“I know.”
“Okay. I’ll be there soon. Board will start receiving emails and faxes soon.”
This was it.
This was retribution.
Mutiny.
This was the war he’d never seen coming.Twenty-ThreeEmilyI stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room, fidgeting and shifting and trying to control the shallow, jagged breaths heaving in and out of my lungs. The stylist had just left after dressing me for the performance because apparently it was sacrilegious to go onstage in the same dress you’d walked the red carpet in.
Now, Melanie fretted around me, readjusting the dangly, sparkling beads that hung from the super short dress, the whole thing glitter and gold and gorgeous. The V neckline plunged so low I was pretty sure the whole world was getting ready to get a peek at my belly button, the back completely bare save for the few strings of beads that danced down to kiss the small of my back from where they hung from the thin strap where the dress clasped together.
They’d done up my makeup in the same brilliant golds, every inch of me shimmering.
Stomach in knots, I stood there feeling a million miles out of my league and somehow exactly where I was supposed to be.
“Is this really happening?” I whispered to my reflection, unsure of the girl who was staring back.
“I do hope that’s a rhetorical question, because your hot ass is due out on that stage in fifteen minutes,” Melanie mumbled from behind me, shifting the fabric over my butt as if it might stand the chance of covering any more of it.
Nerves scrambled around inside of me, butterflies traded in for a scatter of birds flapping their wings.
I sucked in a staggered breath.
“I mean, seriously, this dress is out of control. You’re going to be smeared all over the best-dressed features in my favorite magazines, and believe me, there won’t be a question of who wore it better. I won’t even have to make fun of you . . . question what you were thinking for wearing something so awful.”
She peeked around my side to hit me with the tease through the mirror. Though there was something soft about it . . . pride glinting in my best friend’s eyes.
There was something especially amazing about getting to chase down a dream with the people you loved most.
Then she smirked. “Unless you flash me a tit. Then we’re going to have a problem.”
My hands flew up to my barely covered breasts. I frowned at her. “If I have a boob pop out, I’m totally blamin’ it on you. You were the one who insisted this dress was the one.”
“I guess I can handle that considering the rest of the world would be thanking me.”
“I hate you,” I told her with a pout.
“You love me, and you know it.”
“Barely,” I razzed then sobered. “I love you to pieces, Mel. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I know, Em. I know. I’m so glad I’m here, too. Now let’s go out and show the world what you’re made of.”
I pulled in a steadying breath and followed her to the door. She pulled it open and stepped out into the chaos going down in the hall. People rushed and shouted, the distant roar of the speakers from the main stage rumbling through the walls and sending tremors underfoot, everything so loud that I could feel the beat of it in my pulse.
Or maybe it was the thunder that boomed through my being when I caught sight of Royce outside the door. He was leaned up against the wall with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Black hair perfectly mussed.
Demeanor fierce.
Provocative in that dangerous, reckless way.
So sexy in that suit it was a wonder he didn’t get mistaken for a model.
I was beginning to think he belonged in the spotlight. The way he sang so deep and raspy, like he could hardly bring himself to do it but couldn’t stop himself. The way it seemed to have a direct connection to my soul. The way those fingers strummed across his guitar. The words he whispered in my ear.
My heart.
My haven.
My dark star.
He turned his attention on me. I couldn’t move. Glued to the spot. Pinned by that stare.
He came my way.
Melanie started humming the wedding march again.
This time I didn’t try to stop it.
I wanted it—everything he had to give, and then I was going to beg for more.
Those eyes raked me. Head to toe and back up again.
I was pretty sure I could reach out and dip my fingers into the lust pouring from him.
Flames licking into the space, kicking my heart rate into overdrive.
He leaned in to murmur with that rough voice against my ear, “You are a vision. The most stunning creature I have ever seen. You are the sunrise and the sunset and every second in between. Have half a mind to throw you over my shoulder and hide you away from the rest of the world. I’m not the sharing type.”