by Susan Hatler
“Let me get this straight,” Lucy insisted. “He actually got you to do a sixty-nine, and you liked it?”
Melina tossed another shirt into her suitcase before she turned back to her friend. “Yes, Lucy, he did. Y-E-S. And, yes, I did. The answers are the same no matter how many times you ask the questions. Now, can we please talk about more pressing matters? Like how I'm going to get on stage without puking and single-handedly ruining Rhys's shot at this contract?”
From her spot on the bed, Grace fanned herself with both hands. “I don't know, darlin'. After what you described, how can you think of anything other than when you can jump him next?”
“On the other hand,” Lucy interjected, “think about how grateful he's going to be after you help him land that cruise gig. My God, the man will probably do anything you ask him to. A-ny-thing.”
Melina shook her head. “Will you two stop? You should have seen his face when I said I'd help him. He wants that contract—he needs it—and he's relying on me. What if I can't do it? What if I let him down?”
“What if unicorns and flying dragons really do exist?” Lucy shot back. “Why are you focusing on the show and the contract Rhys may or may not get? You had mind-blowing, head-banging sex with your fantasy guy, and he's obviously in love with you.”
Melina sat down on the bed next to Grace, only to fall backward and stare at the ceiling. “Believe me, the sex isn't far from my mind. But where do you get he's in love with me?”
“He asked you to go to Reno with him before Max called,” Grace pointed out.
Biting her lip, she sat up. “You really think he's in love with me?”
“Yes,” Lucy said.
“Definitely,” agreed Grace.
“Then why wouldn't he just say so?” Melina asked softly.
“Why haven't you told him that you love him?” Lucy countered.
Wide-eyed, Melina stared at her. “Because I'm afraid.”
“Of what? He's not going to reject you. The guy bought you a rocking bikini in France, for God's sake!”
“I'm afraid he'll walk away anyway,” she insisted.
Lucy opened her mouth to respond, but it was Grace who countered, “No, you're not, Melina. You're afraid he'll walk away and ask you to come with him. And you're not sure you love him enough to do it.”
Melina and Lucy stared at her. Lucy turned to Melina. “Is that true?”
“No. I mean…” Melina closed her eyes and forced herself to look deep within herself for the answer. She opened her eyes and glared at Grace. “God, I hate it when you do that.”
Lucy dropped onto the bed beside her. “I'm confused.”
“Well, so am I,” Melina snapped. Standing, she paced the small area between her bed and her dresser. “Grace is right. When we're together, I can't imagine being without him. But when we're apart, I can't imagine fitting into his world. I'm not even sure I want to. Sure, it sounds exciting, but I'm a homebody at heart. I'd like to travel more, but only if I have a home to come back to. Someplace to raise my children and make memories. I know now that Rhys wants some version of that, too, but I just can't see myself on the road or on the sea, hanging out in the shadows and waiting for him to finish one performance after another.”
“So all this time, it hasn't been about whether you could satisfy him or whether he could love you,” Lucy said. “You're saying that even if those things are golden, you're still not sure it'll work out?”
“Those things were definitely real fears, but even without them, yes. I guess I am saying that.”
For the first time Melina could remember, Lucy didn't seem to know what to say.
That was so not okay.
“So what do I do?” Melina cried.
Grace knelt in front of her and took her hands in hers. “You're already doing it, sweetie. You're leaving your world and venturing into his. No speculating about what it's like anymore. No wondering whether you'll like it. One way or another, you're going to find out the answer to that pop quiz. Being with him would require you to change your whole life. If you decide you don't want to do that, then he's not the guy for you. So what? Maybe Jamie is.”
“Please.” Lucy rolled her eyes. “She just got through saying she wasn't settling for passionless sex again. Professor Jamie Whitcomb isn't the type to inspire passion in any woman. He's too damn arrogant and uptight for his own good.”
Melina studied her friend, forgetting her own troubles for a second. “Where's all this hostility coming from? I thought you barely knew Jamie.”
