Private Melody

by Altonya Washington

  Contagious male laughter rumbled once more.

  “Not so top secret,” Therin admitted while pressing a thumb to his eye to remove a laugh tear. “Anyway, I’m glad I attended, too.” His shimmering gaze focused on Kianti then. “Ms. Lawrence’s music is…quite powerful. It was nice meeting you.” His tone grew softer as he reached out to shake hands with the guys and say goodnight.

  Alone with Kianti, the guys pulled chairs close. Brody claimed the closest spot and took her wrist for a pulse check.

  “We leave you alone for a second and here you are meeting with royalty,” Khan noted while fluffing out her hair.

  Kianti’s gaze and attention was still on the path Therin Rucker had taken when he made his exit.

  Chapter 2

  Therin woke early the next morning and was thoroughly agitated shortly afterward. The staff and their discussions that he had to shake off last night had descended upon his suite with their opinions of the previous evening.

  “He stirred up a shitload of crap just by attending that thing,” Vaughn said while he helped himself to coffee from the breakfast cart.

  “Put himself smack dab in the middle of some heavy hitters, that’s for sure,” Peter Stanson added while waving toward Vaughn for the carafe.

  “Yeah, heavy hitters who either approve or oppose EYES and the ex-ambassador’s allegiance to it.” Chief of security, Morgan Felts, muttered a curse while stretching out on the cream sofa in the living area.

  Therin predicted the conversation among his top three staff members would only grow more heated. For a change, he welcomed that. Hopefully, their discussion would keep his absence from being noticed for a while. He slipped out the suite without alerting their attention.

  For a long while, he corrected himself upon arriving in the almost empty breakfast bistro located in the hotel mezzanine. Finding Kianti Lawrence there had him regretting that any shred of business had followed him along on the trip.

  He thought back to the previous evening, recalling his loss of words when she’d first spoken to him. The sensible, less popular side of his demeanor told him to leave her alone. There was no need to grow more infatuated than he’d already become in the span of the ten-minute conversation with the woman. The only thing further “involvement” could result in was a one-night stand. That wouldn’t work for him—he knew that without question. Kianti Lawrence was a woman he was certain to want for more than one night.

  He was surprised to find Kianti already having breakfast. Leaning against the arched doorway of the hotel’s eatery, he felt content watching her then as he had the night before. Almost. The same serenity and calm reached out to him from where she relaxed at the table across the dining room. He shook his head and smiled, taking note of her feet propped in the chair across from where she sat. He couldn’t help but admire her determination to relax wherever it suited her. Telling the sensible, less popular side of himself to go to hell, Therin pushed off the doorway and strolled toward her.

  Early rising wasn’t unusual for Kianti given her hectic life of tours and rehearsals. Still, she did make a point of treating herself to a few mornings of sleeping in when she traveled extensively.

  Sadly, sleeping in now meant having to wake up to her doctor and a morning pill. An early breakfast meant she could convince Brody she’d already taken her meds. She only prayed he wouldn’t suspect she’d taken herself off them. At least not until she could prove she didn’t need them anymore. Her dark eyes were focused beyond the windows by her table. The gorgeous dewy morning rear view of the hotel landscape was heavenly, but the cologne drifting past her nose just then was to die for. She smiled up at Therin.

  “Mr. Ambassador.” Her dark eyes widened just slightly when she took note of the shyness evident in his expression.

  “Ex-ambassador,” he clarified, pressing a hand to the front of the sweatshirt emblazoned with the Knicks logo.

  She simply shrugged. “But you never quite live it down, do you?”

  Once again that morning, Therin felt his mouth turn into a grimace. “I’m realizing that more and more every day.” He sighed.

  Kianti’s smile waned. She’d never really known a politician, but it was clear this one wasn’t missing his post all that much. She would have loved to have known why.

  “You look pretty young to have been an ambassador.” She decided to keep the moment light.

  “Guess I’ve got my dad to thank for that. May I?” He gestured toward the vacant chair next to the one she’d propped her feet on.

