No one understands life lessons more than me, but as for me being me—I’m not me. I’m a lie, which only makes her words about trust more powerful. “Thank you,” I say and I turn my gaze to Kace as he plays a small bit off Prince’s Purple Rain and then stops, talking to Marvin and Chris.
“Doors opening in three minutes!” someone shouts out, and then to my shock, the blonde from the photo I’d seen of Kace in Germany is on the stage, offering everyone water and doing so in a pink dress with lots of cleavage. Tension radiates through me and when she stops in front of Kace and rubs his arm, my fingers curl into my palms. She’s touching him again.
She steps to the left and I end up in Kace’s direct view. He’s staring at me, those blue eyes piercing me even from a distance, the push and pull between us potent. His eyes narrow and I see the question and answer in his face. He knows I’m uncomfortable with that exchange. Damn it, he knows, and I’m conflicted about how I feel about that. I have no rights to this man. I know this. We barely know each other, but I have no interest in groupie status.
Kace cuts his stare, catching the woman’s arm. He whispers something to her and there is a knot in my chest that I don’t have the capacity to handle. I move, intending to stand up, but Sara catches my arm. “That’s Kelly, but everyone calls her Kiki. She’s the operations manager for his tours. Kace is all business with his crew. She’s just a toucher.”
“Seems like he was touching her, too.”
“No. He was just trying to get her attention.” She motions to the stage. “And that’s why.”
I jerk my gaze in the direction she’s indicated and the toucher hops off the stage and heads right for me.
I turn to Sara. “Sara—”
“I promise you. There is nothing between her and Kace. I promise you.”
I have no idea why her promise helps the way it helps, but it eases the pressure in my chest. Right then, Kiki kneels in front of me and I rotate to stare down at her. She’s even prettier up close, her skin porcelain, her eyes a paler blue than Kace’s, but oh so pretty. She grabs my hand. “I’m Kiki, Aria. So nice to meet you.” I don’t even try to reply and she quickly adds, “Please know there is nothing between me and Kace. He’s like a big brother. Forgive me, and him, if I gave you another idea.”
“One minute until doors open!” someone shouts.
“I have to go,” she says urgently. “I hope we can talk later.” She stands up and walks away.
Kace is on the edge of the stage now, and he motions between him and me and then silently mouths, “Stay.” I can’t explain how or why, but that tiny action, paired with him sending Kiki to talk to me, is an act of vulnerability I get the feeling he doesn’t dare with many. This talented, amazing man is really afraid I might leave while he performs. And once again, doubt fades into the room and evaporates. “Yes,” I silently mouth in reply.
He studies me a moment, searching my face, and I don’t know what he’s looking for, but Chris pats his arm to gain his attention and motions to the stairs. Just that quickly, Kace is turning away, and I can see the stiffening of his spine, the shift to the performer, to a persona.
Sara glances behind her. “They’re piling in. It’s time. I’m nervous and I don’t know why. Chris could paint hanging upside down.”
“Because you love him,” I say. “And he loves you.”
Her expression softens. “Yes. Yes, I do and he does.”
There’s no hesitation in her, no question of their love.
I twist around to watch the crowd pile in and there is no way I’ll find Gio, let alone Sofia, unless they bid on the violin. Even then, I’m not sure we’d find each other. Maybe if I bid to draw attention to myself. On the very violin, which I told Kace not to bid on. He’ll end up thinking that I set him up. The man let me into his world, and it’s clear that it isn’t common. I can’t, I won’t let him think that was a bad decision. I’d have to talk to him first and what would I even tell him, that wasn’t too much?
I lean over to Sara and lower my voice. “My brother might be here tonight. Any ideas on how I’d find out?”
“The auction house knows who shows up, but you’ll need Crystal or Mark to find out for you.”
“Right. Of course. I’ll text Crystal. Thank you.” I pull my phone from my purse and key up my messages with Crystal to type: My brother Gio Alard might be here. I can’t find him in the crowd. He wasn’t sure he’d make it back into town. I stop typing. I’d know if my brother was on the VIP list. I would have told Crystal he was already on the list. She’d know the last name from my last name. Crystal already said she doesn’t know Sofia. Gio isn’t here. He’s not going to be here. He was never going to be here. I suddenly need to breathe before I make a fool of myself and start crying.
I lean over to whisper to Sara. “Ladies’ room. If Kace comes out, please don’t let him think I left.”
She points to the door I came in with Kace. “Go that way. He’s there.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t be intruding. There’s a small bathroom to the right when you exit into the hallway.”
Accepting that my escape to compose myself is now waylaid, I simply say, “Thank you,” standing up and hurrying in the direction she’s given me.
Marvin waves at me from the stage, not the least concerned about me heading into private crew territory. I’m not sure what to make of that, but I open the door to the hallway and step inside. Kace and Chris are standing there, both leaning a shoulder on the wall and it’s like being pierced with a beam of testosterone and hotness, the two of them almost too much in one place. They both straighten. Chris immediately nods at Kace and turns and walks right.
Kace is already stepping toward me and catching my hand, aligning our bodies and every part of me is tingling. “Hey,” he says softly, stroking my cheek.
“Hey,” I whisper. “I was just going to the bathroom.”
“Kiki’s a friend. She’s not with me. She’s never been with me.”
My hand flattens on his chest. “You don’t have to tell me this. We’re just—”
He cups my face and tilts my gaze to his. “We’re just what?”
“I don’t know, Kace.”
He stares down at me, eternal seconds passing in which I can’t read his chiseled expression, until he says, “Neither do I, baby, but I never will if I don’t make sure you know that Kiki is not with me.” His hands find their way under my hair, to my neck. “You have my full attention, like it or not.”
“Like it or not?”
“I’m many things you might not like, Aria, but I own those things.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“I know.” He leans in and kisses me. “Go to the bathroom. I want you in there when I take the stage.”