the urge rising within him. He’d never been a good sport at resisting temptation, especially when it stood in front of him with an open invitation. Colin glanced over the small crowd surrounding him, finding Ariel standing by the door, smiling back at him.
“Colin, dear, it’s fabulous you decided to come out of hiding.” Penelope approached him and slipped her arms around his neck in a hug. Except, the brush of her breasts against his chest confirmed Penelope hadn’t changed her mind in her pursuit of him since the last time he’d seen her.
He returned the gesture with a quick embrace, placing his hands on her waist, breaking the interaction as fast as possible. It bothered him to see Ariel’s warm smile gone. Why, he didn’t know. Colin tried making eye contact with Ariel. She nodded in response then took a seat in the back of the large room.
Penelope grasped his hand, pulling him over to his seat. The room had been set up into a perfect music conservatory. His Guarneri sat on a chair placed right in the middle of everyone else’s, among all the delicate instruments.
“Play with us, yes?” Penelope fluttered her lashes. The timbre of her French accent made men go crazy for her. He’d seen her use it to her advantage many times before, even on him, except he’d never been interested. Nothing had changed.
Colin fought the turmoil of emotions inside him. He realized now how much he’d yearned to be there, his need to play, to practice with everyone else once again. The unique smell of centuries’ old wood and strings teased his nostrils, fueling his desire to give in, to forget all the reasons why he’d stopped playing in company.
The musicians took their places, and the sound of the first set of strings being stroked overflowed the room. Everyone sat, watching him with anticipation in their eyes. He’d been their leader before. The look in their faces told him they still saw him as such.
“Colin, come have a seat.” Penelope’s hand rested on top of his violin case.
He dragged his gaze around the room, contemplating his options. Betrayal still weighed heavy on him. Colin feared playing with them would bring back the pain of that night, opening up the wounds he’d tried to heal. He could walk out, damn it all, and forget it. Of course, Gérard and Logan were conveniently missing so he couldn’t even take his wrath on them for doing this to him. No one in this room deserved the madness of his mixed emotions.
He met Ariel’s eyes from where she sat at the back of the room. She nodded in encouragement, giving him the push he needed. He couldn’t leave, he was their leader. Colin let out a heavy sigh, opening his case. Everyone cheered at once, encouraging him further.
“I promise everything will be okay.” Penelope squeezed his hand, her pitch black eyes focused on him.
Colin removed his Guarneri from the case and brought it up to rest on his collar bone, holding it in place with his jaw. He remained standing as usual when he played with the band. Fear knocked at his door. This was a test he hadn’t thought of taking. Yet, there he stood, hoping to pull it off. The intensity of everyone’s expectant gazes on him weighed heavy on him.
He curled his left hand fingers around the base, then placed the bow halfway between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge. His violins were always tuned, so he didn’t take time to adjust it. It was ready, waiting to be played. Colin pulled the bow, playing the first note to a song.
He slid his eyes shut, letting the music seduce him into the world he loved, where he belonged. Soon, the rest of the musicians followed suit. After years of playing together, Colin wasn’t surprised they followed his lead as if they hadn’t been apart, time passed, or nothing ever happened. It felt as wonderful as he remembered. A feeling so sharp, his chest tightened with hurt when all the bad memories of the horrendous night came back in a flash, piercing through him.
“No!” He put his violin down. All music halted, confused expressions focused on him. He avoided them all as he strode out of the room, violin in hand.
“Colin,” Penelope called after him.
“Colin, stop.” Ariel reached his side. “You can do this.”
He wanted out of there now. Bloody hell. Why did he even listen to them?
“Colin, dear,” Penelope said from behind.
“Can you please leave him alone? I’ll make sure he goes back. Give us a few minutes,” Ariel said.
He assumed Penelope went back to the conservatory since he didn’t her say anything else. Ariel directed him into one of the empty rooms along the hallway and closed the door.
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” he said, placing his violin and the bow on a small table. Colin raked his hands through his hair, loosening the tie holding it back.
Ariel drew near until she stood in front of him. “Music. It completes you. It’s what makes you, you, and your love for it makes you blind. You can play solo all you want. The sad thing is you know it’s not enough, or is it?”
“You don’t know what completes or makes me. Just because we’ve fucked doesn’t mean you know me. You don’t know shit,” he said.