  “Please.” She was about to move her feet when he brought a hand down over them. Kianti bit her lip and stilled.

  The muscle flexed in Therin’s jaw at the contact. He moved his hand, hoping she’d not recognize his reluctance to do so.

  “So your dad wanted you to be an ambassador?” She needed to bring conversation to the front of her mind instead of the unexpected agitating throbs that made her want to moan.

  “My dad was a U.S. diplomat,” Therin obliged, needing the conversation, as well. “When I was a kid, watching Face The Nation was as commonplace as watching Sesame Street.”

  “Fascinating,” Kianti breathed, shifting a bit to get more comfy at the table.

  Therin must have feared she’d move her feet because he possessively dropped his hand across them. They were small, perfectly proportioned and covered only by a pair of sheer hose.

  “I had a capacity for politics but not a passion,” he confided while absently applying a light massage to the tops of her feet. “I think they offered me the post because of my father.” He grunted. “I’d have never campaigned for it or anything else.”

  “So the favorite son makes good.”

  “Ha! More like the only son.”

  “Well, well, pleased to meet another member of the Only Child Club.” Kianti offered him her hand to shake.

  Therin played along. “So your parents didn’t want to try for another musical genius?”

  “Nah.” Kianti fidgeted with the draping neckline of her walnut-brown sweater. “My mother didn’t have a—how did you put it?—a capacity for raising more than one. Besides, it wasn’t worth it to her—taking the chance of producing a normal kid.”

  Therin’s bright eyes narrowed at her word choice, but there was no time to inquire.

  “Please forgive the wait, Mr. Ambassador.” The waiter was flushed and out of breath.

  “Not a problem. Just juice and whatever Ms. Lawrence is having.”

  “Yes, sir.” The young man scribbled the order furiously. “Right away, sir.”

  “I feel like such an idiot.” Kianti shook her head and watched the server sprint away. “Everyone knows who you are and I didn’t have a clue.”

  “And you have no idea how pleased I am to hear that.” He cast a disinterested glance across his shoulder and smirked. “Besides, they school the staff on the so-called ‘big wigs.’ Better tips, you know?” He winked.

  When she threw her head back to laugh, Therin decided he was in need of conversation to keep the moment from growing too charged. “So why do you consider yourself other than normal?” he asked.

  “Well, prodigies aren’t exactly the norm, are they?” Kianti rested her chin to her palm.

  He nodded, realizing her point. “Hard life?”

  “I suppose.” She studied the pattern embroidered into the white tablecloth. “But what are you gonna do? It’s the only life I’ve ever known—didn’t know any better until I had something to compare it to.” She fixed him with a whimsical look. “Kids playing in the street while I’m in the house playing Bach.”

  Laughter rose heartily then.

  “So may I question your ‘only son’ remark?” she probed once the waiter had brought out Therin’s juice and topped off her decaf.

  “Mmm.” He winced while taking a sip of the drink. “Was hoping you hadn’t caught that.”

  “Come on, fess up.” She waved her hands in a beckoning manner. “It’s only fair. I rarely share my child prodi
gy stories.” Her gaze softened as she studied the pensive look on his very handsome face. “Did you regret not having brothers or sisters?”

  “Maybe, but it’s the only life I’ve known—nothing to compare it to, as you said.”

  “Touché.” Kianti sent him a mock salute.

  Food arrived and soon the two were dining on over-easy eggs, steak strips and toast.

  “Guess that’s why I took up the interests I have,” Therin said around a bite of steak.

  Kianti nodded. “Politics.”

  He smiled. “Education.”

  She tilted her head at a cocky angle. “Now you’ve really got me interested. Talk, man!”

  They dived into the incredible breakfast of fruit, seasoned browns and scrambled eggs. Seated next to an enviable view in a peaceful dining room they chatted like longtime acquaintances.

