This Tender Melody

by Kianna Alexander

  His husky voice, so close to the shell of her ear, the feel his warm breath made her tremble. “Darius—”

  He didn’t give her time to finish. He wove a hand into her hair, and his lips crashed into hers. He kissed her fully, deeply, until she felt she would melt into her pumps.

  The sound of someone clearing their throat came from the other side of the room, caught her attention, and she pulled away.

  Phillip Gordon stood in the open doorway, disapproval clouding his chubby face. “Well, what’s this? The CEO and the owner fraternizing?”

  She rolled her eyes. His condescending tone was not lost to her.

  Darius’s stern response cut through the thick tension hanging in the room. “Phillip, you just gave me the excuse I needed. You’re fired.”

  He puffed up like a rooster, and shouted in Darius’s direction. “Fine! I’m above working for you anyhow, boy! And you can bet this isn’t the end!”

  And he stormed out.

  In his wake, she looked at Darius. She could clearly read the anger in his eyes, and she had to admit, Gordon’s harsh words had upset her, too.

  Not knowing what else to do, she leaned into his open arms and let him comfort her.

  * * *

  As Darius watched the audience from backstage at the Blue, he shook his head in amazement. Every week, the crowd seemed to get larger, and on this particular Wednesday the place was so packed the waitstaff could barely move around the tables to deliver food and drinks.

  But of course the crowd wasn’t his main concern. Eve was.

  She sat at the table up front, the same table she’d been sitting at the first night he’d invited her. Things had changed a great deal since that first night, but he was glad she hadn’t freaked out and run away once their relationship had been outed.

  She looked so beautiful, and he couldn’t drag his eyes away from her. She wore a hot little red sequined halter and a black pencil skirt. She crossed her honey-brown legs, showing off the sexy black heels she wore. He could easily imagine his hands gliding up and down the soft, silky skin.

  Her hair fell loose around her shoulders, and large diamond studs glittered in her ears. She looked down at her cell phone, her fingers tapping the screen as if she was sending a text.

  He knew she couldn’t see him watching her, and he was glad. He hoped she would be listening very carefully to tonight’s set, because he planned to woo her until she was powerless to resist.

  “Darius!” Marco’s harsh whisper broke through his thoughts.

  He turned his gaze to Marco, standing there with his saxophone. “What?”

  Marco rolled his eyes. “We gotta go on stage, that’s what. Stop being a space cadet over there, and go get your bass!”

  “Yeah, yeah. Hold your horses.” He rose and opened the case he’d propped against the wall near him. Taking out Miss Molly, he smiled as he made his way onto the stage behind the closed curtain.

  Ken perched on a stool behind the drum set, as expressionless as ever, and Rashad sat on the bench near the piano, arranging sheet music on the stand.

  Rashad asked, “Hey, key of C, right?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. You’ve got your delivery down, right?”

  Rashad winked. “I always bring my A game to the Blue.”

  “Good.” He set his bass on the wooden stand, and sat on his own stool. “This is a very important night.”

  Rashad winked. “I know. “Don’t worry, we got it.”

  The guys grew silent as they listened to Bobby, the announcer, introduce them.

  The heavy blue velvet curtain went up.

  The spotlight fell on the band, and they launched into their own arrangement of Duke Ellington and Irvin Mills’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

  As Darius plucked out the familiar, up-tempo bass line, he let his eyes settle on Eve. All around her, people rose from their seats, taking what little floor space they could find to dance to the catchy tune. She tapped her foot, but made no move to rise.

  He could tell from the tight smile and the sway of her upper body that she wanted to dance, but didn’t feel comfortable enough to let loose. Shaking his head, he wondered if she would ever emerge from behind her power-suit persona and have some fun.

  As the set moved on into the rollicking rhythm of Billy Strayhorn’s classic “Take the A Train,” women began to crowd around the stage. Glancing over at his bandmates, Darius shook his head. Marco dropped to his knees, playing his sax before a section of his adoring fans, while Rashad ricocheted between playing the keyboard and extending his hand to a young woman up front. Rashad was the band’s vocalist, and his playboy stage persona kept the ladies in the audience coming back for the show, week after week. Darius knew his friends could be hams at times, but he overlooked it. Whatever kept the fans happy was fine by him.

  But tonight, all the women standing around the stage blocked his view of Eve. He wished the crowd would disperse a bit, so he could catch a glimpse of his classy lady.

  By the time they eased the tempo down for the last song in the set, a Gents original that he penned himself, the group around the stage had thinned out enough for him to see her again.

  Locking eyes with her, he fingered the opening notes of the song. Rashad’s voice rang clear, but quiet, in accompaniment.

  Women in the audience looked pleased with the song, swaying from side to side.

  The lilting harmony of the tune filled the club. He could see silhouettes of lovers embracing beneath the dimmed lights. He watched them for a moment before letting his eyes settle back on Eve. With each passing word and verse, he could see her expression changing. That gave him hope that she realized the song had been written for her.

  As the song and the set came to an end, he and his bandmates took their bows, and applause filled the room. People then drifted to and fro, mingling, eating and enjoying themselves.