“Oh, I know him all right.”
When she didn't elaborate, Melina turned to Grace.
“Turns out the dean wants Lucy's department represented at the conference tomorrow, as well,” Grace explained. “Since Jamie's coordinating it...”
Melina gasped. Holy shit. The conference. She gripped Grace's hands. “The conference. I'm supposed to speak with Jamie. He's depending on me.”
Lucy waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, please. Like anyone'll miss you.” She didn't miss Melina's glare. “You know what I mean. You've got a PowerPoint presentation set up, right? Either Jamie can pick up the slack or someone else can.”
“You,” Melina said at the same time she thought it.
Looking at her like she was crazy, Lucy laughed and held out her hand. “Excuse me? I don't think so. I have to attend the conference—against my will, I might add—in order to network at the reception. But I wasn't planning on attending any of the presentations beforehand.”
“You can do my presentation with your hands tied behind your back. You're a quick study, and you have no problem speaking in public.”
“I'm not an entomologist,” Lucy exclaimed, beginning to look a little panicked. “I don't know a thing about bugs.”
Melina rushed to her desk in the living room and returned to the bedroom with a folder, neatly organized and tabbed. “You don't have to. Like you said, everything's set up. You just have to read my notes. Please, Lucy?”
“I-I…” Looking like a hunted rabbit, Lucy turned to Grace.
“I'm out of town that day,” Grace said quickly.
“Please, Lucy. He's not my soul mate, but I like Jamie and respect him. I can't just ditch him. This conference is a huge deal and, as the organizer, he's going to be swamped. Do this for me, and I'll owe you, I promise.”
“You'll owe me, huh?” Lucy said, still looking like she'd rather eat dirt.
Melina just nodded and held out the folder.
With a sigh, Lucy took it. “Fine. I'll keep you in Jamie's good graces just in case you decide you don't want Rhys as much as you thought.”
“It's not Rhys I'm unsure about,” Melina insisted. “Not anymore.”
“Honey, it's all part of the package, right? You can't have Rhys without all the rest.”
After her friends left, Melina thought about what Lucy had said. She thought about it as she finished packing. She thought about it when she boarded the plane the next morning. And she thought about it as she walked outside to meet Rhys.
When she saw Rhys, she dropped her luggage and ran into his arms, almost crying with relief when his arms wrapped around her and pulled her in close. She lifted her face to kiss him just as his mouth covered hers. His tongue sank into her mouth, stealing her breath and her sanity until she finally pulled away.
She opened her mouth and tried to say it: I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If that means going on the road or living out of a suitcase for the rest of my life, I'll do it. Instead, she just kissed him again.
“You ready to get to work?” he asked with a grin.
She forced a smile. “You tie me up. You work your magic. I just need to smile and look pretty, right? How hard can it be?”
***
Jillian knocked on the dressing room door even louder this time. “Aren't you ready yet?”
Melina stared at herself in the full-length mirror, cringing at what she saw. The sparkly outfit that Jillian was trying
to alter to fit her form was her exact size, only Rhys's runaway assistant had obviously had more to love on top than she did. Instead of enhancing her minimal curves, the droopy neckline made her look flatter than an ironing board, and the minuscule skirt made her thighs look like tree trunks.
“I told you, it doesn't fit,” Melina called out again, wondering if the woman was hard of hearing.
“Of course it doesn't,” Jillian called, her voice clearly reflecting her impatience. “I'm not done with it yet. Now come out here so you can get back to practice.”
Melina groaned. Practice. Right.
She and Rhys had been practicing ever since they'd arrived from the airport. Not that he was a slave driver. He'd given her plenty of breaks, for food and for nookie, but as soon as they started practicing again, it was all business. Her body ached from having to stretch out and hang for so long from the Metamorphosis apparatus, and she was jittery because of the way Rhys repeatedly ran his hands up and down her body.
