by K. K. Allen
A waitress came out onto the deck with a tray of champagne. Sebastian handed me a glass then led us all up the flight of stairs that reached the private balcony.
Wayne leaned against my side and smiled. “I’m proud of you, Kai.”
My insides were undoubtedly in several knots, but I didn’t feel the crippling fear I’d expected in anticipation of sailing away. Instead, I felt excited about our first week at sea. My worries had all been for nothing. Instead of feeling pain from my father’s tragedy, I felt a strange sense of peace at knowing he was with me somehow.
A loud horn blared from the center of the ship, signaling the time to set off. Music playing from the lido deck’s speakers could be heard from where we stood, along with the cheers and laughter from cruise-ship passengers.
And when the ship started moving, Sebastian was right there, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly. He always knew just how to be there for me—pushing me when I needed it the most, comforting me when I was too stubborn to ask for it.
He was my anchor in a raging storm, but I would use my own sails to keep steady.
“It’s time, Kai,” Sebastian said. “We need to get to the theater.” He pounded fists with Shane and Wayne. “I’ll make sure they save your seats in the first-row balcony.” Then he winked at me before looking back at them. “Trust me, it’s the best seat in the house.”
I chuckled and jabbed him in the side with my elbow. “Is not.”
“Break a leg, Kai!” my friends called out as Sebastian whisked me through the entrance and then up the stairs to head backstage.
We’d just entered the main hall when Dirk appeared at the other end, his focus on his phone in his hands, his eyebrows folded over. Sebastian growled and pulled me into one of the changing rooms, complete with a red curtain, which he pulled shut to enclose us.
I giggled. “What are you doing?”
“Stealing you before everyone else wants your attention.” He hooked his arms around my waist. “You’re going to be fantastic tonight. I can’t wait to congratulate you later when we’re alone.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Standing ovation and all.”
I bit my lip and ran my nose against his. “Thank you for inviting my friends. It really means a lot that they’re here.”
“You deserve to have the perfect opening night. And now you will.”
“So will you.”
He kissed me, breathing me in as he did, before pulling away and squeezing my ass with a groan. “Okay. Go get ready.”
I backed up until I was all the way past the curtain. “See you out there”—I grinned as the curtain fell shut—“Bash.”
I laughed and pivoted to walk down the hall. But as soon as I glanced up, my heart caught in my throat. Dirk was right there, standing against the wall with ice picks for eyes, ready to stab me to death with his stare.
I kept telling myself that the past was in the past. That whatever beef Dirk and Sebastian had between them had nothing to do with me. But the way Dirk seemed to have it out for me, along with the fact that he’d brought Claudette here with the intention of taking over my role, stirred unease in my stomach.
Lifting my head in a cordial nod, I smiled politely and continued to walk by Dirk like he was just another crew member behind the scenes. But when his voice cleared behind me, I halted in my tracks and threw him a glance over my shoulder.
Menacing eyes met mine. “I just wanted to wish you luck tonight, Kai. Or… what is it they say before a big show? Break a leg?” He grinned, his white teeth gleaming under the overhead lights. “Yes, that’s it. Break a leg tonight, Kai.”
“Costume check.”
“Everybody, take your places. We’re on in twenty.”
“Kai. Water.” The backstage assistant, Rhonda, shoved a bottle of water at me while the makeup and hair assistant touched me up.
“How you feeling?” Jimmy asked as he shooed everyone away and walked me to my opening position. His voice was filled with the high from the adrenaline I knew we were all feeling.
“Great!” Sure, my nerves were a freaking wreck, especially after Dirk’s ominous comment, and my heart was pounding so hard I could barely see straight. But the sound of the band warming up on the platform high above the stage put everything into perspective. It was opening freaking night.
The seas were calm outside, but I sensed a definite difference in the way I moved across the floor. The slight rocking of the boat had already thrown me off a few times earlier today during dress rehearsal, but those instances only prepared me for the evening performance.