  Eve approached the edge of the stage, a smile gracing her face.

  He propped his bass against the wall. Covering the distance between them, he sat down on the end of the stage, near where she stood.

  She touched his hand. “Fantastic show.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He inhaled the soft scent of her perfume.

  “I thought that last song was especially moving.” She looked into his eyes, waiting.

  Looks as if she’s on to me. “I wrote it. It was inspired by you.” He reached out, tracing a gentle finger along her silken jaw.

  She trembled beneath his touch. “I don’t know what to say—it’s beautiful.”

  He hopped down from the stage, never tearing his eyes from hers.

  She came to him, and he enfolded her in his embrace. He lifted her chin, watched her eyes slide closed. Her glossy lips parted in sweet invitation. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers.

  Her delicate fingers stroked the back of his neck as the kiss deepened.

  He groaned, pulling her in as close as he could. He left her lips to explore the hollow of her neck, scented with the sweet, sensual notes of her perfume. His arousal grew, increasing to the point of pain. If he didn’t have her tonight, he seriously thought he might explode.

  He placed a parting kiss on her neck, then whispered in her ear. “Let’s get out of here, or I’m going to make love to you on the stage—”

  She gasped.

  He waited for her response.

  Finally, she nodded.

  Taking her hand, he led her from the club through the side entrance, to the parking lot beside the building.

  They reached his car first; she was parked two spots to the left of him. He opened his driver-side door, turned to her. “My place, or yours?”

  She smiled, her eyes filled with a sexy amusement. “Mine. Follow me.”

 
He watched the sexy sway of her hips as she strolled to her own car and got in. When she fired up the engine and pulled out of the space, he followed her. For the duration of the drive, he did his best to concentrate on the road, but thoughts of making love to her dominated.

  Floodlights positioned on the front lawn illuminated the mansion’s beautiful hard-coated stucco exterior. He thought it a very nice place, although way too large for a woman living alone.

  He pulled his car around the circular driveway and parked it near the front door.

  He looked around as he got out, so aroused and hard that walking was difficult.

  He went to her car, opening the driver-side door. Then he took her extended hand and helped her out. She led him up the eight steps to the door, and fishing out her key, popped it open.

  “Nice house,” he remarked.

  “Thanks. I bought it as a thirtieth birthday gift to myself.”

  The sound of her voice seemed to make him even harder. So much for distracting myself with small talk.

  “Come on in,” she said, leading the way into the darkened foyer.

  He followed her into a windowed room just off the main hall. The moon shone above the trees outside, casting a soft glow on the white furniture and carpet in the room.

  Releasing his hand, she sat down on the sofa and patted the spot next to her. “Care to join me?”

  She didn’t have to ask twice. He sat next to her, and took her into his arms. The moonlight played off the sequins on her top, and desire shimmered in her eyes.

  He pressed his lips to hers, drawing her closer as he leaned into the cushion, until she hiked up her skirt a few inches and straddled his lap.

  He growled low in his throat, wanting to strip off her clothes and show her just how hot she made him. He wove his hands into her soft, sweet smelling hair, and kissed her even harder.

  Without breaking the kiss, she began clawing at his dress shirt, trying to undo the buttons. He shrugged out of his jacket and let her continue until she opened the shirt, baring his chest.

  She slid down, leaving a trail of kisses over his cheek, neck and shoulder, until she lingered on his chest. Her searching fingers reached for the front of his pants, and as the silver clasp slipped free, he sighed.

  She grasped the zipper pull—

  And the shrill sound of her ringing cell phone filled the room.

  “I’m busy.” Her soft spoken words punctuated her tugging down his zipper.

  The phone ceased ringing.

  As he pulled her back up to his kiss, the landline phone began to ring.

  She stopped cold. “Hold that thought. I’ve got to see what’s going on.”

  He released the breath he’d been holding since she began undoing his pants, and lay back against the cushion. She went across the room to a side table, and picked up the extension there.

  “Hello?” he heard her say. He could see her shapely silhouette against the sheer white curtains.

  “Oh my God... I’m on my way.”

  Concerned, he asked, “What is it?”

  She crossed the room and tugged his hands. In a tear-strained voice, she whispered, “It’s Dad.”

  He stood, took a moment to zip his pants and buttoned up his shirt. “I’ll take you wherever you need to go.”

  Keys in hand, he followed her out the way they’d come.

  Chapter 15

  Her breath coming in rapid gasps, Eve rushed into Carolinas Medical Center-University’s ICU, with Darius close behind her. The antiseptic smell of the place filled her nostrils as she raced down the corridor. Her eyes darted around the waiting area, until she spotted her mother.

  Louise sat in the corner near a wall-mounted television. She was leaning forward, her salt-and-pepper head resting in her hands.

  “Mom!” Eve jogged to her side, crouching in front of her. “What happened? Where’s Dad?”

  Her mother looked up, her swollen, red-rimmed eyes locking with Eve’s. “He’s in the OR. The doctor says he had a massive stroke—” Fat teardrops spilled onto her cheeks.