“Usually I don't think anything of doing this,” he'd said. “It's all just in a day's work.” Before she could snort and call him a liar, he kissed her neck and whispered in her ear, “Doing it to you reminds me of something.”
She'd swallowed and breathed out, “What's that?”
“I owe you for torturing me when I was tied up. When you're spread out in front me and unable to do anything but beg for me to take you, remember that.”
Closing her eyes, she licked her lips. “I'm doing you a favor here. I don't think threats are appropriate at this point. Besides, I thought you liked what we did.”
He'd just chuckled and backed off, releasing her to wardrobe.
Knowing she couldn't put it off any longer, she opened the door and peeked out. Jillian whirled around and waved her closer. “Come on out so I can see what I'm working with.”
Reluctantly, Melina stepped into view.
Instead of laughing her ass off, as Melina had expected, Jillian nodded. “Good. That's good.”
“Good?” Melina echoed in astonishment. “I look like a pear shoved into a seventies-era tube top.”
“You leave it to me. By the time I'm done with this costume, you'll look like you were born to walk that stage.”
“Yeah, except I won't be doing much walking. More like hanging,” she mumbled, then felt like a whiny fool. She was hanging with Rhys and for Rhys, that's all that should matter.
It was if Jillian could read her mind. “Yes, well, that's what women do for the men they love.”
Melina automatically shook her head. “I'm just doing a friend a favor.”
Now Jillian did laugh. “Okay, honey. But don't worry about it. It doesn't matter that they've never dated anyone more than six weeks. We all fall in love with one of those boys at some time or another. Not all of us are lucky enough to get that love returned, that's all.”
“From what I hear, they've done plenty of loving to go around.”
Jillian shot her a disappointed look. “You are supposed to be the smart one, right?”
Before Melina could do more than gasp, Rhys's mother, Rachel, swept in. They'd already visited several times, but it was still a nice surprise to see her again. The way she hugged Melina suggested she felt the same. “So what do you think, Jillian? Didn't we tell you Melina is an absolute doll?”
Nodding, Jillian tugged at Melina's dress and adjusted pins here and there. “She sure is. A little dubious about your boys' reputation with the ladies, but other than that, she's fine by me.”
Melina blushed and tried to stammer out a reply, but Jillian just planted her hands on her hips and eyed her up and down. “Yep. The crowd's going to love her,” she declared.
“Let's just hope Seven Seas does.” Rhys's mother looked at her watch. “You've got enough time for one more rehearsal, Melina, but Rhys says you've caught on really fast. He's quite impressed with you, young lady.”
“What's Rhys doing now?” she asked, trying to appear only casually interested.
“He's rehearsing on the main stage with Max and the other girls.”
“Can I go in and watch?”
“Of course!” Rachel exclaimed. “You're one of the crew now.”
One of the crew. As Melina peeled out of her horrid costume and dressed, a smile crept across her face. Despite some lingering nerves, part of her was starting to feel like part of the crew. Everyone was friendly and had welcomed her with open arms, chattering with her about their families and the excitement they felt about getting the Seven Seas contract.
As she rushed to the main stage, Melina thought about what Jillian had said. That everyone fell in love with Rhys or Max at some point, but only a special few were lucky enough to have that love returned. She'd known Rhys and Max loved her since she was fourteen years old. Despite the ups and downs between them, she'd known she could count on them if she ever needed them. Her presence proved they could do the same.
Taking care to be quiet as she opened the heavy doors to the theater, she sneaked into the very back row and watched as Rhys performed one trick after another. There were two other female assistants who assisted in the act. Having hung from the Metamorphosis apparatus and seen Rhys's complicated new trick for herself, she now knew why he required a female assistant of shorter stature. That wasn't true for his other tricks.