I took my mark offstage while the curtain opened to reveal Sebastian. The audience immediately lit up with applause at the sight of him.
Everything about the opening number was electrifying, from the fast-paced rock song, to the rock-concert-style lighting. The entire sequence set the tone of the show, immediately bringing everyone to their feet. And with Sebastian’s rock-star charm, all eyes in the audience were undoubtedly on him.
I caught a glimpse of him in one of the backstage monitors and smiled. Lighting beamed down on top of him as he pounded away at the keys and sang his heart out. He was definitely in his element.
At the chorus, a handful of us entered the stage for our first group number. We would introduce the storyline of childhood friends reuniting as adults. That was when Grace and Angst would meet for the first time.
Adrenaline rushed through me as I took my mark in the center of the stage. I twirled into the first dance step, drinking in the crowd’s energy as if it was a life source. With everyone’s focus on me, I executed a perfect calypso leap into a fake fall that landed me into Jake’s arms.
Every second was thrilling, even in the moments the waves tilted the stage, testing my balance and making me wobble in my heels. I thought about Dirk’s eerie “break a leg” comment to me before the show, and how pleased he would be if that actually happened.
At my first costume change, I ran backstage and switched out my skirts. When I removed my heels from the first number to go barefoot for my next, I felt a huge whoosh of relief. The risk of breaking anything was drastically reduced while barefoot.
“All right, Kai, you’re up. Five seconds.”
My eyes snapped to the backstage director, who was shooing me toward the stage. I shoved the strappy heels to Rhonda, then I moved to my marker offstage.
Sebastian transitioned to the next song, this one at a slower tempo as chorus dancers opened up the number. I made my way toward the edge of the open curtain. Jake waited on the opposite side of the stage, and we would meet in the middle to perform our first emotional duet as Angst and Grace.
* * *
WATCH: Peer Pressure
* * *
I loved the chemistry that Jake and I shared as dancers. A mutual respect had formed over time, a true friendship, and I could tell by the audience’s reaction that they felt it too. After our second dance together, I could feel our hold on the audience’s attention. The crowd gasped audibly during every climactic sequence and laughed right on cue. And their energy obviously rose whenever Sebastian would ham it up on the piano and we’d quicken our steps on the dance floor.
Before the final number, when Angst and Grace reunited at a wedding, Rhonda swapped out my entire dress while I just stood there. Throughout the entire show, I’d felt like we’d gotten a good rhythm going. But when she handed me the silver strappy shoes again, the pair from the opening number, I refused them with a wave of my hand.
Rhonda’s eyes widened. “Put them on. Quick. You don’t have time.”
“I’m going out barefoot.”
Her jaw dropped. “But… it’s the wedding dance.”
I shook my head and shoved the shoes away, allowing my instinct to win. “No. The ship is rocking too much. I’m afraid I’ll fall.”
Rhonda stared at the shoes hanging from her fingers and nodded. “Okay, but I don’t want to get in trouble over this.”
Again, I thought about Dirk’s comment,
but this time, it gave me an idea. I reached for one of the shoes, wrapped a hand around the thin heel, and snapped it from the base. “There.” I shoved it back into her hands with a smile. “An unfortunate accident. Better toss those in the trash before someone gets hurt.”
“Five seconds, Kai,” a voice called.
Laughing at the look of shock on Rhonda’s face, I took off running, barefoot, straight into my chassé entrance onto the stage floor.
As we completed our final number, the energy of the audience spoke volumes above everything I’d ever want to say or prove to Dirk. On the last note of the last song, after I’d landed in Jake’s arms, I beamed back at the crowd, meeting eyes with as many people as I could, including Wayne and Shane up in the balcony.
Everyone in the theater was on their feet.
Everyone was applauding and screaming and crying as if they’d just witnessed an epic story unfold.
Everyone loved it.
Well, everyone except for Dirk and the dark-haired raven by his side.