  “Growing up…privy to dedicated teachers and fine schools made me naively think that was the norm,” he shared. “Then I realized that too many parents, and kids, for that matter, wouldn’t put dedicated teachers and fine schools together in the same book. It made me sick to my stomach.” He held his fork poised over the plate and glared out at the view. “No child should be denied a fine education, and no parent should feel it’s beyond their power to claim it for their child.”

  Silently, Kianti marveled how there could be any education woes with a man like the one seated across from her as its champion.

  Therin noticed her set expression and closed his eyes in playful regret. “Sorry about that.” He tapped the tip of the fork to the cleft in his chin. “I tend to get carried away.” His voice lowered an octave on the last word.

  “That’s not it.” She waved off the excuse. “You’re very persuasive in your arguments. My guess is that you’re a fundraiser’s dream.”

  “Hmph.” Therin returned his attention to breakfast and didn’t appear to appreciate the assessment. “So I’ve been told,” he grumbled.

  “Did I offend you?”

  “No, Kianti.” He tapped his fingers next to her plate and waited for her eyes to meet his. “No. I’ve just got a lot of friends and…acquaintances who tell me the same thing. Many times they don’t mean to flatter me with it.”

  “Well, that’s crazy. What could be more admirable than taking up such a cause?”

  He smiled at the innocence he’d once been a victim of. “Kianti, everything pales next to the cause of raking in obscene amounts of cash for the next war.”

  “Ah.” Enlightenment dawned and she nodded. “So is that why you gave up your ambassadorship? To devote more time to your cause?” she asked, following several moments of easy silence.

  “One of many reasons,” was his only reply. His thoughts drifted toward his parents. His involvement—er—obsession over his cause had cut short that relationship far too soon. At least, he had always suspected that was the case.

  Kianti caught his grimace again and decided to call a halt to the Q&A.

  “Someone once told me that with power comes the ability to make change in addition to suggestion,” he eventually added somewhat prophetically.

  “I’ve always thought of ambassadors and such as figureheads. Sorry,” she said demurely before sipping her coffee. She was pleased to hear him chuckle.

  “You’re not too far off.” He helped himself to his last forkful of eggs. “As ambassador, I found that I could suggest ’til the cows came home, but affecting change—” he brushed the back of his hand along a sideburn “—affecting change eluded me until I left my post.”

  “You left your post yet you remain in Vancouver? No desire to return home to the States?” A teasing element made her eyes sparkle.

  Therin shrugged. “Canada’s not so far away. I’m in the States off and on. But I really like where I am—many diplomats aren’t so lucky.”

  Kianti added a bit more cream to her coffee. “It would seem you could do more for the cause on this side of the border, that’s all.”

  “Well, that’s what’s so impressive about the organization.” Therin settled in more comfortably. “We’re everywhere. EYES members and branch offices across the country go a long way to give the impression that we’re a strong united group. Everyone works equally hard which is another reason we’re so successful.” He thanked the waiter who’d returned with a fresh glass of juice. “Education’s my passion, and while I’ve been labeled as the face of EYES, I’m not its leader. That’s a joint responsibility.”

  “It’s a different outlook.” Kianti studied his very handsome face with unmasked appreciation. “Guess the opposition doesn’t quite know how to take you all.”

  Therin chuckled, causing his provocative gaze to narrow. “I think that’d be the case no matter who we were. Politics is a nasty game. You have to be…creative to get things done.”

  “I see…creative here being akin to corrupt?” she guessed.

  He raised his juice glass. “Smart lady.”

  Kianti shrugged. “Things aren’t much different in the music world.”

  “Yet you remain a faithful contributor?”

  It was her turn to mull over a response. “I feel an obligation to continue. There’re a lot of talented kids out there but this is not an easy business to break into. Instrumental performing—piano, orchestra, symphonies—there’s a fair amount of politics at play and getting your shot isn’t always as easy as knowing how to play the hell out of an instrument.” She smiled but there was little humor in the gesture. “Many kids have the raw talent,” she extended her hand, “and nowhere to cultivate it. No proper pedigree, if you get my meaning.”