She gasped at his harsh words. “Right, I don’t know shit. Give me a break, Colin. Even a blind person can see you’re the one hurting yourself. As a fan all
I see is you’re not allowing what you love most back into your life.” Ariel paced the room, waving her hands. “If you want to keep hurting, mourning the loss of your fiancée, blaming everyone else as the reason you’re a recluse, and not the Colin Hoskins the world knew, then have at it. Remain isolated. You better than anyone know how much more fun that is.”
“You know nothing of my life, my loss, and mourning,” he said. “I bet you’ve always been a spoiled little rich girl who’s never lifted a finger to save her life.” At his words, the color drained from her face. He’d hit a cord close to the truth in his words. Colin felt sorry for saying so, he wished it wasn’t too late to take it back.
“I’ve experienced more loss and mourning than you can ever imagine.” Ariel looked around the room and headed for the door.
Colin stepped in her path. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.” At her silence, he grasped her upper arms, pulling her to him. “I’m really sorry.” He didn’t know how she knew about loss and mourning, but he didn’t want to find out either. Not now. Not after the hurt he’d seen his words caused. He hated himself for it.
Ariel glanced at him. Her teary eye gaze punched him in the gut. Colin held her nape, leaned in, and kissed her. She kissed him back in a way an asshole like him didn’t deserve. There wasn’t anything passionate or demanding in their kiss. On the contrary, it was sweet, filled with the kind of promise he couldn’t ever make. He broke the kiss and held her in his arms.
“Can you try again?” Ariel asked.
“I don’t know if I can go back.”
“Imagine you’re playing solo at your home music studio. Pretend no one else is in that humongous room.” Hope filled her voice.
****
Ariel eased back in her chair and blew out a breath, dragging her gaze around Colin’s large study. Bookshelves covered the walls from floor-to-ceiling. Somehow, she hadn’t paid attention the first time she’d been there. Truth be told, she’d been too busy ogling the beautiful beast behind the desk. A shiver ran through her body as she recalled their first encounter.
It’d been two weeks since he rejoined rehearsals with his old band. Colin also signed the contract with the Philharmonic in New York to play with them at the mid-summer concert in Central Park. A win all around, with the exception of not being able to enjoy his company as much anymore save for the few times they’d found. Too bad her stay in England came with an expiration date.
Ariel spent a good portion of her days in this room going over papers Logan’s assistant, emailed, or faxed her to review and sign. She would’ve preferred to find any excuse to go with Colin to rehearsals instead. Unfortunately, Penelope did a wonderful job of booting her out by taking him under her wing. Worst, he didn’t seem to mind at all.
Her job here was done. Wasn’t it what Logan wanted? Get Colin to agree to the concert, and join rehearsals. Ariel wouldn’t quit anyway, she still needed the money. Logan had yet to come forth with his promise to help her find her brother, too. Ariel counted on it as part of her deal with him. In the meantime, she’d look for another place to live. She’d graduated from being a tourist to a semi-permanent resident.
Tanner, where are you? She shook her head, glancing down at the classified ads of the newspaper lying on the desk. Her gaze slid across the page, so far she’d crossed out with large red X’s the majority of the rentals. They were either over her budget or too far from Colin’s place.
Damn her landlord. He’d given her a two weeks’ notice to vacate her rented cottage, explaining his cottages catered short stays and real tourists. Ariel didn’t fit the category anymore. Yeah, she didn’t need anyone else to remind her of her resident status.
Colin lived on the outskirts of the small village, at a short distance from her rented cottage, so getting to his place on time every day wasn’t a problem. Where would she go now? She tapped the newspaper with the Sharpie in her hand, squeezing her eyes shut, willing her mind to concentrate.
Every time she started to go over the ads, Penelope and Colin came to mind. Penelope’s pitch black eyes combined with her red hair scared the crap out of her. Ariel couldn’t pinpoint it, other than something in Penelope didn’t bode well with her. She opened her eyes in time to see Logan come in the room.
“There you are.” He advanced toward her.
Her lips curved into a smile. Ariel stood and made her way around the desk, meeting him halfway. “Hi, Logan.”
“Where’s Colin?” He scanned the room.
“He’s at Gérard’s.”
“Hmmm … I see.” Logan seemed to consider her answer.
“He’s been carpooling with Penelope every morning to rehearsal. Why? Did you need something?”
Logan blinked, his deep green gaze settled on her. “No. I came here because I have news for you.”
Ariel said a silent prayer, anxious to hear the news. “Y-you…”
Logan touched her arm. “No. I haven’t found him,” he said.
Her heart sunk. Not what she’d hoped to hear.
“Yet,” he added. “I hired a private investigator. He’s looking into all the details leading up to the day your brother disappeared, and you lost your inheritance. I expect to have news for you soon.”