Sebastian had been wrong. Claudette had never left the ship after all.
Chapter 36
Sebastian
“Brilliant job, mates.” I shook the hand of each member of my band before we made our way to the crowd and crew downstairs, where everyone was celebrating a fantastic first performance. The audience’s reaction throughout, especially at the end, was all the affirmation we needed to tell us the show was and would be a success.
Behind the curtain on the stage floor was a party if I’d ever seen one. Champagne was flowing, cameras were flashing, and people were shaking hands, hugging, laughing, and smiling. The energy was at an all-time high, and everyone was riding the wave of having performed for a full house.
Normally, I would duck out at that point, escape to my room or private car, and avoid all the fanfare. But not this time. People were tossing compliments my way as hands clapped my back, but I was on a mission to find Kai.
A tray of drinks passed by, and I picked two flutes from it and continued my search. Not long after, I spotted the woman whose smile was brightening up the entire room, whose infectious laugh floated atop the crowd like tinsel on the most beautiful Christmas tree.
She stood in the center of a crowd, posing for pictures and chatting with the other dancers. I wove my way through the gathering, flashing smiles at everyone I passed, until she was a foot away, returning my smile with one of her own.
Just seeing her, so perfectly in her element, dazzling the world around her, made me the happiest man on earth. I held out a glass of champagne.
She took it with a smile. “Thank you.”
I leaned in to cup her cheek with my hand and press a kiss to her cheek. “You brought the house down, tonight, Kai.”
Her eyes shone. “Is that right? And here I thought the crowd only wanted to watch the band.”
I narrowed my eyes, letting my gaze fall to her lips, never wanting to kiss someone more in my entire life. “I think it’s clear who the winner is this time.”
She grinned. “Well, it’s about time.”
I brought my mouth to hers, giving her an opportunity to pull away. There we were, surrounded by all our peers, with chatter about us already circulating and Dirk most likely just a glance away, but all I cared about—all I wanted—was to kiss the woman who’d stolen the show… and my heart.
She didn’t back away. Her lips grazed mine first. “Are you sure?” she teased.
At that point, everyone was already watching—no turning back.
I pressed my lips to hers, basking in their plushness and ignoring the fact that bright-red lipstick would soon be smeared all over my lips. I hoped my mouth wouldn’t be the only place she would put those lips tonight.
I held out my arm, gesturing for someone to take my champagne glass, then I did the same for hers. When our hands were free, I wrapped my arms around her waist and dipped her back, kissing her so damn hard the entire party started cheering loudly.
When I brought her back to standing, she laughed and rubbed my lips with her finger. “You’ve been marked, Sebastian Chase. All your fans will be ravenous with jealousy.”
“Let them be.” I grinned to show I didn’t care an iota about what my lips looked like. I grabbed her hand and turned toward the crowd. “Kai Ashley, ladies and gentlemen,” I boomed, earning more stares than those that were already on us. “The Queen of the Stage and the Sea.” I threw her a wink as her face flushed, then I brought her hand up with mine as everyone cheered.
As my eyes moved over the cheering crowd, I expected to see Dirk fuming. He’d lost, and after that performance, he had to know it for sure. What I didn’t expect to see was the woman standing next to him.
My eyes narrowed as I glanced between Dirk and Claudette while my chest stirred with a mixture so potent it could cause an explosion. Kai tightened her hold on me, and I looked down at her, realizing she’d already seen the pair.
“Don’t cause a scene. Not tonight.”
“I won’t. But what the hell is she still doing here?” I whispered back, obviously not expecting an answer. Her guess was probably as good as mine. “Did you know?”
Kai shook her head. “Not until the final number, when I spotted them in the audience. But it’s fine. The show was great. Even if I had to dance barefoot most of the show.” Then she leaned in. “If Dirk asks, just tell him it was a wardrobe malfunction.”
“What? Why did you have to dance barefoot?” I was genuinely confused.
She smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “I might have snapped a heel on purpose, but the stage was rocking too much. I didn’t want to fall on my ass.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, wardrobe malfunction it is. I’m sure he’ll bring it up when I talk to him about Claudette.”
Tension radiated up my neck as I started to move toward him. Kai jumped forward, stopping me again. “Please, Sebastian. If you’re going to talk to him, do it somewhere else. Not. Here.”
I knew she was right, but damn it, Dirk would get a piece of my mind and maybe even my fist. I took Kai by one hand and squeezed. “You’re right. I’m going to get out of here before I do something I regret.”
Her eyebrows rose. “I’ll come with you.”
I shook my head. “No, this is your night. Enjoy it. Just come by when you’re done so I can give you that standing ovation I promised.”
She giggled and squeezed me in a hug. “That’s a deal.”
After a final, pointed glare at Dirk, I moved through the crowd toward the stage and pulled the curtain open just enough to slip through it. The theater was completely empty though still lit from the night’s performance. I hopped over the edge of the stage and took a seat in the front row.
“Even I’ll admit that was quite the show.”
Dirk’s voice didn’t surprise me in the least. The man was as predictable as they came. He’d been dying for another confrontation, but I hadn’t given him the opportunity.
“Then why are you still here?”
Dirk chuckled. “You’ll be happy to know I’m starting to wonder the same thing.”
No way. Could this battle actually be over? I wasn’t about to hold my breath. “That’s good news, Dirk.”
“Fiery attitude, too. I can see why you like her. Your leading lady was quite brilliant.”
I clenched my jaw, hating the fond tone of his comment. “Speaking of leading ladies, I was surprised to see Claudette here tonight, after our agreement and all.”
“There was no agreement, Bash. You made a demand and an assumption. I never agreed. I had good reason to bring Claudette here.”
“Right. You didn’t think Kai would cut it. I’m glad you’ve changed your mind.”
Dirk’s brows rose. “I wasn’t completely off base. You are fucking the talent. Again. Clearly, you don’t learn from your mistakes.”
“Kai is the furthest thing from a mistake.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” He seemed to assess me for a momen
t before nodding. “I see that you’re happy. Despite our history, I’m glad to see it, Bash. But business is business. I’d very much like if we could come to some sort of agreement, one that suits both of us.”
My instinct made me want to turn him down once again. Whenever we would have these conversations in the past, they never went anywhere. “Unfortunately, your options have never been good enough.”
Dirk nodded. “Fair enough.” He reached into his inside jacket pocket and handed me a stack of papers. “I’ve run the numbers, and I know exactly what it will take to earn the profit from Angst and Grace that I can walk away with. So I’ve come up with some new options I’d like for you to consider.”
My eyes scrolled over the legal jargon, and I sighed. “Three point five million?” I coughed at the insane number.
“I assure you it’s fair, considering our stint on Broadway should have lasted no less than one year.”
“But it didn’t. Angst and Grace tanked. Why can’t you just let it go?”
“It didn’t tank. We fucked up, kid. You and me.” Dirk pointed at the stage and narrowed his eyes. “Have you watched your own show? Did you hear the crowd? With an ego your size, I can’t understand why you would want to give all that up.”
I ignored his “ego” comment with a roll of my eyes. “Do I have to spell it out for you? Our partnership is done, which means Angst and Grace goes with it.”
“If it’s the partnership you want to let go of, then why not just sign over the show to me? That sounds like a win-win.”
I barked out a laugh. “A win-win? You get my musical, and I get nothing?”
Dirk cut me a look. “Wrong. You get to walk away, which is all you’ve been asking for.”
I gritted my teeth. “You’re not getting my show.”
“Then pay me to walk away.” Dirk raised his hands. “And then it’s a done deal.”
I fought an eye roll as flames licked the walls of my chest. “I don’t have that kind of money, and you know it. Next option.”