The two other girls, introduced to her as Amanda and Tina, were close to six feet, their bodies thin yet curvy, especially in the chest area. Amanda had long, multi-hued blonde hair, and Tina had a wavy red bob that looked perpetually disheveled. They were model gorgeous, and it would have been easy to hate them both but for the fact they were extremely nice and down-to-earth. Amanda had a degree in nursing, and Tina wore crystals and had offered to give Melina a tarot reading. She liked them, even if they did make her feel like the dumpy nerd who didn't quite belong.
With a flourish, Rhys finished one trick, then switched places with Max, who'd been sitting in a chair at the side of the stage. She hadn't spent a lot of time with Max, other than to scold him, then kiss him, for what he'd done at the hotel. She hadn't brought up Trisha or the incident from twelve years ago, and neither had Rhys. Still, she could tell Max was feeling awkward about things. He was more quiet than usual and, except for rehearsals, he kept mostly to himself. She'd asked Rhys about it, but he'd just shrugged, saying Max could be moody but that he'd eventually snap out of it.
The music cued and another trick began, everyone flowing around the stage like they were born to be there. At one point, Rhys called out for them to stop, and he and Max discussed something while the girls left the stage. Melina felt so proud as she watched them. They were good at what they did, and it was obvious that while Max and Rhys were a team, Rhys made things happen. He kept things running. He was the heart of the Dalton Twins’ Magic Act. Without him, it couldn't possibly survive. More important, he clearly loved what he did. Being around his family and performing with them gave him a spark and vitality that had been missing before, even when he'd been relaxed and having fun in Lake Shasta.
Knowing she didn't have much time before she'd be called to the stage herself, Melina got to her feet and quietly made her way toward the exit. She was almost there when she saw Amanda and Tina return.
They were topless, their big breasts round and thrust out for everyone to see. Rhys and Max glanced up, then kept talking, obviously unfazed by their nudity.
Melina, on the other hand, felt the ground drop out from under her. Bracing herself with a shaky hand, she slowly lowered herself into another seat. She watched as Max performed one illusion after another, the whole time keeping at least one of the girls close. He touched them often, almost absently, a hand on a hip here, or a caress against the side of a breast there. Melina knew it was all for show—that it didn't mean anything to any of them—but she couldn't help thinking of the way Rhys had touched her when they'd practiced, too. And even though it wasn't him touching the girls now, she knew he and Max traded off performing every trick, so he'd touched the
m at some point and would continue to do so.
Someone touched her shoulder, and she jerked her head around. Rhys stood beside her, his mouth grim. “Hey,” he said.
She turned back to the stage. “Hi,” she whispered.
He lowered himself to the seat beside her and sighed. “I warned you there were a couple of acts that contained nudity, Melina.”
Nodding, she licked her lips. “Yeah. You did. You didn't tell me how often you got to cop a feel, though.” As soon as the bitter words left her mouth, she wanted to call them back. But she couldn't. And she couldn't pretend it wasn't how she felt. Not so much because the touching was sexual or even offensive, but because it seemed to highlight just how different their lives really were.
He lightly grasped her arms and turned her to face him. “It's just an act. The equivalent of an on-screen kiss. It doesn't mean anything.”
“I know that.” But it means something to me, she thought. And this is what he'd be doing, night after night, while I wait for him. While I give up my life for him. She was an insecure person during the best of times. How low would she stoop if she had to imagine Rhys's hands on another woman's body every night?
She stood. “I was just going to get something to eat before we rehearse. What time should I be back?”
“Melina, can we talk about this?”
“There's nothing to talk about,” she said with a thin smile. “This is your life, and there's nothing wrong with it. Now what time do you want me back?”
“We'll rehearse in an hour. Does that work?”
“An hour's good.”
She tried to move past him, but there wasn't enough room unless she wanted to squeeze by and brush against him. Knowing it was silly, she turned and walked down the other side of the aisle, slipping outside through another door.
She didn't look back, but she never got something to eat, either. Instead, feeling more like an outsider than ever, she wandered the streets outside the theater until she came to a nest of shops. One in particular caught her eye, and she stopped to stare at the display window.