Ariel nodded, sitting on one of the two chairs across from the large desk. She clasped her hands on her lap as thoughts of her brother rushed through her mind. What happened to Tanner?
“Hey, hey, Ariel.” Logan took the seat next to hers, reaching for her hands. “I promise we’ll find your brother. This is a top notch investigator with great people connections in high places. It’s a matter of time.” He raised his hand to her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
She glanced at him. “What if you still haven’t found him by the time our arrangement is over?”
“Don’t worry,” he said in a low voice. “You’ll have my help until he’s found, all right?” He smiled.
“What’s going on here?” Colin said.
Ariel and Logan turned their heads in the direction of the door.
“Colin,” Logan said.
“Did rehearsal finish earlier?” Ariel asked.
Colin made his way to the chair behind his desk. “Is that a problem?” he asked, sitting down. “Am I interfering with any of your plans?” He stared at her hand still in Logan’s clasp then studied everything lying on his desk. “What’s this?” Colin glanced down at the newspaper on his desk.
Ariel reached for it. He placed his hands on top, not allowing her to take it. “It’s mine. I’m looking at long term rentals,” she said.
“Why?” Logan asked.
“The landlord gave me two weeks to move out because, according to him, his cottages are for tourists. Unfortunately, I no longer fit the criteria,” Ariel said.
“You can stay at my place.” Logan gestured with his hand.
“No. She’ll stay here,” Colin said.
Ariel got on her feet and pulled the newspaper free from his grasp, looking from one man to the other before she spoke again, “Thank you both. I can assure you I’m capable of finding a place on my own.”
“Nonsense. You can stay here. This house is big enough, I won’t even know you’re here,” Colin said.
Logan leapt to his feet. “If it makes you more comfortable, you’re welcome to stay at my place, rent free.”
“Bloody hell. Are you deaf?” Colin rose from his seat and walked around his desk to her side. “She’ll stay here. There’s no need for you to do anything.” He snatched the paper from her hand. “You can move in now. You don’t have to wait the two weeks.”
She put up her hand in the air. “Guys, you don’t have to offer me a place to stay.”
Colin glanced at her. “Don’t. You’ll lose this argument.”
Ariel stared at Colin. If she had to choose based on whom she’d be safer with, her choice would be Logan. With Penelope in the picture claiming all of Colin’s attention lately, Ariel felt thousands of miles apart. Not a good excuse to accept his off
er, but her only excuse to be close to him and damn it, she’d use it. “Thank you for the generous offer, Colin.”
“It’s nothing. You can move in tonight,” Colin said.
“Thanks. I’d prefer to move in when my lease is up.”
“Great. Now that it’s settled, let me take you out to dinner,” Logan said. “Sorry, Colin, it’s a boss-employee conversation. You know, a working dinner.” He grinned. “Ah, before I forget, check your email. I sent you the information you requested. Let me know if you need any more details. I think it’s fair to say all’s safe.” Logan closed his fingers around Ariel’s upper arm, leading her out of the room.
What was safe? Did they speak in code just now? Ariel didn’t know what it’d been all about, but she looked forward to a change of atmosphere, even if for a couple of hours. Maybe Colin would feel the same way she did when he left with Penelope every morning. She frowned at the thought, reminding herself that feeling something for him wasn’t part of the plan.
To start with, she wasn’t in a position to be in a relationship with anyone. Besides, Colin didn’t seem to want a relationship of any kind. Her Mozart had demons to fight, ones only he could get rid of.
For now, she welcomed the impromptu dinner with Logan. It’d get her mind elsewhere. Maybe he’d share more details concerning the private investigator he’d hired.
“Ariel,” Colin’s thunderous voice carried out of his study and into the hallway as she walked out of his house with Logan.
Chapter Six
How dared she walk out on him? By the time Colin made it to the door, the tail lights of a black Mercedes flashed him as it made its way to the gate. He’d been friends with Logan since childhood and he’d be an idiot to believe his sorry excuse of a working dinner. When his friend set his sight on something or rather someone—Ariel, in this case—nothing stopped him. Colin didn’t like it one bit. No. Not at all.
He’d been anxious to see her so he left rehearsal earlier than usual. During the past couple of weeks, he’d spent very little time with her. The few moments they’d shared left him longing for more of her company. Colin wanted today to be different. He’d planned to see her, have a chat, maybe even some dinner together. He laughed. How ironic. He’d wanted to wine and dine her, and what for? Another man did it for him.