  Her mother’s worry was as palpable as her own, but she wanted to be strong for her. She knelt on the floor, and took her mother into her arms. As she tried to soothe her, she gazed up at Darius, who looked on in sympathetic silence from his seat next to her.

  His handsome face showed his concern. “Is there anything you need?”

  She released her mother, rose to her feet. “Stay with her for a minute. I’ve got to find out what’s going on with Dad.”

  He nodded, and she crossed the waiting room to the admissions desk.

  “Excuse me, but could you tell me when Joseph Franklin will be out of surgery?”

  The bespectacled nurse typed something into the computer, then said, “It will be about another two hours. They’ve just begun.”

  She stroked her now throbbing, sweat-dampened temples. This would be the longest two hours of her life. Having Darius there, however, offered her comfort. “Will someone be out to talk to us?”

  The nurse nodded. “Yes, ma’am, just as soon as they can spare a set of hands. The surgery is very complex, and requires a team of medical professionals.” The nurse reached out and patted Eve’s hand. “I assure you, they will do everything they can for him.”

  It all sounded pretty serious. She offered the nurse a small smile in return for her sympathy, then trudged back over to the two seats occupied by her mother and Darius.

  Louise had nodded off, her head resting on the back of her chair.

  Knowing how her mother hated to sleep in public, she realized just how exhausted she must be.

  Darius asked, “What did they say?”

  She dropped into the empty seat beside him. “He’s in surgery now. They’ll send someone out to talk to us, but it sounds like it’s going to be a while.”

  He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I see. What about you?”

  She looked at him with questioning eyes.

  “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m fine.” Her face said different, she was sure. How can I tell him I’m more worried than I’ve ever been in my whole life?

  With a finger, he beckoned to her. “Come here. Sit with me for a minute.”

  Pensive, she leaned her upper body closer to him. Instead, he pulled her down onto his lap. Unable to fight him, she sank down and let him hold her tight.

  It wasn’t fair. Half an hour ago, the only thing on her mind had been making love to Darius until the sun rose. Now her father’s life was in danger.

  I wish I could go back.

  Darius’s deep voice broke through her thoughts. “Eve, it’s okay for you to be worried about your father.”

  “I’m fine.” She bit back the emotion.

  He wrapped a gentle hand around her chin, and turned her to face him. His eyes burned into hers, searing away the facade she’d created. “No, you’re not. You don’t need to hide your emotions from me.”

  The kiss he placed on her lips was as sweet as a summer blackberry. “Darius—” A renegade tear slid down her cheek, and she looked away.

  His voice was sympathetic, but firm. “It’s all right, Eve. Stop trying to hold it in.”

  Inside, that stubborn part of herself railed against what she knew was coming. She needed to be strong. Falling apart simply wasn’t an option.

  Her father lay unconscious on a table right now, with a whole team of doctors operating on his brain. She was very aware that she could lose him in an instant. Even if the surgery went well, there was still a chance that the man she knew and loved would never be the same.

  Her pulse raced, her breathing coming in short spurts. She could feel the cold, clammy sensation of her sweat-dampened palms as she clasped her hands together.

 
How can I live with that?

  How can I go on without Dad?

  A sob escaped from the prison inside her throat, and she dropped her head onto Darius’s shoulder. At long last, she allowed herself to cry.

  He rubbed her back, whispering in her ear, “It’s okay. I’m here. I’ll stay all night if you need me.”

  Her body shook, crushed by the weight of it all. Her world was falling apart, and she had no idea how to handle it.

  Tears coursed down her cheek, splashing onto his shirt, but he didn’t seem to mind. He just rocked and stroked her, whispering endearments until her crying and shaking subsided.

  When she sat up again, she blushed. She knew she must be a mess of runny eyeliner and streaked mascara. He handed her a handkerchief from his pocket, and she wiped her face. Motioning to the dark stain she’d left on his shoulder, she said, “Sorry.”

  He shook his head, brushing it off. “It’s fine. I’m sure my dry cleaner can get mascara out.”

  His smile salved her wounded soul. “Thank you.”

  “Hey, I’m here for you. You can cry on me anytime you need to.”

  She kissed his lips to show her appreciation.

  Then she heard her mother clear her throat.

  She and Darius separated, and turned to face her.

  Louise’s face held many questions. “Is this what’s been going on between you two?”

  Darius looked guilty for a moment. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I know this makes things complicated for FTI, but—your daughter is very special to me.”

  “I understand.” Louise looked wistful, as if recalling a long ago memory. “Love can be that way...you can’t choose who you love.”

  She could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks. “Mom.”

  Darius coughed to cover his laugh.

  Her mother covered a yawn. “I’m sure it’s no surprise to him. Well, anyway, thank you for bringing my daughter here to see about her dad. I’m sure you have other matters to attend to.”

  Eve immediately recognized that her mother was testing him, and turned to Darius to see what he would say.

  He shook his head. “No, ma’am. I’ll be staying here, in case there’s anything I can do for you or Eve. Anything I need to do can wait.”