  Therin did.

  “Portions of my CD sales go into a fund. I and many of my colleagues hope to open a school based on talent, financed by the artists who’ve made it instead of the ones trying to make it.”

  “Admirable.” Therin leaned back in his chair. His smirk held tinges of regret though. “I wish it were so easy to get a group of politicians on the same page like that.”

  The two would have delved back into the rest of their meals to further conversation. The laughter and easy mood, however, was interrupted when Vaughn Burgess approached the table.

  “Accept my apologies…please.” Momentarily taken aback by Therin’s breakfast partner, Vaughn was undoubtedly captivated.

  “Kianti Lawrence, my right arm, Vaughn Burgess.” Therin enjoyed the man’s mesmerized expression.

  Vaughn, in fact, seemed to have forgotten all about Therin’s presence. He leaned close to take Kianti’s hand. “I enjoyed your playing very much,” he told her.

  Kianti bowed her head graciously. “I appreciate you saying that. I thought I may have sounded a bit rushed last night.”

  “Nonsense.” Vaughn’s entranced expression turned woeful. “I do apologize for the interruption. I’m gonna have to steal this guy.” He glanced toward Therin before smiling again at Kianti and stepping back to offer the couple privacy.

  Therin took her hand next. “This was nice.”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “This must be important or else he wouldn’t be here. Always on my back for not relaxing more.” Therin spoke the last sentence a bit louder for Vaughn’s benefit.

  Kianti bit her lip playfully to stifle her laughter. “It’s okay. I understand, really.”

  “When do you leave?” he asked.

  “This afternoon.”

  He let her see his frown. “I’ll see you before you leave.”

  She placed her hand across his. “Handle your business.”

  “I promise,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze and standing as the waiter returned. “This is on me.” He tossed several bills to the table and pushed several more into the young man’s hand.

  Kianti’s eyes followed Therin until he was gone from the dining room.

  “This had better be damned good,” Therin growled to Vaughn as they rounded the corner.

  Vaughn’s voice was uncharacteristically hollow. “It’s not. It’s not good at all.”<
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  The weight which had lifted from Therin’s shoulders during the time spent with Kianti fell like an anvil when he and Vaughn returned to the suite. The conversation he’d escaped from earlier, and hoped would be over by the time he returned, seemed to have taken on new life. It wasn’t long before he discovered why.

  “Dammit,” Therin growled upon viewing the file on one of his staff assistants, Ruby Loro.

  Absolute silence settled in the suite for the first time that morning.

  Therin Rucker’s calm demeanor was a constant that his staff respected and thrived in the midst of. Though he often preferred to step back and do more observing, Therin encouraged discussion and debate. He felt they were the greatest tools in running effective campaigns and encouraging loyalty. Witnessing a loss of temper from someone so focused and deliberate was as fascinating as it was disconcerting.

  “This is bullshit.” Therin’s voice was a little more than a whisper. He massaged the back of his neck and slanted Vaughn a dark look.

  “Agreed.” Vaughn raised his hands defensively. “But it’s still gonna have to be dealt with…on several levels.”

  “I should talk to her.” Therin rifled through the file. “Has she seen this mess?”

  “No, um…it was uh—stuck inside your complimentary copy of this morning’s USA TODAY,” Morgan Felts explained.

  Therin began a pace of the suite’s living area. “Anybody contact the office to confirm that?”

  “Ther, nobody’s heard a damn thing,” Gary Bryce chimed in.

  Peter Stanson used the pen he held to gesture toward the file. “I think it’s safe to say that whoever left that crap meant for you to see it first and to decide how best to keep it quiet.”

  “By keeping my damn mouth shut,” Therin guessed, walking past the table and swiping a stack of papers to the floor.

  Vaughn took advantage of the clean area of the table and helped himself to a seat. “I don’t think it’s as much about keeping your mouth shut as it is about using it to promote other interests.”

  “Screw that.” Therin’s voice was monotone.