I step onto the pavement and smile at the driver when he nods his head at me and wishes me a safe flight. I hoist my handbag higher on my shoulder and grip the handle of my case tight. A quick glimpse at the clock hanging over the ticketing counter tells me I’m damn-near close to missing my flight home, and I push through the crowds to get to security. My team usually travels separate from me since they have to manage all of my costumes and equipment, and without Pietro, I’m on my own for this trip.
I pull out my phone, frown at the screen, and send one more text to him. I’m getting on this plane, with or without him. It’s not like him to pull a disappearing act, and while I get that things come up, a simple text would have been appreciated.
I tap my foot impatiently as I wait in the security line, slipping off my shoes and putting my bags on the conveyor belt for inspection. Just as I drop my phone into a plastic bin, the ring tone blares.
Pietro?
My eyes fall to the screen. It’s my assistant, Marisa. I stab the Accept button. “Hello?”
“Julia, hi! Listen, there’s been a change of plans. Your flight is delayed, and I’ve just booked you on the next one out. There’s some kind of mechanical issue that caused the delay, and as soon as I got the alert, I took care of it. The only problem is it doesn’t leave for another couple of hours. Can you kill some time?”
My assistant, Marisa, talks so fast it makes my head spin sometimes. But she’s on top of my entire life, and I can’t live without her.
I didn’t even know which airline I was flying before I pulled up to the airport.
“Thanks, Marisa. Yeah, I’ll find some way to occupy myself.” I’m thinking wine and a very comfortable couch. I sigh and nod at the guard who motions me to end the call and get my ass moving. “I’ll call you back as soon as I get to the lounge, okay? I’m getting a death glare from a security guard right now.”
She snickers. “Okay. Ciao!”
I put the phone back into the plastic bowl and walk through the X-ray machine without so much as a beep. Once I have all of my bags, I trudge toward the Gesap VIP Lounge, a deep sigh shuddering my shoulders. I guess my bed and plush comforter will have to wait a few more hours.
In the meantime, I need a drink. My throat is so dry, you’d think I had been singing tonight instead of playing. I put down my violin case and check in at the reception desk, flashing the woman the boarding passes Marisa just emailed to me. She is such a godsend. I wouldn’t know which end was up without her. I duck into a private area hidden behind some fake foliage and sink onto a white leather love seat, leaning my head back against the cushion.
Not as good as a bubble bath, but it’s the best I’m going to get for the next few hours. I slip my feet out of my shoes and flex my aching toes. The dancing part of my performance requires a lot of coordination and balance in high heels, so it’s a relief to feel the blood circulating once again.
Sweats would make this experience near-perfect, but I opted instead for tight jeans for the flight home. Bad call on my part.
A woman walks toward me, flashing a bright smile. “Can I get you something?”
I return the smile, grateful to not have to walk to the bar. “I’d love a glass of pinot grigio, please.”
“Do you have a particular one in mind?” she hands me a leather-bound cover. “Here is the wine list—”
I wave it away. “You choose. I don’t have a preference. As long as there’s alcohol in it.”
She snickers. “Of course. I’ll be back in a moment.”
I settle back against the cushions, letting my eyes droop closed. I rest my hands on my stomach, my fingers tingling as they always do after a show. The pure adrenaline that courses through me as I dance around the stage, strumming the bow back and forth over the strings—
Fuck!
My eyes fly open, and a loud gasp escapes my lips.
My violin!
I leap off the sofa, still barefoot, swiveling around to get a look at the reception desk. With a thundering heart, I run toward the entrance of the lounge.
I forgot it? How the hell could I forget to pick it back up?
My gut twists like a pretzel as I dash across the lounge, the desk blocked by clusters of tables and travelers.
Please let it be there, please let it be there…
“Oh my God!” I yelp. “Stop, thief! Don’t you dare even think about taking a single step with that!” I shriek at the top of my lungs, my feet slapping against the polished marble tile floor as I close the distance between myself and my most precious belonging.
The man gripping the handle turns to look at me, his deep chocolatey gaze stunning me into silence. The amused expression on his face makes my heart skid to a halt.
“Oh, you think I’m joking?” I hiss, grabbing the case from him, trying to compose myself now that my outburst has commanded the attention of the patrons, security, and the staff.
Jesus, I really hope nobody recognizes me and uploads this scene on social media. My publicist would definitely not be happy to see her biggest client screaming at some guy, a hot mess and completely unhinged in an airport lounge.
He holds up his hands and smirks, his smile catching me off-guard enough that I momentarily forget why I’m yelling at him. “No. I was just imagining what you were gonna do if I didn’t hand over the case.”
“And you think it would be funny? You think it would make you laugh?” I lift an eyebrow, my breath hitching at the gold flecks in his irises dancing in the soft overhead light. “This case is my life. I never let anyone else touch it. So trust me, I’d maim you if you tried to take off with it.”
“Okay, well, you should know that I wasn’t going to run off with it. I was only going to hand it to the girl behind the desk.” He takes a few steps toward me, a curious look on his face. “But I like this game. Maim me, huh?” He cocks an eyebrow. “Elaborate. Would you tackle me first?”
My pulse throbs against my neck when a whiff of his musky scent wafts under my nose. “Um…” I take in a sharp breath. “Maybe?”
His gaze smolders my insides, the crackle of energy between us sending delicious chills down my spine.
“So, you’d throw yourself at me, full force…all in the name of saving whatever is in this case?”
“Yes,” I croak because all other words stall on my lips. He’s so close…and he smells incredible…and I’ve never been so captivated by a man in my entire life, even though he’s clearly playing with me. Still, I’m happy to go along for the ride.
He inches closer still, a mischievous smile tugging his lips upward. “You’re kind of making me want to take that case away from you right now.”
My jaw drops because I kind of want the same thing right now.
I quickly snap it closed and flip my hair over my shoulder. “You should be so lucky,” I snap, turning on my bare heel and padding back to my hidden corner. I take my time, since I suddenly have a lot of it. But more so because I still feel his eyes on me with each step I take.
I peek back over my shoulder, hating myself for letting him think he got to me but needing to know if his attention has already been captured by some other lucky female.
My breath hitches as our gazes tangle for that split-second and my God, I could swoon on the spot as his half-hooded stare travels over me.